Cayuse Agreements uses two system-level roles to control what users can do across the entire module. Understanding which role you have — and which one you need — helps you work effectively and request the right access when something is missing.
The Two System-Level Roles
Agreements Administrator
The Administrator role provides full access to Cayuse Agreements. Users with this role can:
- Create new agreement records
- Search and view all agreements in the system, regardless of whether they are personally named on those agreements
- Edit agreement details and associated records
- Manage users and system configuration settings
This role is typically assigned to technology transfer staff, contracts officers, and others who manage agreements on behalf of the institution.
Agreements Researcher
The Researcher role provides limited, read-only access. Users with this role can:
- View agreements they are directly associated with (for example, as an investigator or other named party)
- Run basic queries to locate agreements they are connected to
Users with the Researcher role cannot create new agreements, edit existing records, or view agreements they are not named on.
This role is typically assigned to faculty and other investigators who need visibility into their own agreements but do not need broader access.
Permissions at a Glance
| Permission | Administrator | Researcher |
|---|---|---|
| Create new agreements | Yes | No |
| Search all agreements | Yes | No — associated agreements only |
| View agreement details | Yes | Yes — associated agreements only |
| Edit agreements | Yes | No |
| Manage users and configuration | Yes | No |
How Roles Are Assigned
System-level roles are not assigned within Cayuse Agreements itself. They are managed through the Cayuse platform by your institution's Cayuse Administrator — typically someone in your central IT or research administration office.
To have a role assigned or changed, you need to contact your institution's Cayuse Administrator. They will update your access in the Cayuse platform, and the change will be reflected in Cayuse Agreements.
What to Do If You Need Different Access
If you find that you cannot perform a task you need to complete — for example, you can view agreements but cannot create new ones — your system role may not match your responsibilities. In that case:
- Identify the access you need (Administrator or Researcher).
- Contact your institution's Cayuse Administrator and explain what you are trying to do.
- The Cayuse Administrator will review and update your role as appropriate.
Do not contact Cayuse Support directly for role changes — this is handled entirely within your institution.
Important: Roles Apply Institution-Wide
Your system role applies to your entire institution's instance of Cayuse Agreements. There is no per-agreement version of these roles — an Administrator can access all agreements in the system, and a Researcher can only access agreements they are named on, regardless of which agreement you are looking at.
Being named on a specific agreement (for example, as a Lead Negotiator or Billing Contact) is a separate concept from your system role. See Agreement-Level People Roles for more information.