Do Professors get paid to participate in an "Individual Projects" class?

Question

Will a professor who I choose to supervise an "Individual Projects" class that I am taking earn money for teaching/supervising it? Or would he/she get stuck "volunteering." Background info:
People in my major who need elective credits can choose to take a class called "Individual Projects" where you earn up to 3 credits towards your degree. All you need to do is write a 20 page essay about any topic you want throughout the semester (4 months), and meet once a week with a Professor (you choose whatever professor you want) and show them what you have accomplished that week.
So my question is, if I choose a professor, will they think of this as a burden (because they don't get paid) or will they think of this as an honor/a chance to make more money (because they do get paid)?

I'd appreciate answers from actual professors or students who know for a fact.
Thanks.

Answer 1

I can tell you for a fact that tenured and tenure-track professors do NOT get paid to supervise independent studies (which are called "individual projects" at your school). And adjuncts are usually not asked to supervise independent studies, since they DO get paid by the class, and a "class" with one student does not count.

Full-time instructors, assistant, associate, and full professors get paid an annual salary. Most departments encourage us to take on independent studies with highly motivated students, but most do not require that we do so. When we take on an independent study, we add it to our CV, acknowledging that we did this work.

Basically, I agree to do them if I have the time that semester, and decline if I do not. I am more likely to agree to do one if :
- the student is a major or minor
- I have had the student in class before
- the student is highly motivated
- the student is strong academically.

As a matter of fact, I am delighted to do independent studies with students like this. It is a pleasure to provide them with an opportunity to explore a field of interest independently, and (often) in greater depth than could be achieved in a formal classroom.

So -- don't hesitate to ask your professors to supervise an independent study. Just realize that not every professor will be willing or able to accommodate your request. And keep in mind that some will be delighted to do so.

Answer 2

Under most circumstances I am pretty sure the professors do not get paid or if they do it little more than a pittance.

However, what they do get is someone to do work for them... i.e. YOU. Especially if you are in a scientific field. I, for instance, am doing my honor's thesis in Molecular Anthropology which means that my advisor basically gave me a couple of options, (things he wanted/needed done) and I picked the one I wanted and did the lab work. Of course, now he will have to read the 60-100 pages that my thesis ends up being and helping me edit it. This is what they do though, and they get paid pretty well to begin with.

That said, it is possible that some universities offer some sort of stipend or something for acting as an advisor for Independent Study students, but it doesn't seem like a good idea because then professors might take on too many students or make a racket of it.

Either way, a GOOD professor will look at it for what it is, an opportunity to help a promising student hone their skills in whatever field they are studying (and perhaps a chance to get some free labor in the process). That is part of the mentor/student dynamic that makes up so much of academia. Although there are MANY professors who do not seem to take this responsibility as seriously as do others so, if you can, you should try to do a bit of research on the professor(s) you are considering asking to be your advisor.

I would not trade the experience for the world, and I feel like I have had a remarkable opportunity to learn and do things before graduate school, which will make me all that much more marketable etc... You just want to make sure you get with a good advisor doing something you are actually interested in.

Good luck to you :)

Answer 3

that is a good question.. I'm not really sure of the answer. In a way, I can kind of see your profs way of thinking because if you think about it... like women in the other country might suffer through rape, they may bear children that these soldier men are not going to take care of, they may face degradation, but also on the flip side, the women in the states that are married or dating these male soldiers are here taking care of the children by themselves, suffering loneliness without their mate here, then there are a bunch of single child bearing aged women without mates because so many single child bearing age men are in the war or have already been killed as a result of the war. Then when the soldiers come back a lot of them are injured, have post traumatic syndrome and other issues and the females usually end up taking care of them weither it is the mother, sister, wife or girl friend which is a form of suffering and a burden for some. But, the soldiers them selves are the ones who are putting their lives on the line, they are facing the risk, they are dealing with the bombs, the guns, noxious gases, the heat they have the most stress so they are suffering as well. They are the ones who suffer with an amputated limb, coming back to the states not being able to do the things they used to, or even coming back home to things that are much different than when they left. Some might comeback and not be able to do the same work they used to, which is stressful. I think all involved suffer, in different ways, but to say women suffer more than men.. I really can't agree with that.

Answer 4

This may not be a yes or no answer. It will vary with each school. You need to check with the registrar's office at your school to see how that school handles this type of situation. The school where I graduated from, would view this as a class. You enroll just as if you would be going to class daily but you work out an individual schedule with your instructor. And they would not be paid any additional money unless they are getting paid by the class, in which case they will get the regular class fee. Check with your school to get exact information on this.

Answer 5

It really depends on the school and the particular professor. Every person has a different kind of contract with the school he or she works for--some have a salary; some are paid by the class, etc.

Answer 6

How many people, no matter what career, do you know that will volunteer to take on additonal work without some compensation?

Answer 7

The fringe benifits of sleeping with your proffesor can be dangerous yet rewarding!...


Signed Proffesor fantastic