Voluntary Transitional Opportunity for Full-time Faculty Members

Full-time faculty members who decide to retire as part of Kent State University’s current Voluntary Separation Incentive Plan (VSIP) may have an opportunity to continue part-time employment with the University for up to three academic years. As part of a comprehensive effort to address the significant budget shortfall created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kent State University’s Board of Trustees has approved a Voluntary Transitional Opportunity (VTO) for retiring full-time faculty members.  
 
Retiring faculty members who are interested in participating in the VTO should contact their academic unit administrator (e.g., Department Chair, School Director, College or Regional Campus Dean) to discuss opportunities for part-time employment after retirement. Faculty members can initiate their participation in the VTO by completing an application for part-time employment with the University. These part-time employment opportunities are contingent on the needs of the academic unit and will be determined annually by the academic unit administrator in consultation with the faculty member.  
 
Any faculty member who is retiring as part of the University’s VSIP and who is considering participation in the VTO is strongly encouraged to contact human resources, academic personnel, her/his selected retirement system or alternative retirement plan, tax advisor and/or Medicare or other applicable health benefits provider(s) to determine the potential impact of participation in the VTO on an individual’s retirement benefits.  
 

Plan details

(A)    A full-time faculty member at Kent State University (University) who qualifies for and participates in the Voluntary Separation Incentive Plan (VSIP) may elect to participate in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity at Kent State for a period of up to three (3) academic years following retirement.

(B)    Part-time employment offered pursuant to this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity is contingent on the needs of the academic unit and may, based on availability, include, per academic year, (not including summer):
(1)    Up to a maximum of nine (9) credit hours of teaching in the first academic year;
(2)    Up to a maximum of six (6) credit hours of teaching in the second and third academic years;
(3)    Up to a maximum of the equivalent of the credit hours of teaching performed as administrative service during each of the three years; or 
(4)    Any combination of sections (B)(1), (B)(2), and (B)(3) up to the maximum credit hours permitted for each year.

(C)    Administrative service may be assigned at the discretion of the Provost and/or College Dean in consultation with the Department Chair/School Director or Regional Campus Dean, as applicable, and with the concurrence of the returning faculty member.  The combination of administrative service and teaching may vary over the three-year period but may not exceed the maximum credit hours available for each of the three years.  

(D)    The courses to be taught and/or the type of administrative service, and the semester(s) of employment, shall be determined annually by the Department Chairperson/School Director or Regional Campus Dean, and/or the College Dean, as applicable, in consultation with the faculty member.  

(E)    Individuals interested in participating in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity must apply for part-time employment with the University. The terms and conditions of the appointment made pursuant to this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity will be included in a Employment Agreement which must be signed annually by the faculty member, the Department Chair/School Director and/or Regional  Campus Dean, and the College Dean, as applicable, and the Provost or his/her designee.  

(F)    The salary for a faculty member who is employed pursuant to this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity will be 1/36 of his/her final base annual contract salary per credit hour assigned.

(G)    Non-Medicare eligible faculty members who retire and participate in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity will be eligible for medical benefits offered as part of the VSIP during year 1.   In years 2 and 3, if applicable, non-Medicare eligible faculty members will be eligible for medical and other benefits that Kent State makes available to part-time faculty members. All applicable premium contributions will be paid by the participant and plan terms and conditions will apply based on the benefit plan(s) selected by the participant. 

(H)    A full-time faculty member at Kent State University with at least ten (10) years of service who retires under the regulations of the State Teachers Retirement System or an approved alternative retirement plan and who elects to participate in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity at Kent State for a period of up to three years following retirement may only cash out sick leave once at the time of retirement. Sick leave, which is not cashed out, may not be used during an appointment made pursuant to this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity.  

(I)    A participant in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity who accepts University employment will accrue sick leave pursuant to University Policy 6.11.1, as it may apply to part-time faculty members.  Sick leave earned during an appointment pursuant to this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity may not be cashed out. 

(J)    Participants in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity do not accrue vacation.

(K)    A former member of the graduate faculty that participates in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity is eligible to continue as a graduate faculty member, subject to the academic unit’s regular review of graduate faculty status.

(L)    All participants are strongly encouraged to contact their retirement system representatives and tax advisors, if applicable, to determine if any restrictions and/or consequences exist for them should they elect to participate in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity.  

(M)    Regulations, rules, and policies of the State Teachers Retirement System or an approved Alternative Retirement Plan are beyond the scope of this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity and shall not, under any circumstances, be subject to grievance procedures which may be available to part-time faculty members at Kent State University.

(N)    Employees who have previously participated in a University sponsored separation plan are not eligible for this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity.

(O)    Individuals participating in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity are neither eligible for nor will receive tenure. 

(P)    Individuals applying for this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity are required to complete a standard affirmation that they voluntarily waive an age claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

(Q)    Individuals participating in this Voluntary Transitional Opportunity may discontinue their employment by appropriate and timely notification to their Department Chair, School Director or Regional Campus Dean. The Provost may discontinue an individual’s employment by appropriate and timely notification to the Individual.

If you have any questions, feel free to forward them to hrweb@kent.edu. A human resources representative will be assigned to follow up with a response.

Visit the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program website.