Dear Faculty and Staff,
Over the coming academic year, San José State University's Information Technology Services (ITS) will implement a series of technology improvements that support the university's academic mission and long-term sustainability.
These changes are guided by three priorities:
Investing in teaching, learning, and student success by reducing technology costs and redirecting resources to priorities such as classroom technology and other high-impact services.
Aligning with California State University (CSU) system standards where appropriate to improve efficiency, interoperability, and long-term support.
Modernizing our technology environment by adopting tools and services that are more sustainable, secure, and better positioned to meet the evolving needs of our campus.
The first of these changes will be the transition to AdobeSign from DocuSign. Beginning Fall 2026, we will conduct a phased migration that will conclude in March 2027.
This change represents a significant cost savings for the university of approximately $172,000 per year. Due to the large volume of templates and documents at SJSU, joining the CSU-wide AdobeSign systemwide agreement results in broader discounts and significantly lower annual costs for all CSU campuses.
For most faculty and staff, no immediate action is required. If you use DocuSign, your department will receive advance notice before its transition, along with training, guidance, and support to help make the process of transition to AdobeSign as smooth as possible. ITS is already working with departments that rely heavily on DocuSign to understand existing workflows, prepare templates, and identify any unique needs before migration begins.
Electronic signature tools are part of many important academic and administrative processes, and we are committed to minimizing disruption throughout the transition. Our approach is centered on early engagement, clear communication, and practical support at every stage. Over the coming months, we will share information about additional technology initiatives that advance these same priorities. Each initiative will be communicated individually with its own timeline, implementation plan, and opportunities to learn more before changes take effect.
Thank you for your partnership as we continue building a technology environment that better supports the work you do every day.
Sincerely,
Christopher W. Wessells,
Interim Vice President of IT and CIO
