Would a maths professor(in a university say) have the summer off?

Question

They'd ahve LESS hours in the summer though right? just doing research and stuff?

Answer 1

Most university professors (math or otherwise) are on 9-month contracts in the US.  This means that technically they only work during the academic year, but there's a catch.  During the academic year, most folks cannot accomplish sufficient research to successfully be awarded tenure and promotion.  So as a result in my experience, almost everyone works 12 months of the year (i.e., no summer off).

In my department (biology), for example, I would say that no one has taken more than a week off this summer, and some folks haven't taken even a day.

Academic careers are misunderstood by most people.  Teaching is only a percentage of our duties, and we ususally work uncompensated (or compensated through external funding) during the summers.  Mathematics profs pretty much fit this mold.  That said, one of our mathematicians works on theoretical problems from his cabin in the woods a couple of thousand miles from here during the summers, but he is still working (as evidenced by his productivity).

Answer 2

Most schools do offer summer classes, but only a small portion of the faculty will teach them -- so most professors would have the summer off from teaching.

However, not teaching does not mean he is off.  University Professors are expected to do research when not teaching -- and that includes summers.

Answer 3

It's up to him....  

Answer 4

Universities, unlike primary and secondary schools, usually operate year-round, especially if it is a research university. Also, professors sometimes teach summer classes. So no, professors, including math professors, do not have the summer "off".