An electronic signature or eSignature is a digital version of a handwritten signature and is a legal way of recording consent or approval on electronic documents and forms.
In general, there are 3 types of eSignatures, two of which are available at McGill:
Basic eSignature
Trusted eSignature
Adobe Acrobat Reader: All McGill users.
DocuSign: This pilot project is available to selected users (students, faculty and staff members) who need to use eSignature for work purposes.
Adobe Acrobat Reader: If the application is not installed on your computer, you can download it for free from the Adobe website.
DocuSign: For more information, see How to request & access the service in the article *About: DocuSign eSignature.
There is no cost associated with the creation of eSignatures using Adobe Acrobat Reader or DocuSign.
The service is available 24 X 7, except during planned maintenance or outages. Check the home page of the IT Support site for announcements.
During the DocuSign pilot phase, all eSignature features may not be available and/or may be restricted due to the limited number of licenses available.
No, both options offer the same level of security. Sending a signed document via your McGill email address provides more authenticity to the signature, much like two-factor authentication (2FA) does for your credentials, whether you have signed with Fill & Sign or a self-signed certificate / Digital ID.
Yes, in most cases. However, some forms may have been configured specifically for signature with a certificate. In this case, you can only sign with a self-signed certificate / Digital ID and the Fill & Sign option will be unavailable.
Fill & Sign is recommended because it is easier to use. Use a self-signed certificate / Digital ID only when specified by the sender and the Fill & Sign option is unavailable.
No, the eSignature features are included in the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
No, it remains a basic eSignature. Only certification from a recognized third party will give high reliability.
Consult the decision chart to determine which solution is best suited for your situation.
An eSignature is the capture and storage of metadata (e.g., date, time, IP address, etc.), and audit trail associated with an electronic signing process.
A digital eSignature is a specific type of eSignature that has an additional signer authentication element. Digital signatures include a personal digital certificate that is issued only when the identity of the signer is validated. This certificate must be issued by a third-party provider (for higher legal value).
As DocuSign authentication relies on email, it has the same level of security as anyone using a McGill email address.
Find more FAQs on the DocuSign support site.
Before selecting an eSignature solution, consult the decision chart.
Create an eSignature with Adobe Acrobat Reader
Contact the IT Service Desk for help with access/authentication issues.