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 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 715-346-3930. Do not put
yourself into personal financial jeopardy.
