Signature Authority

View this message in its original email format.

Dear Colleagues,

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center by policy (FI0420 – Contracts) requires all contracts to be signed by an officer of the University. This policy is in place to protect the interest of, and manage risk to the institution. The critical nature of binding contracts requires that each is properly signed and executed by an official of the University with the appropriate signature authority.

A contract signed by any member of the University faculty, staff, or student body not explicitly authorized to do so may not be legally binding and potentially voidable. Further, a party who signs a contract without the proper authority could be held personally liable for any damages incurred as a consequence. 

The policy is to be strictly maintained unless the authority to sign a particular type of contract is delegated to a specific campus party/representative and the proper channels of delegations are followed.

A list of officials authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the university is available at http://treasurer.tennessee.edu/contracts/contractsignature.html. In most instances, contracts should be signed only by Raaj Kurapati, Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and Chief Operating Officer. Research contracts are specifically delegated to Dr. Wes Byerly, Interim Vice Chancellor for Research or Brenda Murrell, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Business Contracts at 901.448.2072.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Regards,

Raaj Kurapati
Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration,
Chief Operating Officer