Program Information
Cal State LA has announced a 2026 Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) for eligible faculty.
Cal State LA’s structural deficit has been discussed at length in Division of Academic Affairs Budget Town Halls, meetings with colleges and departments, and various other university forums. The VSIP is one of strategy to address that gap, honoring the contributions of those who choose to take the offer while allowing those faculty who remain to sustain the long-term health of their programs.
Eligibility:
The VSIP is specifically for tenured and unconditional lecturer faculty who choose to voluntarily separate with severance on May 30, 2026. Faculty participating in the program are required to have at least fifteen (15) or more years of service (excluding student employment) at Cal State LA as of April 20, 2026, employees are not required to retire to participate in the program. To determine your eligibility for retirement, please contact CalPERS at 1 888-CalPERS (1888-225-7377). Human Resources is not authorized to determine CalPERS eligibility.
This is a non-precedent setting program. Faculty who are interested in this program should thoroughly review ALL information in the Terms and Conditions located below under FORMS.
Severance:
The VSIP for Tenured and Unconditional Lecturer Faculty will provide eligible employees with the following severance depending upon the factors listed below:
Employees will receive an amount equivalent to:
- Employees will receive severance pay equal to six (6) months of base salary, subject to minimum of $35,000 and a maximum cap of $75,000. The amount of severance pay is calculated using employee's monthly base salary at the time of the application on or before April 20, 2026. Separation must occur on or before May 30, 2026, in most cases.
Application Timeline:
- April 20, 2026, is due date for application filing
The application will be available on the website at VSIP for Tenured and Unconditional Lecturer Faculty. The application must be received by 11:59 PM PST on April 20, 2026, for the May 30, 2026, separation/retirement date. Please note that the University will be unable to consider applications received after the date provided above.
All forms submitted in one of the following ways:
- Electronic submission through Adobe Sign following the routing instructions
- Email [email protected]
- Drop off or mail the physical form to Office of Faculty Affairs, Student Services Building (SSB) 7th Floor, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032.
Note: To facilitate timely receipt of forms and avoid delays or lost forms, employees are highly encouraged to use the electronic platforms designed by the University to process these forms.
Approval Process:
Employees, after receiving approval to participate in the VSIP and after signing the Separation Agreement and Release, will receive severance payment.
Please direct all questions to Dr. Elizabeth Heise at [email protected]
Need assistance?
Email: [email protected]
FORMS
FAQ
As part of an effort to reduce the structural budget deficit, Cal State LA is implementing a VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM (VSIP) specifically intended to encourage eligible tenured and unconditional lecturer faculty to voluntarily separate with severance on May 30, 2026. This is a non-precedent setting program.
If you are a tenured or unconditional lecturer faculty with fifteen (15) years of service, you may be eligible to participate in the program, you must meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) For Tenured and Unconditional Lecturer Faculty Terms and Conditions document for eligibility requirements.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The University hereby implements the VSIP with the following terms and conditions:
1. Employee Eligibility –
Employee Status – As of the application deadline on April 20, 2026, and continuing up until the date and time of employee’s separation, as determined in accordance with the VSIP, employee must be a current University state-side employee meeting one of the following criteria a) tenured faculty (at any rank), b) temporary faculty (lecturer) with a three (3) year contract and a 30 WTU work assignment during AY 2025-26. Probationary faculty are not eligible to participate in the VSIP. Temporary faculty (lecturers) with a workload that is less than 30 WTU’s during AY 2025-26 are not eligible to participate in the VSIP.
Additionally, employees must meet all the criteria below to participate in the VSIP:
1.1. Years of Service to the University – As of April 20, 2026, employee must have at least fifteen (15) years of continuous service to the University to be eligible. Service excludes student employment.
1.2. No Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) – Faculty who are currently in, the Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) are not eligible. Participation in FERP and in the VSIP are mutually exclusive.
1.3. No Retired Annuitants – Retired annuitants are not permanent employees and, therefore, are not eligible
2. Severance – Employees who voluntarily separate as part of the VSIP will be offered severance pay. In exchange for voluntarily separating and executing a FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE and a FINAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE (which include a release of all claims), employees will receive an amount equivalent to: 1) employees will receive severance pay equal to six (6) months of base salary, subject to a minimum of $35,000 and a maximum cap of $75,000. The minimum amount ($35,000) and maximum cap ($75,000) will be prorated for employees appointed for less than full-time. The amount of the severance pay is calculated using an employee’s monthly base salary (prorated for employees appointed for less than full-time) at the time of the application deadline on or before April 20, 2026. Separation must occur on or before May 30, 2026, in most cases. Please see Section 3.2 for exceptions.
The severance pay is divided into two (2) parts. Employees will receive eighty (80) percent of the calculated severance amount in exchange for signing the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE, after receiving conditional approval to participate in the VSIP (as explained in Section 4.4.). Employees will receive the remaining twenty (20) percent of the calculated severance amount for signing the FINAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE on their last day of employment.
The severance shall be divided in two (2) parts, as described above, and shall be paid within thirty-one (31) calendar days after the separation date as indicated on the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE and the FINAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE.
Note 1: For purpose of calculating the amount of severance pay under this paragraph, only the employee’s base salary for employment eligible in Section 1.1 above will be considered, up to a 1.0 timebase. 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 timebase, salary or other pay for employment not eligible under Section 1.1 above, stipends, shift differentials, and bonuses. Any additional employment through the PaGE is not included in this calculation.
Note 2: Severance pay is taxable income and will be paid through the State Controller’s Office. This income is not considered compensation earnable for purposes of calculating CalPERS retirement benefits.
3. Limitations
3.1. No Entitlement – Submission of an application is not an entitlement and not a guarantee of participation. All provisions of the VSIP are subject to change.
3.2. Critical Positions and Functions – Employees serving in critical or hard-to-fill positions, with Cal State LA Voluntary Separation Incentive Program – Terms and Conditions Page 3 of 5 critical knowledge or skills, and working on time-sensitive projects or teaching load, may have their separation date deferred past May 30, 2026, to allow for management to ensure operational needs are met. Decisions to defer the separation date are at the sole discretion and subject to the approval of the Division Vice President and/or President. In all instances, separation dates shall occur no later than June 30, 2026.
3.3. Order of Application – Applications must be received on or before April 20, 2026. Complete applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis in the order in which the applications are received by Faculty Affairs. Incomplete applications will not be processed. There is no guarantee that an application will be processed before the termination of the VSIP. Termination of the VSIP may occur at any time and for any reason to be determined by the University, including but not limited to the depletion of funds allocated to the VSIP. Therefore, it is advised that applications are made as early as possible once a determination has been made to pursue the VSIP.
3.4. Funding – A one-time allocation of funds has been earmarked for the VSIP. Once these funds have been assigned to approved participants, the VSIP will be closed to further applications. However, termination of the VSIP may occur at any time.
3.5. Re-hiring – Once the employee separates through the VSIP, Employee is only eligible for reemployment at Cal State LA eighteen (18) months after their separation date. This rehiring provision only applies to rehiring at Cal State LA. Employees are not prohibited from applying for or being hired at other CSU campuses or the Chancellor’s Office. This provision does not apply to Retired Annuitants.
3.6. Retired Annuitants- Retired Annuitant employment is subject to post-retirement employment regulations as outlined by CalPERS and the CSU. There is no guarantee of any future employment as a Retired Annuitant or salary.
4. Application Approval Process
4.1. To initiate the process, employee first informs their Dean of their intent to participate in the VSIP and, in consultation with their Dean, identify their separation date.
4.2. Separation Date – Unless the separation date is deferred per Section 3.2 Critical Positions and Functions, the separation date must occur on or before May 30, 2026.
The VPAA and/or President will determine if the position falls under Section 3.2 Critical Positions Cal State LA Voluntary Separation Incentive Program – Terms and Conditions Page 4 of 5 and Functions. If so, the Dean will consult with the VPAA and/or the President to determine a separation date to occur no later than June 30, 2026.
If employee intends to retire, it is highly recommended that employee immediately contact CalPERS, as the CalPERS retirement processing may take up to 3-4 months. If retiring, employee’s effective retirement date cannot be on or prior to employee’s effective resignation date.
4.3. Application – Employee next initiates and submits the APPLICATION form. The employee-initiated APPLICATION must be received by Faculty Affairs before 11:59 pm on April 20, 2026, in order for the employee to proceed further in the VSIP process.
4.4. Eligibility Determination – Once Faculty Affairs receives employee’s APPLICATION form, Faculty Affairs determines employee’s eligibility to participate in the VSIP based on these TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
If the employee is determined to be eligible to participate in the VSIP, Faculty Affairs will conditionally approve employee’s application to participate in VSIP and send the APPLICATION form to the employee, the Dean and the VPAA (or designee) for review and signature. The APPLICATION must be signed by employee, the Dean, and the VPAA (or designee).
The approval of employee’s application is conditioned on employee’s timely execution of the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE.
4.5. First Separation Agreement & Release – After the APPLICATION has all required signatures, Faculty Affairs will send the employee the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE. The FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE will include, among other provisions, a general waiver and release of all claims.
Employee will have fourteen (14) calendar days from the date Faculty Affairs sends employee the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE to return an executed FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE to Faculty Affairs.
Employee’s separation will be irrevocable as of the date of employee’s execution of the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE.
Employee will receive eighty (80) percent of the calculated severance amount in exchange for signing the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE. Failure to return the executed FIRST Cal State LA Voluntary Separation Incentive Program – Terms and Conditions Page 5 of 5 SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE within the specified time period will result in the University rescinding the conditional approval of employee’s APPLICATION.
4.6. Final Separation Agreement & Release – After the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE is received, Faculty Affairs will send employee the FINAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE at least fourteen (14) calendar days before employee’s final date of employment.
Employee must execute the FINAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE on their final date of employment and submit it Faculty Affairs. Failure to timely return an executed FINAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE to Faculty Affairs will result in employee not being eligible for the remaining and final twenty (20) percent of severance pay.
4.7. Employee agrees that participation in the VSIP and receipt of the severance pay are conditioned on their voluntary resignation of employment from the University (including from any and all appointments and/or positions held with the University) and execution of the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE and the FINAL SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE. Employee acknowledges that their resignation is voluntary, permanent, and will be irrevocable as of the date of the execution of the FIRST SEPARATION AGREEMENT & RELEASE. Employee will be required to waive any rights they may have under any applicable law, regulation, collective bargaining agreement, or policy to revoke or rescind their resignation.
4.8. All forms mentioned in Section 4 of these TERMS AND CONDITIONS may be submitted in one of the following ways: (1) electronic submission through Adobe Sign; (2) email to [email protected] ; or (3) drop off or mail the physical form to Office of Faculty Affairs, Student Services Building (SSB) 7th Floor, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032. To facilitate timely receipt of forms and avoid delays or lost forms, employees are highly encouraged to use the electronic platforms designed by the University to process these forms.
5. Non-Waiver of Management Rights – The VSIP is not to be construed as a waiver of management’s rights. The University retains and reserves unto itself, without limitation, whether exercised or not, all powers, rights, authorities, duties, and responsibilities which have not been specifically abridged, delegated or modified by any current and respective Collective Bargaining Agreement. Nothing in this VSIP shall constitute a waiver of the University’s rights to enforce any articles under any Collective Bargaining Agreement, including but not limited to articles related to layoff.
For eligible faculty retiring or separating as of May 30, 2026, employees will receive severance pay equal to six (6) months of base salary, subject to a minimum of $35,000 and a maximum cap of $75,000. The minimum amount ($35,000) and maximum cap ($75,000). The amount of the severance pay is calculated using an employee's monthly base salary (prorated for employees appointed for less than full-time) at the time of the application deadline on or before April 20, 2026.
Severance pay is calculated using an employee’s monthly base salary at the time of the application deadline by 11:59 PM PST on April 20, 2026.
No, there is no requirement to retire.
This is a one-time program strictly designed for participation for eligible tenured and unconditional lecturer faculty.
No, this is a voluntary program.
Yes, temporary faculty (lecturer) with a three (3) year contract and a 30 WTU work assignment during AY 2025-26. However, temporary faculty (lecturers) with a workload that is less than 30 WTU's during AY 2025-26 are not eligible to participate in the VSIP. Furthermore, as of April 20, 2026, employee must have at least fifteen (15) years of continuous service to the University to be eligible. Services exclude student employment.
If you wish to separate and not retire, please contact Benefits Office for additional information related to COBRA. Benefits generally end following the month of separation. For example, if separation occurs June 30, 2026, employee benefits will end on July 31, 2026.
If you wish to remain benefits-eligible into retirement, the CalPERS retirement date must be within 120 days of the separation date from the benefits-eligible position. Therefore, if you retire after 120 days, you would be eligible for your pension but no longer eligible for health benefits into retirement.
At the sole discretion of Cal State LA management, some participants may be offered a deferment of their employment separation date. This separation from the standard period set forth above would allow Cal State LA to meet its operational needs and provide business continuity. These positions might include tenured and unconditional lecturer faculty serving in critical or hard-to-fill positions, with critical knowledge or skills, working on time-sensitive projects, may have their separation date deferred past May 30, 2026, to allow for management to ensure business needs are met. These decisions will be made in consultation with Human Resources, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and/or President.
Application Deadline:
- Employee must submit by April 20, 2026.
Eligible employees must submit the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) Application for Tenured and Unconditional Lecturer Faculty:
- Electronic submission via Adobe Sign
- Email to [email protected]
Drop off or mail the physical form to Office of Faculty Affairs, Student Services Building (SSB) 7th Floor, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032.
To facilitate timely receipt of forms and avoid delays or lost forms, employees are highly encouraged to use the electronic platforms designed by the University to process these forms.
Mailed applications will be considered received as of the postmarked date as outlined in the Terms and Conditions.
Faculty eligible to participate must separate by May 30, 2026.
No, your Dean is not required to approve participation in the plan. However, Faculty Affairs will work in conjunction with the Dean's Office to ensure business continuity.
You may inform your Dean of your intent to participate in the VSIP when submitting your application. Upon approval and receipt of the executed Separation Agreement and Release, Faculty Affairs will notify your Dean and the Provost of your separation or retirement date.
Severance:
For eligible faculty retiring or separating as of May 30, 2026, employees will receive severance pay equal to six (6) months of base salary, subject to a minimum of $35,000 and a maximum cap of $75,000.
Severance pay is calculated using an employee’s monthly base salary at the time of the application deadline by 11:59 PM PST on April 20, 2026. The severance will be paid in a lump sum, less all applicable payroll deductions, on May 30, 2026.
No, a Golden Handshake retirement incentive is administered and directed by the Governor’s Office. Cal State LA does not have the authority to make service credit decisions. The VSIP only provides a financial incentive.
Cal State LA is unable to provide you with this information. We highly encourage you to contact CalPERS at 1-888 CalPERS (1-888-225-7377) or you may sign into your myCalPERS account and use the Calculate My Retirement Estimate tool to determine an estimate of your retirement benefit package. You can log into your myCalPERS account by following this link to the myCalPERS login page.
Employees must retire through CalPERS in order to be considered as a retired annuitant. Rules governing retired annuitants may be found by following the CalPERS Retired Annuitant link. Please note that there is a wait period of 180 days before a retiree can return to a CalPERS employer.
Yes, there is nothing prohibiting an employee from applying to another position at Cal State LA. Once the employee separates through the VSIP, Employee is only eligible for reemployment at Cal State LA eighteen (18) months after their separation date. This rehiring provision only applies to rehiring at Cal State LA. Employees are not prohibited from applying for or being hired at other CSU campuses or the Chancellor's Office. This provision does not apply to Rehired Annuitants.
Yes, you may participate in the VSIP if your retirement date is on or before May 30, 2026, and meets the parameters of the program.
No, if you participate in the FERP program, you are not eligible to participate in the VSIP.