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University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point > Finance and Administration > Contract Management

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Contracts and Agreements 

Any contract which intends to create a binding legal or financial obligation upon the University will require an official University signature to be valid. The actual title of the document in question is not important, as a 'contract,' an 'agreement,' or a 'memorandum of understanding' each have the potential to legally obligate the University to undertake certain actions or pay certain amounts.  A contract may, or may not, involve the payment of money. ​Additional terms related to binding contracts include, but are not limited to grant, memorandum of agreement, click-through agreement, memorandum of understanding, certification, non-disclosure, release, lease, revenue royalty agreement.

If there is any doubt whether a contract or other document might require an official University signature, do not sign anything. Contact the Associate Vice Chancellor and ​Controller​​ and request a review of the contract. In that message, share the circumstances to assist the the Associate Vice Chancellor and​ ​Controllor in confirming has the authority to sign the document.

Contracts Requiring Regent or UW System Approval

Regardless of designated signature authority, each of the following types of documents likely require approval by UW System or the Board of Regents prior to signature:

  • Any agreement for which the total actualized value may exceed $1,000,000
  • Contracts for large or high-risk information technology projects, as defined in Regent Policy Document 25-4
  • Agreements that contemplate or commit establishment of an academic program which has not had prior Regent approval;
  • Agreements involving construction or modification of facilities that require UW System Capital Budget or State Building Commission approval;
  • Sales, trades, purchases, and gifts of real property, and leases which would permit a privately owned or operated facility to be constructed on state-owned land;
  • Grants from and contracts with private, profit-making organization and the cumulative amount of the agreement and its predecessor agreements is more than $1,000,000;
  • Any other grants or contracts that, in the judgment of the President of the UW System or the relevant Chancellor, warrant Board of Regents review.

Purchasing/Procurement Contracts

Unlike other contracts the University enters into, the only campus authority to enter into procurement contracts are in our UWSP Purchasing Department who derives authority ,from Section 16 of the Wisconsin Statutes, with delegation comes directly from the Department of Administration.  Contracts under which the University is to receive either goods or services must be sent to the Purchasing department for signature by the Purchasing Director or a delegated Purchasing Agent.  If your department has a delegated Purchasing Agent, purchasing contracts may be sent to that  Agent for negotiation, and review before being sent to the Purchasing Director for signature.  If your department does not have a delegated Purchasing Agent, you should work with the UWSP Purchasing office.

General Signatories/Limited Delegation

The authority to sign all other contracts derives from delegation by the Board of Regents under Chapter 36 of the Wisconsin Statutes.  As listed on the 'Authorized Signers of Contracts for UW-Stevens Point' there are individuals listed who have authority to sign any contract for the University on behalf of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.  

However, other University personnel have been granted limited authority to sign certain contracts within their area of expertise. Do not sign anything unless you have confirmed that your role as the limited authority to sign contracts or agreements.

All authorized signers must:

  • Must have written delegation from the Chancellor which is annually recertified to ensure delegations are current and employees are exercising their signature authority properly.
  • Individuals are delegated contract signature authority only for the specific documents, or types of documents, needed to allow them to perform the responsibilities of their positions efficiently and effectively.
  • An individual granted this delegation may not further delegate these responsibilities; this authority remains solely with the Chancellor respectively.
  • Individuals delegated contract signature authority are considered “contracting personnel" and subject to the conflict-of-interest reporting requirements of Ch. UWS 8, Wis. Admin. Code.

For a current listing of Authorized Signers of Contracts for UW Stevens Point​​​

For more information on processes for contracts and agreements

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