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 Severance Guidelines or Policy

Jeanette Frey's profile image
Jeanette Frey posted 03-07-2026 09:52 AM

Would anyone happen to have a severance policy or a set of consistent guidelines they have followed in providing severance packages that they would be willing to share?  My background has both for-profit and non-profit and I'm curious what is common across higher ed.  Thank you~

Rebecca Tucker's profile image
Rebecca Tucker

Hi Jeanette, Here is Cornell's policy that is publicly available:  https://policy.cornell.edu/policy-library/separations-voluntary-and-involuntary-including-layoff   

There's a lot of information here that you may find useful.  In general for severance pay, Staff members who are laid off under the provisions of the “Layoff” section of the policy receive severance pay at the rate of one week of pay per year of continuous service, not to exceed 24 weeks

Again, more details included in the site if you are interested.  

Tracy Berman-Kagan's profile image
Tracy Berman-Kagan

American University’s severance policy is in our staff manual.  See page 35.  https://www.american.edu/policies/personnel/upload/staff-personnel-policy-manual-september-2024.pdf

Hope this helps!