The world is experiencing an unprecedented time. Unlike other crises or natural disasters, there are many unknowns surrounding COVID-19 and its effects, including how long it will continue to force us to change our daily routines and ways of going about our lives and work.

The health and wellbeing of members of our community is the top priority of the college as we execute our core mission to provide the finest liberal arts education to our students. We realize that new realities and uncertainties generated by COVID-19 and national, state and local responses to the disease may add another layer of complexity to how our community thinks about teaching and working at CC under new and complicated conditions.

Out of respect for our employees to make decisions concerning their health and wellbeing, the college is offering the following voluntary options for eligible faculty and staff. Please contact HR with any questions.

Voluntary Retirement Program - Faculty Only

The following option is available for faculty age 70 or older who are eligible for CC retirement benefits:

• Applications must be received by July 31, and notifications for approvals will be sent to employees.
• Paid 75% of annual salary for one year (8/1/2020 - 7/31/2020)
• Retirement effective August 1, 2020 and is irrevocable.

The following option is available for faculty age 59.5 to 69 who are eligible for the "Full Early" retirement program:

• Applications must be received by July 31, and notifications for approvals will be sent to employees.
• If application is approved for the "Full Early" program, the first year will be at 75% of your annual salary with no teach, research, or service obligations.
• Years Two and Three will transition into the regular agreement for the "Full Early" program at 50% of salary.
• This option is effective August 1, 2020 and is irrevocable.

If you are interested in participating in this program, please discuss with your supervisor, then download this form and submit to HR.

Voluntary Furlough Program - Faculty and Staff

This program is available for all ongoing (i.e. not temporary), benefits-eligible faculty and staff. Employees may elect either a 6-month or a 12-month furlough.

• Applications must be received by July 31, and notifications for approvals will be sent to employees.
• The effective date will begin August 1, 2020 and end on either January 31, 2021 (6-month furlough) or July 31, 2021 (12-month furlough). At the end of the unpaid furlough you will be offered reemployment in your current position, or a position that is similarly situated.
• Employees who take advantage of this opportunity will maintain health benefits, and the college will continue its portion of cost-sharing throughout the furlough.
• Employees may be eligible to collect unemployment benefits under these circumstances. Employees are encouraged to contact the local unemployment office for information on eligibility and applying for benefits.
• While this option is being offered broadly, approval of specific applications may not be possible in some cases, for varying reasons.

If you are interested in participating in this program, please discuss with your supervisor, then download this form and submit to your supervisor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Voluntary Furlough

Application Questions

• What are the steps for submitting an application?
  1. Discuss your role with your supervisor/department chair and whether or not your responsibilities might be halted or reassigned for either a 6-month or 12-month period.
  2. If your supervisor agrees, complete and submit the application to your supervisor/department chair.
  3. Supervisor/Department Chair signs/dates application and sends it to HR.
  4. HR confirms the information, signs/dates, and sends application to the Division Head/Dean for signature/date.
  5. Division Head/Dean sends executed application to Robert Moore for final approval/signature/date.
  6. HR notifies all employees who applied
• How do I know if I am in a position not critical to college operations?
  • Discuss with your supervisor whether your responsibilities might be halted or reassigned for either a 6-month or 12-month period
• When will I know if my application is approved?
  • Applicants will be notified if their applications are approved.
• If I request the 6-month option, what six months will that be?
  • Employees who choose the 6-month option will be furloughed from August 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021.
• If I am accepted into the 6-month voluntary furlough program can I change it before the end of the 6-month period to 12 months (or vice versa).
  • No, once you are accepted into the program you are in that program for the duration.

Benefit Questions

• Am I still eligible for tuition assistance if my application for the voluntary furlough program is approved?
  • Yes, employees receiving tuition assistance are still eligible for that assistance while on furlough.
• Do my health plan elections and contributions remain the same if my application for the voluntary furlough program is approved?
  • Yes, your health plan elections remain the same and your contributions remain the same. The college will continue to cost-share with you at the same level.
• How will I pay my health plan premiums if I do not have payroll from which to deduct them?
  • You will receive payment coupons from WageWorks and you will pay your share to them.
• If my furlough application is accepted and my spouse loses their job during the furlough period, may I add my spouse to my insurance?
  • Yes, that is a life event and a furloughed employee is still eligible for life event changes to the health plan while furloughed.
• May I take a distribution and/or loan from my retirement account if I am approved for the voluntary furlough program?
  • CC's retirement plan adopted relief measures available due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The relief offers expanded loan amounts and distributions without penalty. For more information, visit the TIAA website at: https://www.tiaa.org/public/learn/prepare-unexpected/guiding-you-through-turbulent-times/cares-act
• Do my years of service still accrue for purposes of tuition assistance and tiger service awards while I am on furlough?
  • Yes.

Unemployment Questions

• Will I be eligible for unemployment while on unpaid furlough?
  • Unemployment eligibility is a decision of the State, but all furloughed employees are encouraged to apply for unemployment.
• How do I file for unemployment?
  • If you are a traditional employee and are not working or had your hours reduced, file a regular unemployment claim at colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/unemployment.
  • If your last name begins with A to M, file your unemployment claim on a Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday, or after noon on Saturday. If your last name begins with N to Z, file your unemployment claim on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, or before noon on Saturday.
• Do you know if the Colorado Department of Labor will award unemployment in the case of a voluntary furlough?
  • We do not know if the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will accept an optional furlough to qualify for unemployment. The DOL generally will not make blanket statements but will view each application as an individual case and make decisions based on the facts and circumstances of that case. Because we haven't yet had anyone make the application for furlough there haven't been any cases from CC that we can look to.
  • We cannot say that any employee would be granted unemployment benefits but we do encourage every employee who separates from service to apply.

Employment Questions

• If I am on voluntary furlough, will the college lay me off or eliminate my job before I return?
  • If you are accepted for the voluntary furlough program you are guaranteed a job at the end of your furlough.
• If I am in the pool of candidates for a job and the search is now on hold, if the search resumes before the end of my voluntary furlough, am I still considered a candidate?
  • Yes, you will still be in the pool considered for the open position when the search resumes, unless you contact us to cancel your application.
• If approved for voluntary furlough, is it more likely that my job will be cut after I come back? Will the college view me in a negative light for taking a furlough? Is there some time period during which my job will be guaranteed when I return.
  • This opportunity is not being made available to determine which jobs can be cut. Your job, or a similarly situated job, will be available to you at the end of your furlough. Reasons for offering a furlough include:
    • To give employees who are uncomfortable coming back to work because they are compromised or who live with someone who is compromised the ability to take time off while COVID responses (e.g. vaccine) continue to improve.
    • To give employees who may not be able to work their full schedule from home the ability to take time off with benefits and job security.
    • To help the college in responding to the financial shortfalls during this difficult time (see Robert Moore's email on financial impact of COVID sent 6/11).
• If I am selected during my furlough for another job at the college and that job requires a start date before the end of my furlough, may I start in that new job and end my furlough early?
  • Yes, If you are selected for a open position at the college while you are on furlough and that position requires a start date prior to the end of your furlough, you may end your voluntary furlough early.
• May I take another job or assignment while I am on furlough?
  • Yes, as long as it does not create a conflict of interest with your CC position. You must come back to work at the end of your furlough period or you will be terminated.
• I generally don't work in July and August but defer my pay so that I receive paychecks in July and August when I'm not working. If I am approved for the voluntary furlough will I still receive my deferred pay in August.
  • Yes, you will still receive any pay earned and deferred.

Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive FAQs

• If I am approved for the voluntary retirement incentive, I understand I will be paid 75% of my salary over 24 regular pay periods. Will I be able to take a distribution from my retirement account to supplement my reduced salary?
  • Yes, you may take a distribution from your retirement account. It will be an in-service distribution because you are still receiving pay from the college so not considered 'retired' by TIAA. You should contact TIAA to determine the amount available for distribution.