Separation from Employment
Leaving Colorado State University
The following information will help with the transition when an employee leaves the University. This information is usually applicable when an employee’s employment ends due to voluntary or involuntary termination, a suspended assignment, or when a Faculty/Admin Pro has their assignment reduced to less than half-time (50% FTE).
If you may be eligible for retirement, please see Preparing to Retire from CSU.
Benefits Information
Faculty, admin pro and other non-classified staff
CSU medical, dental and vision coverage will end on the last day of the month your employment with the university terminates. Deductions will be taken from your final paycheck as premiums are paid in the month coverage is effective.
Medical, dental and vision coverage may be continued through COBRA at the expense of the employee, for up to 18 months after the CSU separation date. A health care flexible spending account can be continued through the end of the calendar year, as long as there was a positive balance in the account at the time of separation.
You should receive COBRA information from our third-party administrator, WEX approximately three weeks after your CSU health coverage ends. You may elect COBRA coverage within 60 days of the date of the notice or the date when coverage ends, whichever is later. Coverage is retroactive to the first of the month following the end date.
COBRA premiums are 102% of the current premium for active employees (includes a 2% administrative fee.)
Participation in a health care FSA for all employee types will terminate on the last day of the month in which they end employment. You may submit reimbursement requests for expenses that were incurred during your employment toward the balance in your FSA until for up to 90 days following the benefit termination date.
Employees may choose to continue health care FSA participation on an after-tax basis through the COBRA administrator.
Participation in a dependent care FSA for all employee types will terminate on the date they end employment. You may submit reimbursement requests for expenses that were incurred during your employment toward the balance in your FSA until for up to 90 days following the benefit termination date. There is no continuation for a dependent care FSA.
Group term life insurance and voluntary group term life insurance coverage for all employee types will terminate on the last day of the month in which they end employment.
You may be able to continue all or a portion of your insurance or convert to an individual policy.
Faculty, Admin Pro, Non-Classified Staff will automatically be mailed a letter with conversion or portability options, or employees can call the Hartford at 800-523-2233. The group life policy number is 677984.
State Classified Staff should call Securian Financial at 866-293-6047 to obtain more information regarding conversion or portability options.
The employee and employer contributions to either the Defined Contribution Plan (DCP) or Colorado PERA end upon termination from the university. For information on options relative to the retirement accounts, employees should contact their vendor directly.
Fidelity: 800-343-0860
Colorado PERA: 800-759-7372
Employee Study Privilege: If an employee leaves CSU or has an FTE change during the middle of an academic term, they are eligible to receive the Employee Study Privilege through the end of the semester in which their employment status changes.
Tuition Scholarship for Eligible Family Members: Tuition scholarship assistance will cease immediately after the academic year in which the change in employment status occurs.
Faculty, Admin Pro, Non-Classified Staff: Upon termination, employees who have worked for the University for at least 6 months shall be paid for their accrued annual leave up to 24 days minus the number of annual leave days taken during the 30 working days immediately prior to their separation date. Sick leave is only payable upon retirement from the University.
State Classified Staff: Upon termination, unused annual leave is paid out up to the maximum accrual rate based upon years of service at CSU:
- 5 years: 27 days
- 6 – 10 years: 33 days
- 11 – 15: 39 days
- 16 and more: 48 days
Sick leave is only payable upon retirement from the University.
Most employees of the University are covered by the Colorado Employment Security Act of 1971. Graduate assistants, veterinary residents, fellowship grant trainees, student hourly and work study students are not covered. Covered employees who leave the University may be entitled to unemployment benefits, and may file a claim on the basis of wages earned at the University provided the terms and conditions of the Colorado Employment Security Act are met. All cases are handled separately and rulings determining eligibility are made on an individual basis.
You may file a claim by contacting the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment at (800) 388-5515.