CONTRACTS

Shawnee State University enters into many agreements that cover a wide range of topics, including construction, purchases of goods and services, research agreements, software licenses and student internship programs. This page is designed to assist University employees who manage contracts on behalf of the university.  Questions regarding the information on this page should be directed to the Office of General Counsel, (740) 351-3046.

Signature Authority Required
Contracts may only be signed by University employees or officials who have authority, pursuant to University policy and procedure 5.27, Signature Authority for Contracts. (Authorization may vary, depending on the nature of the contract and dollar amount.)   No SSU employee may sign a contract or otherwise make any promise to a vendor, consultant or other third party that could bind the University without such authority.  Anyone who signs or enters into a contract without appropriate authorization is subject to discipline and may be held personally responsible for the contract. Please note that authority to sign a purchase order or approve a requisition is not the same as authority to sign a contract.  

Ohio’s Ethics Law
SSU employees are also subject to Ohio’s Ethics Law that prohibits the sale of goods or services to the University if the employee or a family member(s) could personally benefit from the contract or have some other unlawful interest in the contract.   Nor may employees solicit or accept anything of value from a vendor or potential vendor with the university. These ethical prohibitions apply to all employees, including those with signature authority.       

            Ethics policy 5.32

University Contract Intake and Review Process
Contract review process outline:

            http://www.shawnee.edu/off/cnsl/Routing%20Procedure%20Flow%20Chart%2005-20-11.docx

            Contract Intake Form

           State of Ohio Contract Restrictions

Contract Templates
General Counsel-approved contract templates have been created for certain University divisions and situations.  Use of these templates will expedite the contract review process, although they must still be submitted to contracts@shawnee.edu for appropriate intake.  Again, only employees with proper authorization may sign template-based contracts.    

Commonly Used Contract Templates:
            Consulting Agreement (.docx)
            Speaker Contract (.docx)
            Small Venue Entertainment (.docx)

Post-Contract Disputes
Disputes with a vendor that arise after a contract is made effective, should be reported immediately to the appropriate division administrator and the General Counsel.