Graduate Research Assistant taking spring break off??

SurfingCali
Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:28:45 +0000

Hey,

I have an odd question. I’m a grad student in engineering and I was hired as a graduate research assistant (GRA) near the end of the semester. A few months BEFORE I was hired, I made plans for an 11-day trip/vacation with a few old friends during the university spring break period (no classes in session at this time). The break is 1 week long (9 days including the weekends).

However, it just came to me that this might be a problem since I’m now hired by the university, and not simply a student whose only constraint is classes. The spring break period is obviously not a notational holiday (unlike chrsitmas break, thanksgiving, MLK, etc.) so I have no excuse not to show up. This was previosly okay since I wasn’t a university employee, but that has now changed.

So, my question is:
Is it appropriate for a GRA to take spring break off?
Would it be percieved as unprofessional?
Is it common for GRAs to leave during spring break?

I already asked some administrative people but have not recieved a response (probably because of the break). I wanted to find out if it’s common to take spring break off before I ask my advisor, which may give him a poor impression since I was just hired and have yet to even prove I’m worthy of the position.

Any input would be great!

Thanks!