Delegation of Signature Authority

I. Policy Introduction

This policy identifies the individuals who are authorized to execute agreements and other legally binding instruments on behalf of the University. This policy is intended to ensure compliance with the University’s Bylaws and applicable federal and state laws. Schools, colleges, units, departments and individuals initiating agreements are expected to comply with all other applicable university policies or procedures governing the review and approval of such agreements before submitting them to an authorized signer for execution.

II. To Whom This Policy Applies

The Delegation of Signature Authority Policy applies to all Syracuse University officers and employees, including all faculty and staff.

III. Policy Principles

  1. Syracuse University policy authorizes the following University Officers and employees to sign contracts with external parties on behalf of the University or its individual schools, colleges, and departments. University employees other than those listed here do not have the authority to sign contracts.
  2. The following individuals are authorized to sign any Contracts on behalf of the University, without regard to the Subject Matter or Contract Amount, pursuant to the University’s Bylaws:
    • Chancellor
    • Vice Chancellors, including the Provost
    • Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”)
    • Senior Vice President and General Counsel
    • University Secretary
  3. In accordance with the University’s Bylaws, the Chief Financial Officer hereby delegates authority to the individual(s) who are at any time incumbents of the positions set forth in this Section C to execute Contracts with Contract Amounts and Subject Matter as set forth below. These individuals may not further subdelegate their signature authority.

    4. Contracts with a Contract Amount up to $1,000,000:

    (any Contracts described below, but with a Contract Amount more than $1,000,000, must be submitted to the CFO for signature).

    1. Comptroller and Treasurer: Routine Contracts, including contracts for hotel arrangements, travel, artist performance, athletic games, liquor licenses and other contracts occurring in the ordinary course of University business. Routine financial transactions including, without limitation, vendor payment approvals, transfers of funds between operations and endowment, and other similar transactions. Non-routine transactions must be submitted to the CFO for signature.
    2. Chief Procurement Officer (CPO): Contracts for goods and services, including construction.
    3. Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer: Contracts related to service agreements up to $1,000,000, and events, speakers, travel and consultant transactions, up to $250,000.
    4. Vice President for Research: Grant agreements, license agreements and other Contracts associated with the University’s research functions, including but not limited to confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, materials transfer agreements, grant applications and award documents, and any related documents including but not limited to documents necessary to substantiate compliance with legal or contractual requirements imposed in connection with the research-related Contracts.

    Contracts with a Contract Amount up to $500,000:
    (any Contracts described below, but with a Contract Amount more than $500,000, must be submitted to the CFO for signature, unless other delegates are able to sign)

    1. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer: Contracts relating to an individual’s employment at Syracuse University, consultant agreements relating to Human Resources activity, and contracts relating to benefits and benefit plans.
    2. Director of Sponsored Programs: Grant agreements and other contracts associated with the University’s research functions, including but not limited to confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, grant applications and award documents, and any related documents including but not limited to documents necessary to substantiate compliance with legal or contractual requirements imposed in connection with the research-related contracts.

    Contracts with a Contract Amount up to $250,000:
    (any Contracts described below, but with a Contract Amount more than $250,000, must be submitted to the CFO for signature, unless other delegates are able to sign)

    1. Associate Vice President for Real Estate and Asset Management: Contracts related to real estate transactions, including, leases, purchase and sale agreements, agreements for real property management and for the performance of routine due diligence.
    2. Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer: Technology and software-related contracts.
    3. Senior Vice President for Student Experience: Contracts related to student services for events, speakers, travel and consultant transactions.
    4. Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer: Construction-related and facilities-related Contracts, including, but not limited to, Contracts with design professionals, construction managers, contractors, and project managers.
    5. Athletic Director: Revenue-related Contracts related to athletics, after they have been reviewed and approved by a senior member of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
    6. Senior Vice President for Business Development and Vice President of Economic Development: Contracts related to consultants, service agreements, inter-institutional agreements, option agreements, license agreements, royalty agreements and other related documents.

    Contracts with a Contract Amount up to $50,000:

    (any Contracts described below, but with a Contract Amount more than $50,000, must be submitted to the CFO for signature, unless other delegates are able to sign)

    1. The Associate Vice President of Information Technology may sign technology and software related contracts up to $50,000.

    Contracts with a Contract Amount up to $10,000:

    (any Contracts described below, but with a Contract Amount more than $10,000, must be submitted to the CFO for signature, unless other delegates are able to sign)

    1. Campus departments may sign contracts up to $10,000 excluding contracts that are related to information technology services. The authorized signers for the respective departments must align with the expense requisition authorized signers’ lists.  These responsibilities usually reside with the respective Budget Director/Manager or similar financial roles.

IV. Responsibilities

  1. The policy will be reviewed bi-annually by the office responsible and updated as appropriate.
  2. The Chief Financial Officer will oversee the adoption of additional procedures and department- and unit-level policies to implement this policy.
  3. The contract management system is the designated official repository of all University Contracts. The contract management software will be managed by the Financial System Management team within the Comptroller’s Office, and the Chief Procurement Officer should be contacted in advance of any contract requests for goods and services to ensure compliance with competitive bid procedures. Please see the purchasing policy for further guidance regarding bid procedures.

V. Record Retention

Records associated with the policy shall be maintained by the Responsible Office and retained or disposed of in accordance with University Records Policy and University Record Retention Schedule. The Chief Financial Officer has designated the contract management system to be maintained within the Comptroller’s office as the official repository for all contracts executed pursuant to this policy.

VI. Compliance

The Office of Internal Audit, Office of Compliance, the Responsible Office of this policy, and others may audit, investigate, and assess compliance with this policy.  Non-compliance with university policies is subject to progressive disciplinary action up to and including termination per Staff Employee Disciplinary Policy.

VII. Related University Policies and Resources

Description Web Link
Purchasing Policy https://policies.syr.edu/policies/administrative-and-financial/purchasing-policy/
Expenditure of University Funds https://policies.syr.edu/policies/administrative-and-financial/expenditure-of-university-funds/
Real Estate Transactions https://policies.syr.edu/policies/administrative-and-financial/real-estate-transactions/
Real Property Leasing https://policies.syr.edu/policies/administrative-and-financial/real-property-leasing/
Contract Process Procedure Guide https://finance.syr.edu/comptroller/

VIII. Definitions

Term Definition
Contract Is an agreement, regardless of form, between the University (acting in its own name or through any operating unit) and one or more parties, or an written document between the University to and another person or entity, intended to create an obligation on one party to do or not do something, whether or not the Contract involves the payment of money.  Contracts may include, without limitation, letter agreements, memoranda of understanding, letters of intent, waivers, offers/proposals for acceptance by the University or another party, purchase orders, invoices with terms and conditions, and “click” agreements.  Contracts shall also include, for purposes of this Policy, renewals, amendments, or modifications of existing contracts, statements of work, certifications, filings and other instruments executed and delivered in connection with a Contract or in connection with any legal or regulatory requirements.
Contract Amount Where applicable, is determined by projecting the expenditures or revenues of the University contemplated under a Contract over the entire Contract term.
Contract Term Is the length of the contract and will vary depending upon the type of agreement.  Master Service Agreements can be longer with separate statements of work for each project.
Contract Subject Matter Shall be determined with reference to the nature of products, services or agreements provided by or to the University under a proposed Contract, and not the University unit or division that will benefit from such goods, services or other agreement.

IX. Policy Administration and Responsible Office

Contact Phone Number Email/web address
Chief Financial Officer (315) 443.3037 Office of the Chief Financial Officer – CFO – Syracuse University

X. Responsible Executive

Chief Financial Officer

XI. Revision History

Date Update
February 2007 Original Issue
August 2012; November 2017; February 2018;
July 2019		 Previous Revision(s)
November 2025 Current Version Approved