2021 VOLUNTARY FACULTY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM (VFSIP) FAQs

The Program is available to full-time faculty members on a nine-month contract who have completed three (3) full years of academic service as of May 31, 2021; and full-time faculty members and academic administrators with faculty status on a twelve-month contract who have completed three (3) full years of service with a hire date on or before June 1, 2018.
 

The plan is not available to part-time, temporary, or contracted employees; or those who have retired and have subsequently been rehired by the University.

A payment equal to three (3) months of his or her Base Pay, plus an additional amount equal to the lesser of three (3) months of his or her Base Pay or $20,000.

On February 1, 2021, an email was sent to eligible employees. The email contains important information as well as how to access forms for participating. If you did not receive an email containing this information and believe you are eligible, please contact Donna Sansonetti with Human Resources at 330-672-8333, or dsansone@kent.edu.

Questions can be directed to hrweb@kent.edu. A human resources representative will respond to you.

The “Window Period” for eligible employee elections begins February 1, 2021 and ends March 31, 2021. Late elections will not be accepted. Eligible faculty members may elect to participate in the Plan by signing and returning the following forms, which will be available beginning February 1, 2021. Forms can be completed securely and efficiently using the DocuSign process located on our VFSIP resource page.  Forms may also be returned in person or via registered mail, or electronically before the end of the window period, March 31, 2021. All election forms must be received or postmarked by March 31, 2021.

• “Release and Waiver of Claims Agreement”
• “Notice of Enrollment and Employee Information Form”
• “Benefit Payment Schedule Election”
• “Beneficiaries for Plan Payments” (optional)

If such documentation is not signed and returned within the Window Period, then the employee will not be able to participate.
 

For technical assistance with the DocuSign process, please CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A SUPPORT TICKET.

Yes.  If all of the required documentation is signed and returned within the Window Period, the eligible faculty member shall have seven additional days from the date of signing the Enrollment and Waiver of Claims forms to revoke participation in the program.  A decision to revoke an election to participate in the Plan must be made in writing or email submitted to Human Resources Attn: Jack Witt, Heer Hall, KSU, Kent, OH, 44242, (hrweb@kent.edu) within the seven-day revocation period.

You can choose one of the following schedules to receive payment:

a.    A lump sum payable on or about the fifteenth of the month following separation ; or
b.    Four (4) monthly payments made on or about the 15th or the month for each of the four months following separation

You will make this election when you complete your VFSIP election forms.

Sick leave will be paid out according to policy 6-11.1. If you are eligible for a payout of your sick time due to retirement the amount of sick leave you are eligible for, according to policy 6-11.1, is one-fourth of your balance up a maximum of 30 working days. You will need to complete the appropriate form to request a payout of your sick time.

Per administrative policy 6-11.7, vacation payouts will be made during the next payroll disbursement after separation from the university. Those employees who are eligible will receive their balance up to up to a maximum of three (3 times) their annual accrual rate according to policy 6-11.7.

Eligible Employees and their eligible dependents that are not eligible for Medicare, will be able to continue their university-sponsored health plan under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Once your election for the VFSIP is processed, you will receive a separate mailing from Chard Snyder, the COBRA Administrator, advising how to enroll and where to submit the employee portion of the COBRA healthcare cost. Please also note the following:

The University shall pay the employer portion of the COBRA healthcare costs for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months beginning with the month following the Eligible Employee’s Exit Date.

To receive this benefit, Eligible Employees must be enrolled in the University’s group healthcare coverage prior to electing participation in this Plan. They must also pay the employee portion of the COBRA healthcare costs during the twelve-month period.

For specific questions related to healthcare benefits, contact the university benefits office at 330-672-3107 or benefits@kent.edu.

Employees participating in a Flex Spending Account have 30 days from their separation date to use available funds in their Flex Spending Account. For specific questions related to Flexible Spending benefits, contact the University Benefits office at 330-672-3107, or benefits@kent.edu.

All eligible employees will continue to receive the tuition waiver benefit for four (4) years following the employee’s exit date (e.g., June 30, 2021). 
For specific questions related to Tuition Waiver benefits, contact the university benefits office at 330-672-3107, or benefits@kent.edu.

Yes, but you must click on “Finish Later” under “Other Actions” within the DocuSign platform while you have the form open in order for it to save your progress. See question and answer # 16 (XVI) below if you need instructions for returning to your document.

Yes, you can login to the DocuSign platform to view and track the status of your VFSIP documents. To do so, follow these instructions:

• Navigate to the DocuSign webpage at https://www.docusign.com/ and select “Log In”
• Enter your full email address (including @kent.edu). This will redirect you to KSU’s login page
• Enter your Kent State username (you do not need to include @kent.edu)
• On the left, under “Overview,” you can access all active and completed documents. Click on a category to find and view your documents.

The payment will be taxed at the supplemental rate, which is 22% for federal, 3.5% for state, Medicare of 1.45% and local tax if you currently have it taken out. Retirement will not come out of the payment.

Kent State University does not determine eligibility for unemployment. You can file for unemployment but should be aware that accepting a voluntary severance from employment with the University may disqualify an Employee from receipt of unemployment benefits pursuant to the provisions of the Ohio law as it constitutes a voluntary termination of employment without cause attributable to the employer.