Policies

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University of Sydney (Delegations of Authority) Rule

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The University of Sydney (Delegations of Authority) Rule explains who may exercise the authority of Senate to make decisions and commitments on behalf of the University. 

This rule is the means by which Senate authorises staff, committees, and other roles across the University to act in its place and on its behalf. The authorities granted in the rule are required when acting to bind the University to a transaction or obligation with someone else, as if you were Senate. Day to day management decisions do not need formal delegations. The rule gives authority to positions, not individuals, and that authority must only be used within the scope of the role and its responsibilities. This helps the University run smoothly and responsibly.

Read the full rule (new tab) Read the quick guide

Quick guide

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Please read the rule in full before making any decisions

This quick guide may lack context important to your circumstances

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University Senate and senior management: to help ensure structured and transparent decision making.

Staff, affiliates (including volunteers), and students: to know who is authorised to bind the University to particular transactions or obligations on behalf of Senate.

A delegate is a position or group that has been authorised by Senate to discharge a specific function on its behalf.

Delegations are given to positions or groups, rather than to individuals. The person occupying that position holds the delegation.

Delegates other than the Vice-Chancellor are not allowed to hand their delegated authority to anyone else. 

Delegates are authorised to make decisions that bind the University to a transaction or obligation with someone else, on behalf of Senate.

They must:

  • be appointed to their position in writing before using their authority
  • only exercise their delegations within their area of accountability
  • only authorise expenditure that is within an approved budget or has another approved funding source.

More senior positions can exercise delegations granted to positions below them in the hierarchy, if it's within their accountability area.

The Vice-Chancellor has the authority to exercise most delegations, except those expressly reserved to Senate, Academic Board or one of their committees.

The rule divides delegations into three main areas, called domains.

Education Domain (Part 4):

This covers a wide range of academic operations. It allocates delegates for things like:

  • approving dates for the academic year
  • adding or discontinuing courses and units of study
  • setting criteria for admission
  • managing student candidatures, including supervision and examination of higher degrees by research

Research Domain (Part 5):

This covers research-related activities. It allocates delegates for things like:

  • research grants
  • research integrity
  • managing research data
  • clinical trials
  • strategic research partnerships and cooperative research centres.

Operations Domain (Part 6):

This is a broad section covering University governance, finance, human resources and external engagement. It allocates delegates for things like:

  • making policies
  • approving agreements
  • approving expenditure
  • fundraising and accepting gifts
  • human resources, including staff appointments, remuneration and terminating employment
  • how we use our brand

Feedback

We want your feedback to help us keep our policies:

  • up to date and accurate
  • easy to understand and use.

Please send us an email at policy.register@sydney.edu.au