What is a "Formal Delegation of Authority"?

Authority for making decisions at the University is communicated through various means. The Board of Regents is granted ". . . full powers of organization and government . . ." of the University by the Constitution of the State of California, Article IX Section 9. The Regents have delegated certain authorities to the President and to other University of California Officers in the Bylaws and Standing Orders. 

In the Standing Orders of The Regents, certain authorities are conferred upon the President of the University of California by the Board. The President may choose to transfer certain responsibilities to other senior officers, including Chancellors of the campuses, by formally delegating authority in a published form. Within the Santa Cruz campus, specific operational responsibilities for actions and/or activities, including the authority to act, commit, or execute resources and documents legally binding to the University, are assigned to specified campus administrators by written delegation of authority statements. Additionally, responsibilities are delegated in policies or captured within job descriptions and policies.

The following templates are designed to assist process owners as they document re-delegation of authority from Chancellor to senior leadership at the University of California, Santa Cruz.


Delegation of Authority Transmittal Sheet This transmittal sheet helps process owners document the review and approval process of new and revised re-delegations of authority.

Delegation of Authority Template This delegation of authority template is a pre-designed fixed format structure used to provide guidance and facilitate easy, consistent capture of all required delegation components. Please copy this document to your own collaboration space for editing.


Definition: 
Delegation of authority assigns formal authority and responsibility for actions and activities to specific campus administrators. This authority is usually originated by the President of the University. In addition, campus administrators have certain responsibilities inherent to their job responsibilities.

Principles:

  • Align authority with appropriate organization level of responsibility, i.e., place delegation (authority) where actual decision and financial accountability rests. 
  • Ensure Consistency, i.e., ensure that delegations are consistent and do not conflict with Standing Orders of the Regents, Presidential delegations, current policy statements, financial bulletins, and manuals.
  • Provide authority for the position, i.e., Written authority is granted to a title and position rather than an individual.