Appendix B: Signature Authority Tables

According to university's bylaws, only certain individuals are authorized to contractually bind the university. The president, the provost, the treasurer, and the CAO or such other person or persons as may be authorized by the Board of Trustees, each hold such authority.

  • The president and provost may execute contracts, faculty appointment letters or other instruments related to the management of the university's academic programs.
  • The president and treasurer may execute contracts and other instruments as required to conduct the university's financial activities and related operations.
  • The president and CAO may execute contracts and other instruments as required to conduct the university's administrative operations.

The president, provost and treasurer, in keeping with the terms of the bylaws, may delegate signature authority granted to their offices through delegation memoranda.

Additionally, the president has delegated the chief administration officer with the authority to execute contracts and other instruments as required to manage the university’s administrative functions. The chief administration officer may also sub-delegate the authority granted to their office through written delegation.

The tables reflect grants of authority made by the president, provost, treasurer, and chief administrative officer to sign documents or bind the university through a contract of the types described to those persons and positions identified in the tables. Sub-delegation of the authorities contained in the tables are not permitted unless expressly indicated. Permitted sub-delegations must be made in writing and in accordance with the Contract Process Guidelines.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE SEEKING TO EXERCISE SIGNATURE AUTHORITY:
Those who sign external contractor attempt to bind the university without proper authority may become personally responsible for the obligations made in the contract and may be
subject to university disciplinary action.

Requests to change the authorities delegated in the tables should be directed to the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, or the Office of the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, as appropriate. General questions concerning the scope  of authority may be directed to the Office of General Counsel.

The terms "contract" and "agreement" are used interchangeably in the tables and refer to documentation that sets forth the acceptance of obligations on behalf of the university or a binding
arrangement between two or more parties.

President Delegation of Signature Authority, June 6, 2023

Position
Document Types
Limitations
Sub-delegation Permitted
President
Contracts, faculty appointment letters, and other instruments related to the management of the University’s academic program (Bylaws)   Yes
Contracts, receipts, tax documents and other instruments as required to conduct the university’s business operations,
including all real estate related documents (Bylaws)
  Yes
Documents related to borrowing of funds and related treasury actions to finance short term liquidity through bank loans and lines of credit for the sole purpose of short-term cash  requirements (Board Resolution)   No, authority granted by Board Resolution may not be delegated
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Contracts, faculty appointment letters, and other instruments related to the management of the University’s academic program (Bylaws)   Yes
Agreements related to business operations within the Office of the Provost with financial obligations of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or less   Yes, sub-delegations  for agreements related to operations to the schools and colleges as provided in Signature Delegation Chart for the Provost
Settlement agreements associated with pending or potential lawsuits or other claims within the Office of the Provost, schools and colleges in amounts not to exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within the Office of the Provost, schools and colleges   Yes
Collective bargaining agreements with unions representing employees within the schools and colleges   No
Deeds of gifts of non-monetary items to the
museums and library collections
  Yes
Authority to sign separation agreements  offered to employees and faculty within the  Office of the Provost, schools and colleges,  whose employment with the university is  terminated   No
Executive Vice
President & Chief
Administration
Officer
Agreements related to operations within the
Office of the CAO and CAO organization with financial obligations of one million  dollars ($1,000,000.00) or less
  Yes, sub-delegations for agreements related to operations within the Office of the CAO and CAO organizations as provided in Signature Delegation  Chart for the CAO
Settlement agreements associated with pending or potential lawsuits or other claims within the CAO organization, in amounts of
five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) or less
  No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality  agreements related to business operations within the Office of the CAO and CAO
organization
  Yes
Regulatory filings related to operations within the Office of the CAO and CAO organization   Yes
Collective bargaining agreements with  unions representing employees within the CAO organization   No
Authority to sign separation agreements offered to  employees, whose employment with the university is terminated   Yes, to the Vice President & Chief People Officer
General authority for security transactions and related documents (Board Resolution)   No, authority granted by Board Resolution may not be delegated
Establishing and operating accounts at financial institutions (Board Resolution)   No, authority granted by Board Resolution may not be delegated
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Contracts, receipts, tax documents and other instruments as required to conduct the university’s business operations, including all real estate related documents (Bylaws)   Yes
General authority for security transactions and related documents (Board Resolution)   No, authority granted by Board Resolution may not be delegated
Establishing and operating accounts at financial institutions (Board Resolution)   Yes, only to facilitate
administration of the financial
accounts.
Documents related to borrowing of funds and related treasury actions to finance short term liquidity through bank loans and lines of credit for the sole purpose of short-term cash requirements (Board Resolution)   No, authority granted by Board
Resolution may not be delegated
Vice President and General Counsel
Contracts retaining outside counsel and for services related to legal matters involving the university, its employees, and the Board, as appropriate (Bylaws)   Yes, to the deputy general counsel
Agreements related to operations within the General Counsel’s Office with financial obligations of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) or less   Yes, to the deputy general counsel
Settlement agreements associated with pending or potential lawsuits or other claims in amounts of five hundred thousand dollars
($500,000.00) or less
  Yes, to the deputy general counsel
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within the General Counsel’s Office   Yes, to the deputy general counsel
Receipts, releases and agreements for gifts that are related to bequests, annuity  payments, distributions from trusts, or other payments that are subject to probate, surrogate or other court proceedings, legal filings and applications   Yes, to the deputy general counsel
Regulatory filings related to operations within the university, legal filings and applications   Yes, to the deputy general counsel
Vice President, Chief of Staff, and Secretary of the University
Agreements related to operations for offices within the Chief of Staff organization, with financial obligations of five hundred
thousand dollars ($500,000.00) or less
  Yes
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to  operations for those offices reporting to the Chief of Staff   Yes
License agreements for the use of event space located on campus by university and non-university parties   Yes
Seal university documents and sign university attestations related to Board and Officer actions and authority (Delegation from Board Secretary)   Yes, to general counsel and deputy general counsel
Director of Athletics
Agreements related to operations within Athletics with financial obligations of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to business operations within Athletics   No
License agreements for the temporary use of university athletic facilities   No
Agreements with other schools for the purpose of scheduling athletic contests for the university’s athletic teams and the
financial arrangements associated with such contests
  No
Vice President for  Development and Alumni Relations
Agreements related to operations within Development and Alumni Relations with financial obligations of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less Must secure appropriate
review and approval under
Development and Alumni
Relations’ gift approval  process
No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations with Development and Alumni Relations   No
Gift agreements for gift valued at less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) (Board Resolution)   No, authority granted by Board Resolution may not be delegated
Vice President for
Communications and Marketing
Agreements related to operations within Communications & Marketing with financial obligations of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within Communications & Marketing   No
Location releases permitting filming, photographing, or other types of recordings at or within university property without monetary exchange   No

Provost Delegation of Signature Authority

Position
Document Types
Limitations
Sub-delegation Permitted
Provost and
Executive Vice
President for
Academic Affairs
Contracts, faculty appointment letters, and other instruments related to the management of the University’s academic program (Bylaws)   Yes
Agreements related to business operations within the Office of the Provost organization with financial obligations of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or less   Yes
Settlement agreements associated with pending or potential lawsuits or other claims within the Provost Office organization in amounts up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within the Provost organization   Yes
Deeds of gift of non-monetary gifts to the museum and library collections   Yes, to the Director, Museum
Collective bargaining agreements with unions representing employees within the schools and colleges   No
Authority to sign separation agreements offered to employees and faculty within the Office of the Provost, schools and colleges, whose employment with the university is terminated   No
Deputy Provost,
Academic Affairs
Agreements related to museum operation purchases and loans including agreements for goods and services with financial
obligations of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or less
Does not include
international
agreements
No
Academic agreements Does not include
international
agreements
No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to museum
operations and collections
  No
Deeds of gift for non-monetary gifts of art and historic objects to the museum's permanent collection   No
Vice Provost,
Libraries and
Information
Technology, Dean of Libraries and
Academic
Innovation
Agreements related to business operations within the Libraries and
Academic Innovations with financial obligations of on hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less
  No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within the Libraries and Academic Innovation   No
Deeds of gift for non-monetary gifts to library special collections   No
Agreements related to business operations within Information Technology with financial obligations of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or less   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within Information Technology   No
Statements of work or orders made pursuant to an existing master services agreement within business operations of Information Technology   No
Vice Provost for
Budget/Finance
Agreements related to business operations within the Office of the Provost organization with financial obligations of five hundred thousand ($500,000.00) or less   No
Vice Provost for
Research
See Signature Delegation Chart for Research
Vice Provost for
Student Affairs and Dean of Students

 

Agreements related to programmatic undertakings and business operations within the Division of Student Affairs with financial obligations of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less   Yes, to associate vice
provost for student affairs
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to business operations within the Division of Student Affairs   Yes, to associate vice
provost for student affairs
Agreements related to student activities and events, including speakers, performers, rental of space, and other entertainment related services, with financial obligations of one hundred
thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less
  Yes, to associate vice
provost for student affairs
Agreements for the use of space at student venues located on  campus   Yes, to associate vice
provost for student affairs
Vice Provost for
Faculty Affairs

 

Agreements related to intellectual property, such as and not limited to, licensing agreements, IP assignments, patent agreements and copyright assignments   No
Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to related to intellectual property and other matters under the purview of the vice provost for faculty affairs  

No

 

Managing Director,
Technology
Commercialization
Office
Non-disclosure agreements related to potential sponsors of research, licensees of university patents, and intellectual property matters generally   No
All Schools and
Colleges
Deans/Interim
Deans

 

 

Agreements related to business operations within the schools/colleges with financial obligations of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) or less  

No

 

Academic and affiliation agreements establish the relationship and set the terms by which the schools’/colleges’ students may participate in internships, externships and clinical training at other
facilities
Does not include
international
agreements or
agreements and
documents
processed by OVPR
No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to business
operations within the schools/colleges
  No
Director, George
Washington
Museum and The
Textile Museum

 

 

Agreements related to museum purchases and loans including agreements for goods and services with financial obligations of
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less
  No
Deeds of Gift for non-monetary gifts of art and historic objects to the museum's permanent collection   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to museum
operations and collections
  No

CFO and Treasurer Delegation of Signature Authority as of July 1, 2023

Position
Document Types
Limitations
Sub-delegation Permitted
Treasurer Contracts, receipts, tax documents and other instruments as required to conduct the university’s business operations, including all real estate related documents (Bylaws)   Yes
General authority to borrow funds including loans and lines of credit (Board Resolution)   No; Authority granted via
Board R solution may not be
sub-delegated
General authority for securities transaction and related documents (Board Resolution)   No; Authority granted via
Board Resolution may not be sub-delegated
General authority for securities transaction and related documents (Board Resolution)   Yes, only to facilitate
administration of the
financial accounts.
Documents related to borrowing of funds and related treasury actions to finance short term liquidity through bank loans and lines
of credit for the sole purpose of short-term cash requirements (Board Resolution)
  No, authority granted by
Board Resolution may not be delegated
Gift Agreements subject to Gift Review Checklist approval   Yes
Associate Vice
President, Controller
All federal and state tax documents including IRS Form 990 and 990-T Any state or federal
tax form that
requires signature of a corporate officer
No
Real estate tax filings   No
Debt payment agreements with former students   No
Establishing and operating accounts at financial institutions; (Board Resolution)   No
General authority for security transactions and related documents (Board Resolution)   No
Senior Associate
Vice President,
Financial Planning & Operations
 
 
 
 
Contracts and other instruments as required to conduct the university’s business operations with financial obligations of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) or less   No; Authority granted via
Board Resolution may not be sub-delegated
Gift annuity contracts with donors, receipts and gift  acknowledgements related to donation of gifts to the university   No
Tax documents related to the reporting of donations and receipts of gifts, including IRS Forms 8282 and 8283   No
Establishing and operating accounts at financial institutions (Board Resolution)   No; Authority granted via
Board Resolution may not be sub-delegated
General authority for security transactions (Board Resolution)   No; Authority granted via
Board Resolution may not be sub-delegated
Assistant Vice
President, Treasury
and Risk
Management
 
 
Establishing and operating accounts at financial institutions; Documents related to selection of financial institutions, open
financial accounts, obtain financial services, and sign checks, drafts, or other orders for payment (Board Resolution)
  No; Authority granted via
Board Resolution may not be sub-delegated
General authority for security transactions; Documents to open maintain, execute transfers, assignments, and related actions related securities (Board Resolution)   No; Authority granted via
Board Resolution may not be sub-delegated
Documents related to the administration of borrowings  contemplated by the Resolution for Borrowing Funds (Board Resolution)   No; Authority granted via
Board Resolution may not be sub-delegated
Associate Vice
President, Supply
Chain
 
 
Orders and agreements related to the purchase of goods and services using the university’s standard terms and conditions
prepared or reviewed and approved through P2P contract review process
  Yes, within procurement
departments
Agreements related to procurements made from funds from third-party sponsors through OVPR   Yes, within procurement
departments
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to the procurement of goods and services   Yes, within procurement
departments
Associate Vice
President, Real
Estate
 
 
 
Lease administration documents related to leasing activities, including non-binding letters of intent and proposals related to
leasing activities, notices of default, date certifications, estoppels, and other routine administrative documents
Does not include
leases, easements,
licenses for the use
of space, or other
similar documents
affecting real property rights, on
behalf of university
No
Real estate tax filings (including but not limited to exemption applications, exempt property reports and income/expense
reports)
  No
Regulatory filings related to real property with the District of Columbia and other municipalities Does not include
regulatory filings
that require
signature by a
corporate officer
No
Agreements related to business operations within the Office of Real Estate with financial obligations of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) or less   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to business operations within the Office of Real Estate   No
Associate Vice
President, Business
Services
Agreements related to business operations within Business Services with financial obligations of one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000.00) or less
  No, except authority to sign
trademark licenses may be
sub-delegated to the Auxiliary Services Director
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to business operations within Business Services   No
Agreements for vendor enrollment in the GWorld Card program   No
Housing license agreements with students and student groups for a duration not to exceed an academic year   No
Licenses for the use of university-owned registered marks   Yes, to the Director of
Auxiliary Services

CAO Delegation of Signature Authority

Position
Document Types
Limitations
Sub-delegation Permitted
Executive Vice
President & Chief
Administration
Officer
Agreements related to operations within the Office of the CAO and CAO organization with financial obligations of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or less   Yes
Settlement agreements associated with pending or potential lawsuits or other claims within the CAO organization, in amounts of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) or less   No
Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within the Office of the CAO and CAO organization   Yes
Regulatory filings related to operations within the Office of the CAO and CAO organization   Yes
Collective bargaining agreements with unions representing employees within the CAO organization   No
Authority to sign separation agreements offered to employees whose employment with the university is terminated   Yes, to the Vice
President & Chief
People Officer
General authority for security transactions and related documents (Board Resolution)   No; Authority
granted via Board
Resolution may not
be sub-delegated
Establishing and operating accounts at financial institutions (Board Resolution)   No; Authority
granted via Board
Resolution may not
be sub-delegated
Vice President &
Chief People Officer

Agreements related to operations within HRMD with financial obligations of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) or less

 

No

Authority to sign separation agreements offered to employees whose employment with the university is terminated due to elimination of the employee's position

• Excludes
separation
agreements for
employees within
HRMD and
members of the
faculty.
• All separation
agreements are
subject to final
review and
approval by OGC
prior to providing
such documents
to employees

No

Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within payroll, compensation, benefits, and HR information systems organizations

 

No

Regulatory filings related to operations within payroll, compensation, benefits, and HR information systems organizations

 

No

Associate Vice
President, Total
Rewards

Agreements related to operations within payroll, compensation, benefits, and HR information systems operations organizations, with financial obligations of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00)
or less

 

No

Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within payroll, compensation, benefits, and HR information systems organizations

 

No

Regulatory filings related to operations within payroll, compensation, benefits, and HR information systems organizations

 

No

Senior Associate
Vice President,
Facilities,  Planning,
Construction &
Management (FPCM)
 
 
 
 

Agreements related to operations within the organization with financial obligations of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) or less

 

No

Contracts for construction and renovation projects, design, and planning, and professional services related thereto, of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or less

 

No

Limited notices to proceed (“LNTPs”)

 

No

Contracts related to capital expenditures goods and services related to operational requirements of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) or less

 

No

Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements related to operations within the FPCM

 

No

Regulatory filings related to operations within the FPCM organization   No