Principles of Delegation

The University of California is governed by a Board of Regents, which under Article IX, Section 9 of the California Constitution has "full powers of organization and governance" subject only to very specific areas of legislative control.

In the Standing Orders of The Regents, certain authorities are conferred upon the President 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. 

The Chancellor may delegate certain decision-making authority and financial, administrative, and management responsibilities to specified administrative officials. The term "administrative official" refers to any UC Berkeley employee to whom financial, administrative, or management responsibilities have been delegated, such as:

  • provost
  • deans
  • vice provosts
  • vice chancellors
  • assistant chancellors
  • associate vice chancellors
  • assistant vice chancellors
  • department chairs
  • principal investigators
  • project directors
  • directors
  • associate deans
  • assistant deans
  • associate directors
  • assistant directors
  • academic administrative officers
  • department administrative officers
  • administrative officers
  • department managers
  • unit/department heads

Administrative officials may be given the authority to redelegate their decision-making authority and financial, administrative, and management responsibilities further, however:

  • Administrative officials cannot delegate greater responsibility and decision-making authority than they have been delegated; and
  • Administrative officials who delegate responsibilities and decision-making authority must do so in writing and ensure that the employees to whom they delegate are qualified and are properly fulfilling their responsibilities.

Administrative officials are charged with efficiently managing resources and risks to attain program objectives while maintaining a sound financial condition and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. While administrative officials may delegate many responsibilities, they retain accountability for:

  • Compliance with applicable laws and regulations, University policies, collective bargaining agreements, and terms and conditions of gifts, contracts, and grants;
  • Sound financial condition and good business practices;
  • A system of internal controls that identifies and manages risks;
  • Employee relations practices that ensure due process, nondiscrimination, and freedom from harassment and retaliation; and
  • The integrity of data and the administrative environment needed to support these accountabilities.