Submitted by Fred Salas, J.D.
Please note that a reason a contract or grant may not be legally enforceable is due to an individual at MSU signing the document who does not have the delegated authority from the Board of Trustees to sign documents on its behalf.
Personnel in OSP that are included on the MSU president’s memorandum of delegation of authority are listed on the Signature Authority for OSP webpage.
A PDF copy of the memo itself can be downloaded by clicking on a link found on the same webpage.
Any individuals NOT in the positions listed on the president’s memo lack the delegated authority to sign proposals and related agreements on behalf of the Board of Trustees. Although certain persons in leadership positions within academic units can commit their units within MSU, there are no individuals in academic units that can commit the Board of Trustees to the obligations included in a contract or grant.
Once a contract or grant is received from a prospective sponsor in response to a proposal, the contract or grant must be forwarded to OSP for review and proper signature. It is that proper signature that will commit MSU to conduct the project and will obligate the sponsor to fulfill its duties, which will include, of course, providing the funding and any other support required from the sponsor in accordance with the executed award.
If you have any questions regarding who may sign a contract or grant, or to which group in OSP to send a document, please contact any of the OSP persons listed at the OSP Department Organization webpage.
