Who is authorized to sign contracts?
Per the Standard Practice Guide, only Procurement Services has the delegated authority to sign contracts. Departments and their employees are not authorized to sign contracts, regardless of the dollar amount, on behalf of the University. Doing so makes the individual personally liable for all commitments, monetary and otherwise.
Only those individuals formally designated by the Trustees of Columbia University are authorized to sign agreements on behalf of Columbia University. Department chairs and administrators and their employees are typically not authorized to sign contracts, regardless of the dollar limit. Contract authority is not the same as DAF authority.
