1. Overview

   All administrative as an element of their current compensation, shall be eligible for the reduction-in-force benefits set forth in this policy.

   As used in this policy, "university service" means the current period of employment at Ohio university without a break in service.

2. Eligibility

   1. Administrative staff

      Regular administrative staff at fifty per cent full time equivalency ("FTE") or greater are eligible for the reduction-in-force benefit program if they are involuntarily terminated in accordance with either:

      1. Policy  41.013 ; or

      2. Policy  41.012 , only as it relates to employees involuntarily terminated without cause, as outlined in paragraph B, after five years of continuous service. Employees terminated with cause are not eligible for the reduction-in-force benefit program. 

   2. Administrative employees not eligible

      The following classes of administrative employees are not eligible for the reduction-in-force benefit program:

      1. Administrative employees with less than one year of continuous service at Ohio university.

      2. Administrative employees holding term appointments or special appointments under policy 40.106 ; 

      3. Administrative employees who are terminated for cause pursuant to policy  41.012  part (B) ;

      4. Administrative employees who are terminated without cause pursuant to policy  41.012  part (B) , after less than five continuous years of university service;

      5. Administrative employees in positions that are funded more than fifty per cent by grants or restricted funds and employees who were given research appointments under policy  40.057 .

      6. Employees who have faculty rank (as described in part II.C. of the " Faculty Handbook ") and who also hold administrative appointments are not eligible for the reduction-in-force benefit program.

3. Benefits

   1. Severance pay duration

      Eligible employees shall be entitled to severance pay calculated on the basis of prior university service as follows:

      1. One year up to three years of university service: one month of severance pay for administrative employees or one hundred sixty hours for administrative hourly employees;

      2. More than three but less than ten years of university service:  two months of severance pay for administrative employees or three hundred twenty hours for administrative hourly employees;

      3. More than ten years of university service: three months of severance pay for administrative employees or four hundred eighty hours for administrative hourly employees.

   2. Start date for severance payments

      The severance payments shall begin upon termination of the individual's status as a university employee.

   3. Severance pay rate

      The severance payments will be made at the rate of compensation the employee was receiving at the time they received the written notice of reduction-in-force although rate of compensation may be reduced in accordance with Policy 41.106. Severance pay will be paid semi-monthly or biweekly (based upon the employee's appointment at the time of the notice) and will reflect all applicable withholdings including taxes and benefits. Severance pay cannot be paid in a lump sum.

   4. Health benefits and life insurance

      Eligible employees may elect to continue to receive health benefits and life insurance for an additional six months after the termination of their status as a university employee. During this period, the former employee will be responsible for co-payment of premiums at the active rate currently applicable to university employees.

   5. Sick and vacation leave

      Severed employees will not accrue sick and vacation leave during the severance payment period.

   6. Early termination

      Severance pay and the continuation of health and life insurance will cease if the former employee begins full time employment with the university or another employer, receives disability benefits, or retires under OPERS, STRS, or the alternative retirement plan.

   7. Educational benefits

      Employees or covered family members currently admitted or enrolled as students at Ohio university as of the employee's termination date will continue to receive tuition assistance, (one hundred per cent of instructional fees), for the number of years needed to obtain the degree for which they are enrolled, not to exceed the lessor of three continuous years at the undergraduate level, one year at the graduate level or the number of years permitted to comply with IRS section 409(A). Course work eligible for tuition assistance does not include workshops, non-credit courses, audited courses, OPIE courses, courses or programs delivered in partnership with an outside vendor, or special course fees.

   8. Internal candidate status and reinstatement rights

      Affected employees may continue to apply for posted positions as internal university candidates for one year after termination. 

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Faculty Senate

2. Administrative Senate

Forms, References, and History

1. Forms

   The following form is specific to this policy:
   
   There are no forms that are specific to this policy.

2. References

   The following items are relevant to this policy:

   1. Policy  40.015 , "Educational Benefits for Employees."

   2. Policy  40.016 , "Educational Benefits for Qualified Dependents."

   3. Policy  40.057 , "Research Appointments."

   4. Policy  40.106 , "Administrative Appointments."

   5. Policy  41.012 , "Termination for Cause, Non-Renewal, Suspension, Demotion, or Dismissal of a Contract Administrator."

   6. Policy  41.013 , "Termination: Non-Renewal Based on Discontinuance of Position of Administrators."

   7. Faculty Handbook , part II.C., "Faculty Rank and Status: Privileges and Limitations."

3. History

   Draft versions of this policy that were circulated for review, their cover memos, their forms, and Reviewers' comments on them are available on the password-protected Review site.

   The only prior version of this policy was approved on April 13, 2009.