Title
Office of Sponsored Programs - 200.02 - Signature Authority
Purpose
This operating standard establishes the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) as the institutional authorized signatory to enter into legal commitments regarding sponsored research support on behalf of the University.
Policy Statement
Within the University of North Carolina System, delegations for University signatory authority are assigned by the chancellors of each constituent University and approved by the President.
The Vice-Chancellor for Research (VCR) is the primary signatory authority designated by the Chancellor to enter into legal commitments involving sponsored projects on behalf of the University. This includes, but is not limited to, grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Throughout the University, there are several offices specifically granted official signature authority. OSP has been granted signature authority for all contracts, proposals, agreements for research, and sponsored programs.
Unless they are so named, deans, directors, and department heads do not have this institutional signature authority and, therefore, are not recognized as designated representatives of the University regarding the verbal or written acceptance of sponsored research agreements of any kind.
Exclusions
Based on the criteria presented in the University Grants Processing Policy and the University of North Carolina Policy Manual, commitments that do not involve external sponsors or an exchange of financial or equivalent considerations may not require signatory authority by the VCR or his/her designees. Consult OSP and the appropriate Dean, Director, or Department Head with specific questions.
The School of Medicine Sponsored Programs Office (SOMSPO) is the signatory authority for sponsored research proposals from the UNC School of Medicine. In this regard, OSP and SOMSPO each have shared responsibilities in the proposal review process.
Related Requirements
External Regulations and Consequences
Unit Policies, Standards, & Procedures
Contact Information
For questions regarding this operating standard and its related procedure, please contact SponsoredPrograms@unc.edu.
For questions regarding Pre-Award management or Post-Award administration, please contact the assigned Sponsored Projects Specialist (SPS).
For invoicing, reporting and other financial matters, please contact the assigned Sponsored Projects Accountant.
OSP Staff assignments may be found in RAMSeS or on the OSP website.
History
07/01/2022 - Revised to reflect new office name.
05/15/2018 - Revised to coincide with the release of the new OSP Website.
08/19/2013 - Updated title from VCRED to VCR.
The operating standards in the Office of Sponsored Programs Operating Standards & Procedures Manual supersede any OSP operating standards, procedures and appendices previously included in the University Business Manual, a publication of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Division of Finance.