Human Resources

The program is open to state-side non-probationary full-time employees, including Management Personnel Plan employees, full-time tenured and tenure track faculty with at least 12 months of service at CSUMB as of Jan. 1, 2024.

VSIP is a stateside program, and therefore, Corporation employees are not eligible to apply.

Severance Pay

• Approved participants will receive six months’ base salary pay in two payments.

Benefits

• Employees will continue to receive benefits through the month following the separation date. For example, if the participant ended employment on June 30, 2024, their benefits would end July 31, 2024.

Housing

• Please refer to the Housing VSIP FAQs, Housing Rules Flow chart and Housing Matrix. For questions regarding employee housing and the VSIP, please contact corporation@csumb.edu 

2024 VSIP Application 

First Separation Agreement and Release

Human Resources will email the Employee the conditional approval and send the Employee the First Separation Agreement and Release. 

The Employee will have fourteen (14) calendar days from the date that the Employee received notice of the Employee’s conditional approval, and the First Separation Agreement and Release to return an executed (signed) First Separation Agreement and Release to Human Resources. 

The failure to return the executed (signed) First Separation Agreement and Release within this specified time period will result in the University rescinding the conditional approval of the Employee's application to participate in the 2024 VSIP.

Final Separation Agreement and Release

Human Resources will send the Employee the Final Separation Agreement and Release at least fourteen (14) calendar days before the Employee’s separation date. 

The Employee must execute (sign) the Final Separation Agreement and Release on the Employee's last day of employment and return an executed (signed) Final Separation Agreement and Release to Human Resources at vsip@csumb.edu

The failure to timely return an executed Final Separation Agreement and Release to Human Resources will result in the Employee not being eligible for the final 20% of the severance pay.

The final severance payment (20%) shall be paid within thirty (30) calendar days after the separation date by manual check and may be picked up at Payroll Services.

SECTION I - PURPOSE

As part of its efforts to reduce the structural budget deficit, California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) is implementing this 2024 Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (“2024 VSIP”), intended to encourage employees to voluntarily separate through a severance package on or before June 30, 2024. 

This is a one-time, non-precedent setting program. If you want to participate in the 2024 VSIP, please read the following TERMS AND CONDITIONS and APPLICATION, and submit your application to vsip@csumb.edu by 5:00 p.m. PDT, March 27, 2024.

Participation in the 2024 VSIP will require you to execute separation agreements, including a general release of claims, as further explained below. Employees do not need to be eligible to retire in CalPERS to participate in the 2024 VSIP.

SECTION II - TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The University hereby implements the 2024 VSIP with the following terms and conditions. Employees must meet the Eligibility criteria below to Participate in the 2024 VSIP.

1. Eligibility

a. Eligible Employment Status

Employees hired before January 1, 2023, who are current CSUMB state-side non-probationary, full-time employees, including Management Personnel Plan employees (“MPP”) and full-time tenured and tenure track faculty. Employees who are in a new probationary classification but hold permanency in a prior eligible classification are eligible to participate in the VSIP.

b. Leaves of Absences

Employees listed above who are on an approved leave of absence on February 26, 2024 and meet the eligibility criteria may participate in the program.

c. Years of Service Requirement

Employees must have at least 12 months of continuous service at CSUMB as of January 1, 2024, in the above eligibility employment status.

d. Previous Notices of Intent to separate from CSUMB

Employees who have already submitted a signed Resignation/Separation form to their appropriate administrator, CSUMB Human Resources and/or CalPERS with a Resignation/Separation date on or before January 5, 2024, are not eligible for this program.

e. Ineligible Employment Status

Temporary, part-time employees, emergency hires, probationary employees (who are not tenure-track faculty), student employees, faculty with applications pending, or currently FERPing, and rehired annuitants are not eligible.

2. Severance Package

Employees who voluntarily separate as part of the 2024 VSIP will be offered severance pay. In exchange for voluntarily separating and executing separation agreements (including a release of claims), employees will receive payment equivalent to six months’ salary. Severance pay is calculated using an employee’s monthly base salary at the time of separation. For the purpose of calculating the amount of severance pay under this provision, only the employee’s base salary for employment eligible in Section 1.1 above will be considered, up to 1.0 time base. Examples of items not included in an employee’s base salary include, without limitation, salary or other pay for appointments in excess of a 1.0 time base, temporary appointments, salary or other pay for employment not eligible under Section 1.1 above, stipends, shift differentials, and/or bonuses. Separation must occur on or before June 30, 2024. 

The severance package is divided into two parts. Employees will receive eighty (80) percent of the calculated severance package in exchange for signing the first separation agreement (“First Separation Agreement and Release”) after getting conditional approval to participate in the 2024 VSIP (as explained in Section 4(e)). Employees' first severance payment of eighty (80) percent will be paid within 30 days of signing the first separation agreement. Employees will sign the final separation agreement on their last day and then receive the final twenty (20) percent of the calculated severance package for signing the final separation agreement (“Final Separation Agreement and Release”) on their last day of employment. Severance payments will be issued via a manual check. Note: Due to system-wide ongoing salary negotiations, final payments will be adjusted to include any final negotiated salary increases.

The Final Severance Package shall be paid within thirty (30) calendar days after the separation date as indicated on the First Separation Agreement and Release and Final Separation Agreement and Release. Note: Due to system-wide ongoing salary negotiations, final payments will be adjusted to include any final negotiated salary increases. 

Note: The Severance Package is taxable income and will be paid through the State Payroll System (see FAQs for details). This income is not considered compensation earnable for purposes of calculating CalPERS retirement benefits.

3. Limitations

a. No entitlement

Submitting an application is not an entitlement nor a guarantee of participation. All provisions of the 2024 VSIP are subject to change.

b. Critical positions and functions

At CSUMB's discretion, some participants may defer their employment separation date beyond the standard separation period set forth above to allow CSUMB to meet operational needs. Examples of such participants include those who may be serving in critical or hard-to-fill positions, those with critical knowledge or skills, those working on time-sensitive projects, and faculty with a teaching load for the current term. These decisions will be made in consultation with Human Resources and are subject to the approval of the Division Vice President and/or President.

c. Order of application

Applications must be received on or before March 27, 2024, to be considered. Complete applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis in the order in which the applications are received. Incomplete applications will be returned to the employee and not entered for processing. There is no guarantee that an application will be processed before the termination of the 2024 VSIP. Termination of the 2024 VSIP may occur at any time at management’s discretion, including but not limited to the expenditure of funds allocated to the 2024 VSIP.

d. Funding

A one-time allocation of funds has been earmarked for the 2024 VSIP. Once these funds have been assigned to approved participants, the 2024 VSIP will be closed to further applications. Termination of the 2024 VSIP may occur immediately and without notice.

e. Re-hiring

An employee is eligible for re-employment at CSUMB 18 months after their separation date. Note: This rehiring provision only applies to rehiring at CSUMB. Employees are not prohibited from applying for or being rehired at other CSU campuses.

4. Approval Process

a. Application form

The application form, attached herein, must be filled out entirely and signed by the employee and the appropriate administrator. It is the Employee’s responsibility to collect all pertinent information before submitting it to their appropriate administrator.

b. Deadline

Applications must be submitted via AdobeSign, as provided in the application form. Applications must be received by March 27, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

c. Irrevocable after execution of separation agreement and release

Employees agree that participation in the 2024 VSIP and receipt of the respective severance pay is conditioned on the employee voluntarily resigning from the Employee’s employment with CSUMB and executing the respective separation agreements. Employees acknowledge that their resignation is voluntary, permanent, and will be irrevocable as of the date of execution of the First Separation Agreement and Release. Further, Employee will be required to waive any right Employee may have under any applicable law, regulation, Collective Bargaining Agreement, or policy to revoke or rescind Employee’s resignation.

d. Separation date

Unless the separation date is deferred as per Section 3(b) Critical Positions and Functions, a separation date must be on or before June 30, 2024. In all cases, the Separation Date is determined in conjunction with the appropriate administrator to ensure business continuity. If the Employee intends to retire, it is highly recommended that the employee immediately contact CalPERS, as the CalPERS retirement processing may take up to 3-4 months.

e. Execution of separation agreement

The appropriate administrator will review the Employee’s application to confirm the Employee’s eligibility to participate in the 2024 VSIP based on the Terms and Conditions specified in this program and determine if the position falls under Section 3(b). If it is determined that the position falls under Section 3(b), the appropriate administrator will consult with the Division Vice President or President to determine a separation date.

If the appropriate administrator confirms that the Employee is eligible to participate in the 2024 VSIP, that administrator will conditionally approve the Employee's application. The approval is conditioned on the Employee’s timely execution of the First Separation Agreement and Release.

Human Resources will email the Employee the conditional approval and send the Employee the First Separation Agreement and Release. The First Separation Agreement and Release will include a general waiver and release of all claims, among other provisions. The Employee will have fourteen (14) calendar days from the date that the Employee received notice of the Employee’s conditional approval and the First Separation Agreement and Release to return an executed First Separation Agreement and Release to Human Resources. The failure to return the executed First Separation Agreement and Release within this specified time period will result in the University rescinding the conditional approval of the Employee's application to participate in the 2024 VSIP.

Human Resources will send the Employee the Final Separation Agreement and Release at least fourteen (14) calendar days before the Employee’s final date of employment. The Employee must execute the Final Separation Agreement and Release on the Employee's final date of employment and return an executed Final Separation Agreement and Release to Human Resources via AdobeSign. The failure to timely return an executed Final Separation Agreement and Release to Human Resources will result in the Employee not being eligible for the final 20% of the severance pay.

f. Non-waiver of management rights

The 2024 VSIP is not to be construed as a waiver of management’s rights. CSUMB retains and reserves unto itself, without limitation, whether exercised or not, all powers, rights, authorities, duties, and responsibilities that have not been specifically abridged, delegated, or modified by the current and respective collective bargaining agreements. Nothing in this 2024 VSIP shall constitute a waiver of management’s right to enforce any articles under the collective bargaining agreements, including but not limited to articles related to layoffs.

Please note that these FAQs will be updated regularly. 

VSIP FAQ