Voluntary Separation
Resignation
We request that faculty who are voluntarily separating (retiring or resigning) provide an email notice to their supervisor and Academic Administration no later than January 15th prior to the academic year during which their resignation or retirement is effective.
Workday Process
Separating employees should submit a formal resignation via Workday after notifying their supervisor and Academic Administration. The employee may optionally submit a letter of resignation as part of the Workday resignation process. If the separating employee does not submit a formal resignation via Workday, Academic Affairs will initiate the termination in Workday and upload the resignation letter/correspondence they received via email. In either case, the process must be promptly completed to avoid an overpayment of wages.
Absence Without Notification
RISD deems that an employee who is absent from work for three consecutive work days without notifying their immediate supervisor (barring any unusual circumstances that preclude timely notification) has resigned their position.
Involuntary Termination
RISD may involuntarily terminate an employee for a number of reasons, including but not limited to: the normal conclusion of a non-renewed part-time faculty contract issued for a single academic year, unsatisfactory performance, academic dishonesty, serious misconduct or other applicable policy violations.
Post-Resignation/Termination Procedures
RISD expects supervisors to process a timely termination via Workday to ensure that the employee’s campus and system access ends at the time of separation. As part of the Workday termination process, separating employees receive all relevant information via their RISD email; therefore, the supervisor must initiate the process as soon as possible before the employee’s last day of work. Supervisors can use the termination checklist to navigate the process or contact your HR partner for additional information.
Exit Process
Return of RISD Property
Employees must return to RISD all documents, files, books, records, computers and electronic records, software materials, discs, keys, equipment, passes, identification materials and all other RISD property no later than their separation date. Additionally, employees may not delete any data, records, files or information related to or digitally stored on RISD property/equipment prior to the date of separation.
The employee’s supervisor is responsible for arranging the return of RISD property, including:
- identification card
- parking hang tag
- office and desk keys
- RISD-issued credit cards
- RISD manuals/handbooks
- computers and laptops
- RISD-provided, job-related equipment
- work output and documents
- any additional RISD-owned or issued property
Benefits
Applicable benefits including Medical, Dental, and Vision cease on the last day of the month of RISD employment. Employees can choose to convert, at their own expense, to individual life insurance directly with the carrier and/or continue medical/dental benefits in accordance with COBRA regulations.
Funds accumulated in a terminating employee’s retirement plan may be left in the plan and invested at the employee’s continued direction, rolled over into another qualified retirement plan or distributed to the employee. Employee decisions may have tax implications. Further information and forms for distribution/rollover may be obtained directly from the retirement carrier.
Additional information about the transition of benefits can be found below. A link to the applicable document is sent to the employee’s RISD email as part of the Workday termination process.
Exit Survey and Interview
On initiation of the Workday termination process, an employee who resigns from RISD will receive an invitation to respond to an electronic exit survey so RISD can gain insight into their employee experience. Additionally, separating employees are invited to schedule an exit interview with Human Resources to provide further insight into their experience and/or to review the transition of benefits. Interested employees can schedule an appointment by contacting Human Resources at 401 454-6606 or humres@risd.edu.
Final Paycheck
Employment and compensation will end immediately for faculty who resign or otherwise vacate their position during the academic year prior to Commencement. For faculty who resign or otherwise vacate their position after Commencement and who will not teach at RISD during the following academic year, the last paycheck will be remitted in June upon the conclusion of the current academic year of which they are employed. If they receive compensation during July and August for an academic year during which they will not teach, they will be required to refund to RISD the amount of those unearned wages within thirty (30) days.
Following the Workday termination, RISD will issue a separating employee’s final pay during the next normal pay period.