Laura,

In 1998 we moved away from the VP for Business and Finance as signature
authority for submitting grants and contracts and for accepting (and
negotiating awards). This was done to make the OSP (Academic Affairs)
more responsive to the needs of employees for grant and contract
production. As a result, our volume grew tremendously. Before that
happened, and since we were not located together, we had a grant
specialist actually development foot  problems taking proposals  and
other documents to the VP Finance to be signed (and the VP often
expressed that he did not know what he was signing anyway). This is not
uncommon  in this kind of structure.

Our great Manager of Grants and Contracts Accounting in Financial
Affairs/Controller's Office and her staff prepare invoices (except
advances, which we prepare in the research foundation) and prepares and
sign the final financial reports. The OSP signs up to that point. This
is a great working relationship because we are all in research
administration and understand the grant cycle.

You'll prosper with greater volume if you get signature authority in the
OSP for proposals, etc. You know best for compliance at that stage and
no doubt are the compliance office. For that reason you need to be
cognizant also. All in all faculty morale and confidence in research
administration will soar to everyone's benefit.

Best,

Phil

Laura Letbetter wrote:
> Our university is currently undergoing an internal review of our
> processes for handling proposals, grants, and contracts.  We are a
> predominantly undergraduate university, with 20,000+ students, 600+
> full-time faculty, $4 to $5M in grants and contracts, 100+ submissions
> of varying size and complexity, and growing research programs.
>
> One of the issues under discussion is signature authority. As of now,
> there are only two AORs for all proposals, grants, and contracts: the
> VP for Business and Finance and one person who reports directly to
> him. The Office of Sponsored Programs (under Academic
> Affairs) prepares and submits all proposals and budgets, negotiates
> contracts, and is responsible for regulatory compliance, but does not
> have final signature authority. The dean of Sponsored Programs can't
> sign, and neither can the Provost.
>
> One point of view is that all signature authority should remain with
> Business and Finance.  Another point of view is that OSP should have
> the authority to sign grants and contracts, as this is standard
> operating procedure at our peer and aspirant institutions. A third
> point of view is that OSP should at least have signature authority for
> proposals, but that Business & Finance should retain signature
> authority for final awards and contracts.
>
> We are interested in learning how other institutions delegate
> signature authority for proposals, grants, and contracts. We are also
> interested in being referred to any publications or surveys you may
> know of about this topic.
>
> Reply on or off list; I will be compiling a list of responses and will
> be glad to provide it to colleagues who are interested.
>
> Many thanks,
>
>
>
> Laura Letbetter
> Director, Proposal Development and Programmatic Research
> Office of Sponsored Programs
> Kennesaw State University
> 1000 Chastain Road
> Kennesaw, GA 30144
>
> 770-499-3365 phone
> 770-499-3620 fax
>
> xxxxxx@kennesaw.edu <mailto:xxxxxx@kennesaw.edu>
>
> http://www.kennesaw.edu/osp
>
>
>
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