Overview

I have a contract requiring review and signature. What should I do?

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill enters into a wide range of contracts (legally enforceable agreements) with outside parties on behalf of itself and its units. Only individuals with specific delegated signature authority are authorized to negotiate, amend, or terminate a UNC contract.

Faculty and staff may use the information provided below to find the UNC contracting office tasked with managing common transactions. Each office has a specific area of responsibility. Personnel in these offices are knowledgeable of the UNC policies and state and federal regulations that govern each transaction. Often, contract review is initiated by submitting a request online, and links to the appropriate starting points are provided below. If you are unable to determine your starting point from the information below, please choose the transaction that most closely matches your needs. The appropriate office will work with you to determine next steps.

Specialized transactions are sometimes administered under authority granted directly to the unit tasked with administering the action (e.g. Campus Health Services, Ackland Art Museum, Athletics). These activities are not included in the information below but can be found in the delegated signature authority list.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a contract? A contract is an agreement between two or more separate legal entities that creates a legally binding obligation. It may include a financial component (transfer of money), but not always. A contract might be called any number of things, including a Memorandum of Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding.  “Terms and Conditions” associated with the use of a website or service may also constitute a contract.
2. Can I just sign this myself? Probably not on behalf of the University unless you have received a letter specifically delegating such authority to you. Only individuals with delegated signature authority can sign a contract that is binding upon the University. The list of individuals with signature authority delegated from the Chancellor is attached to the Policy on Signing University Contracts. Agreements related to approved external professional activities for pay (EPAPs) are not University agreements and should be signed and reviewed by the authorized employee. Intra-University agreements (between units within the University) are not contracts that require authorized signature, but may benefit from review by one or more of the offices below.
3. How long will it take? Contracts at the University generally can take from one day to several weeks to execute, depending on the complexity of the contract and volume of contracts already in process.
4. What do I do with click-through agreements required to access software or data? Complete the Data Protection Checklist and obtain review and approval as indicated by the checklist.
5. Can I ask my students to sign a contract? No.

Quick Reference Guide: By Administering Unit

Quick Reference Guide: By Transaction Type (may be incoming or outgoing)

This website was jointly created by the Office of Sponsored Research, Purchasing Department, Office of University Development, UNC Global, Office of Professional Service Contracts and Affiliations, Office of Technology Commercialization, and Office of University Counsel. If you still have questions about where to route your agreement, choose the office that reviews transactions that most closely match your needs and contact that office to assist you in determining next steps. If you want to report broken links or have other technical website issues, please contact Sarah Goldin at sarah.goldin@unc.edu.