UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Policies and Procedures Manual

	Subject of Policy Statement	Effective Date	Policy Number
	Authority to Sign Contracts and Other Documents	Rev. 12/14/05	0-100

I. INTRODUCTION (Purpose and Intent)

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidelines regarding the authority to sign contracts, agreements, letters of understanding, and other documents regarding legal assurances, commitments, and obligations on behalf of the University of South Florida (University/USF) and its constituent units (colleges, departments, programs, etc.).

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

The Florida Statutes and Board of Trustees regulations provide that the President is the chief executive officer responsible for the operation and administration of the USF System The President's authority includes the approval and execution of all contracts, agreements, letters of understanding, and other documents regarding legal assurances, commitments, and obligations on behalf of the University Board of Trustees. The President requires that all such contracts be submitted to the General Counsel for review and approval as to form and legality.

The President has delegated to the Provost and Vice Presidents (and their designee(s) in certain circumstances) the authority to sign certain described contracts and other documents. Examples of such delegated authority include the following:

A. The President has delegated to the Vice President for Research, and designee(s), the authority to sign research contracts, solicitations and acceptances of research grants and donations, representations and certifications incidental to research contracts and grants, and agreements related to the exploitation of intellectual property.

B. The President has delegated to the Executive Vice President and CFO the authority to approve and execute all contracts in excess of $1 million related to the acquisition of commodities, goods, equipment, services, leases of real and personal property, and construction to be rendered to or by the USF System.

In the absence of such an express delegation of authority by the President, it is appropriate for the President to sign all contracts, agreements, letters of understanding, and other documents regarding legal assurances, commitments, and obligations on behalf of the USF System and its constituent units. Accordingly, USF System employees must not sign such contracts and other documents of agreement or commitment on behalf of the USF System unless they have been expressly delegated the authority to do so. For information and advice regarding such delegations of authority, USF System employees should contact the Office of the General Counsel.

Steven D. Prevaux

General Counsel

Judy Genshaft

President