Signing of Contracts and Agreements

Policy Summary

The Bylaws of the George Washington University authorize the president and the executive vice president and chief financial officer to execute all written agreements required to conduct business operations on behalf of the university.  The Bylaws also authorize the president and provost and executive vice president for academic affairs to execute all written academic agreements for the university.  These officials may delegate their signature authority, but any such delegation must be made in writing and in accordance with the Contract Process Guide. 

Who is Governed by this Policy 

• Staff
• Faculty

Policy

Only the president, the executive vice president and chief financial officer, the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, and those to whom signature authority has been properly delegated in the manner prescribed in the Contract Process Guide, are authorized to execute written agreements on behalf of the university.   

Delegations of signature authority are necessary to efficiently carry on the day-to-day business of the university.  All delegations of signature authority must be in writing and created in accordance with the Contract Process Guide.   

An individual who has not received a written delegation of authority to sign agreements is not authorized to sign agreements that bind the university, and may be held personally responsible if he or she attempts to do so.  The university retains the right not to recognize an agreement as binding unless the person signing for the university has been properly authorized in accordance with the Contract Process Guide.     

The Signature Authority Table identifies the current list of officials who have been delegated limited signature authority for certain documents as described therein.  

Related Information

Contract Process Guide  

Signature Authority Table 

Contacts