SMU 

Classification: Restricted 

Issue Date : 01 Jul 2002

Section : 2.2
Revision No. : 4
Revision Date : 14 Jan 2020

Page : Page 1 of 2

CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION POLICIES

Title: Delegation Process

Prepared by: CFO & Vice President, Finance Approved by: President

1. SMU as a Body Corporate

The Singapore Management University (SMU) is a body corporate, existing wholly in the
conception of the law, and of necessity, must act through its Trustees, officers, agents and
committees.

The Singapore Management University (SMU) was incorporated on 12 January 2000 as a public
company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act (Cap.50). SMU’s activities are
governed by the Singapore Management University Act, which came into effect on 1 April 2000.
Its operations are also subjected to the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of
Association (M&A) of the company, for which the Minister for Education is the approval
authority, and the Companies Act.

2. Board of Trustees

The business of SMU is managed by its Board of Trustees (BOT). The BOT represents the
corporate body. The Trustees are appointed by the Minister of Education and are the
representatives of SMU. Subject to any limitations imposed by statute and the M&A, the
Trustees have authority for all the ordinary business of SMU within the scope of its chartered
powers. They have full power to regulate the concerns of SMU and hold their officers charged
with the duty to act according to their best judgment.

The Articles of Association grant the Trustees the power to delegate to officers, agents, and
committees the authority to transact the ordinary affairs of SMU. The BOT can also delegate its
authority with resolutions, of which there are basically two types:

 General Resolutions grant authority of a general nature and remain effective until otherwise
amended or cancelled.
 Specific Resolutions grant authority to specific officers or committees and/or for
specific purposes and may be limited to a specific period.

The Resolutions approved by the BOT shall be used to document actions taken by the Board
themselves and to assign responsibility or extend authority to either enable SMU to conduct its
ordinary business with external parties, pursue corporate developments, or relate to areas of
major expenditures, e.g. capital expenditures. These resolutions grant broad discretionary
powers to officers, agents, committees and employees to operate the organization in the normal
course of business. Authorizations at all levels of the organization must be within the limits
delegated to them by the Board.
 SMU Classification: Restricted 

Issue Date : 01 Jul 2002

Section : 2.2
Revision No. : 4
Revision Date : 14 Jan 2020

Page : Page 2 of 2

CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION POLICIES

Title: Delegation Process

Prepared by: CFO & Vice President, Finance Approved by: President

3. Corporate Management

The authority to manage or supervise the business lies primarily with the President. The
President is the Chief Executive Officer of SMU and the University’s academic and
administrative head. He/She is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the conduct, co-
ordination and quality of the University’s programmes and for its future developments.

The Articles of Association and the Board of Trustees have delegated to the President the broad
authority needed to run the business. He/She in turn delegates to others, so that the appointed
Deans or Head of Departments and Head of Centres are empowered with authority to carry out
the work of the organization.

The President is closely assisted by a group of senior corporate officers, including the Senior
Vice-President, Vice- President, Provost, Vice-Provost, Dean, Head of Department and Head of
Centre. This group forms SMU’s Corporate Management.

The delegation of authority from the BOT to officers, committees and agents, in effect, sets limits
within which each party may act. When a situation requires a decision or approval beyond these
limits, the subordinate refers the matter to the next higher level for approval.

The delegation of authority whether from the BOT to officers, committees or agents, or from the
President or Corporate Management to various subordinate levels of management, must be
clearly expressed in writing, and formally approved in accordance with policies. It must be
strongly emphasized that while authority may be delegated under certain conditions,
accountability is absolute and cannot be transferred nor delegated.

Internal authorizations not covered by a BOT Resolution are established, limited and/or
delegated by Corporate Management. Examples of such authorizations are signatory authority
for travel and entertainment expenses, etc.