University of Illinois System
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19.4 Comptroller Contract Signature Authority and Delegation

Policy Statement

The Comptroller is authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois that do not expressly require prior specific board authorization. The Comptroller may delegate contract signing authority. Delegates who sign a contract on behalf of the Comptroller must have authority to do so. The Comptroller and delegates are responsible for ensuring all required approvals are received and appropriate legal review is complete, before affixing the Comptroller's signature to a contract.

Reason for the Policy

The General Rules Concerning University Organization and Procedure provide the Comptroller the ability to execute contracts and allow for the delegation of signature authority.

Applicability of the Policy

This policy applies to all University of Illinois contracts.

Procedure

The system does not typically provide wet signatures and may use 1) facsimile signatures; or 2) electronic signatures that comply with 19.4.1 Electronic Signatures.

Due to State of Illinois contract filing requirements and board contract repository requirements, the University of Illinois prefers to be the last party to sign a contract.  

The Office of the Comptroller Maintains a list of signature delegates and the types of documents each may sign except for system-wide standard contract template under $10,000, that unit heads or their delegate(s) may sign, as noted in 19.2.1 Standard Contract Templates.

Delegates must ensure that the signature block of a contract contains all required information:

  1. Delegate’s signature of the Comptroller’s name with date,
  2. Name of the Comptroller typed or printed, and the title "Comptroller,"
  3. Delegate’s signature of their name as “Comptroller Delegate” and date, and
  4. Delegate’s name typed or printed with their title.

Below is an example of an acceptable signature block:

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
By:__________________________________________________
Paul N. Ellinger, Comptroller      DATE
_____________________________________________________
Signature of Comptroller Delegate          DATE
_____________________________________________________
Printed Name and Title of Comptroller Delegate

First Published: July 2021 | Last Updated: April 2023 | Last Reviewed: July 2021