Separation Pay

I had been working for 4+ years in a university. But then when K-12 was implemented those who have no masters degree were not allowed to teach in the college level. So last year August 2016 they did not give me any load/units to teach. I understood then that I was automatically terminated. I have no idea of the back pay and/or separation pay policies back then. I went on a vacation afterwards to rest and when I came back I looked for another job and went back to the university where I previously worked to get my COE and found out that I wasn't terminated. My status was ON LEAVE. I asked them whether I'll be receiving any back pay or separation pay but they told me I have to resign first.
If I will resign I will not receive any separation pay. But it wasn't my choice to leave the university they just didn't offer me anything afterwards. What should I do?

write to them that you are now back and awaiting your assignment. They can only not put you on floating status without pay for 6 months, unfortunately since you went on vacation the 6 months will only start from now that you notified them.

You have 2 options:
1. Wait out the six months, after this they will be forced to either give you an assignment or give you separation pay.
2. You can resign and hope they give you separation pay. The tricky part is technically they won't owe you anything because you resigned. But there are companies who policy it is that resigned employees do receive separation pay. It would be better if you can get something in writing that they will give you separation pay after resigning.