While most individuals are not authorized to sign agreements that would bind Georgia Tech, you may sign agreements that bind you personally.  For these personal agreements, Georgia Tech should not be referenced or named in the document.  As you will be signing in your personal capacity, the Office of General Counsel may not advise you.  To understand any potential risks and costs associated with agreements signed in your individual and personal capacity, you may wish to obtain your own legal representation, as needed. 

Yes, you may sign form documents solely confirming factual statements (e.g., address, tax identification number, payment information, etc.).   Please be sure that your Georgia Tech role includes processing this information as part of your job duties.  For example, HR manages employment records and can confirm employment status, while Treasury Services manages banking information and can provide payment information.  

If you have any questions, please send an email to asklegal@gatech.edu. If you have a specific agreement that you would like to discuss, please attach a copy of the agreement with your email.

All template agreements with changes or non-template agreements reviewed by OGC should be initialed by the relevant OGC staff. If a template form is being provided for signature, the person submitting the agreement for signature should confirm that the agreement is an OGC approved template without changes and only the business terms have been added. These template agreements, which typically contain an OGC footer, may be signed without additional OGC review.

Both DOAS and the President have delegated authority to Purchasing. Generally, the purchase of goods and services is managed under the requirements and authority of DOAS. To the extent that DOAS does not control the purchase of a good or service, Purchasing may rely upon the President’s delegation to enter into applicable agreements for Georgia Tech.

No, each affiliated organization must follow its processes and document its delegated signature authority. The President may delegate the authority to sign on behalf of Georgia Tech so long as the BOR does not prohibit or otherwise designate who may serve as a signatory. This authority does not extend to any other party or entity. Likewise, affiliated organizations may not delegate any authority to sign agreements in the name of Georgia Tech.

The Delegation Memo is updated at least once a year. OGC will assist in updating the Delegation Memo and documenting the delegation from the President, as needed.   

Yes, signature authority is delegated to a role. If you are in a role, even on an interim appointment, you may rely upon the delegated authority in the Delegation Memo for the duration of your appointment.

If you sign an agreement but do not have the appropriate signature delegation, you would be signing in your individual and personal capacity and not on behalf of Georgia Tech. Without an appropriate Georgia Tech signature delegation, you could be subject to personal liability for the obligations and costs (if any) as stated in the agreement.

Yes, all agreements first must be reviewed by the OGC before signature unless the OGC has created a template document for the signatory’s use. The type of signature delegation (general or specific) does not change this review process.

The following positions have been granted a general delegation of signature authority:
• Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 
• Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance 
• Executive Vice President for Research
• Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Chief of Staff 
• General Counsel and Vice President for Ethics, Compliance and Legal Affairs

Positions with general delegation of signature authority may sign all agreements that may be executed by Georgia Tech’s President pursuant to the Policy Manual of the Board of Regents (BOR) unless the BOR expressly prohibits further re-delegation and/or specifically designates a role as the signatory. 

Positions with a specific delegation of signature authority are limited to sign specific types of agreements. For example, the Vice President for Infrastructure and Sustainability may sign construction and professional services contracts, but not licenses for use of space.