The University of Minnesota policy on paid and unpaid leave is given here. Graduate teaching assistants do not receive paid vacation other than official University of Minnesota holidays. The University does not recognize the time between terms as holidays.

TAs are paid to work as a TA throughout the academic year. Although the Physics Department typically does not assign TA duties after final exam grades are recorded, TAs are obliged to carry out any duties associated with teaching assistantship even if they fall during the break time. TAs should check with his/her professor before making holiday plans which involves leaving town to ensure that there are no outstanding TA duties to attend during that time. In particular, do not plan to be away right up until the day before the new semester starts as some of the planning meeting for the new class may take place up to a week before the actual start of the new semester.