Signature Authority
UWSP is part of UW System, a legal entity, whose operational authority emanates from Chapter 36 of the Wisconsin Statutes. That means that UWSP conducts business ONLY through its duly authorized officers and agents. The authorization to sign documents that legally obligate UWSP is detailed in Board of Regent’s Policy 93-1.
Being an employee of UWSP does not automatically authorize anyone to sign documents that have legal consequences for UWSP. In fact, the Board of Regents policy limits signature authority to a specifically authorized group of persons. Under policy 93-1, the Chancellor may authorize additional individuals to sign contracts in certain circumstances. See the attachment for the list of authorized signers of contracts/documents for UWSP.
Additional Concerns
What if a UWSP employee who lacks signature authority signs a legal document for UWSP?
- The document may not be legally binding to UWSP. This could jeopardize the validity of a grant proposal or a visa or a labor certification application.
- If a lawsuit is initiated, the unauthorized employee may face the prospect of paying for his/her legal defense and any judgment rendered against him/her. When an employee acts outside of the scope of employment (authority), it is possible that the attorney general’s office will refuse to authorize either legal representation or payment of any judgment.
If you are unsure about your authority to sign a contract/document, do NOT sign anything with a party external to UWSP. Please contact Katie Schroth at x. 3930. Do not put yourself into personal financial jeopardy.