Getting Started | Technology Services

Retention and Disposition Requirements

DocuSign is an electronic signature solution and not intended as a long-term storage solution for University records. A copy of completed documents will reside in DocuSign no longer than 18 months.

It is the sender's responsibility to ensure the official/public record is archived in a long-term storage solution, retained and destroyed in accordance with the VCU Records Management policy and time periods listed in the Library of Virginia’s Retention and Disposition Schedules.

For a list of applications approved for long-term storage, please visit Technology Services Where Can I Store My Data? page.

Key Features

Electronic Signatures

Signing with DocuSign is faster, safer and more accessible than using traditional “wet” signatures.

Legally Binding

Electronic signatures are legally binding in the United States and most countries around the world. The ESIGN Act of 2000 defined the legality and enforceability of electronic signatures across all 50 states. The ESIGN Act ensures that contracts and signatures cannot be denied validity or enforceability because they are in electronic form. In Virginia state law, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act supports the use of electronic records and electronic signatures for transactions between parties each of which has agreed to conduct transactions by electronic means. VCU's agreement is shown to each new recipient in DocuSign. The recipient must read and agree to the VCU terms before viewing or taking action on the documents sent them.

Mobile Friendly

If you are using an iPad, iPhone, Android or Windows device, download an easy-to-use app so you can create, tag, send and sign documents on the fly. Even if you don’t have a DocuSign mobile app installed, you can easily sign documents from your mobile web browser.

PowerForms

PowerForms let your department generate on-demand, self-service documents for signature. This helps eliminate document preparation time and easily pulls the data you collect into existing applications.

Systems Integration

Enables departments to download envelopes, documents, and data from DocuSign for use with other University systems. Connect is a push web service. Retrieve is a Windows-based retrieval tool.

Templates

Prepare documents for rapid sending with reusable templates that save tags and field placement, workflow routing, and other settings. Templates standardize processes, reduce preparation time and enable end-to-end automation.

Department Projects

Interested in seeing a product demo or starting a DocuSign project for your department? Technology Services offers training and project support at no cost to University members and departments. Please submit a request ticket to the IT Support Center.

How do I gain access to DocuSign?

Default Access

All active University students, faculty, staff, and affiliates have access to receive, complete, and sign documents sent to them in DocuSign. Use your @vcu.edu email address at the following URL, and you will be redirected to the VCU CAS login.vcu.edu page for authentication:

NOTE: VCU employees with a @vcuhealth.org email address must use their eID@vcu.edu for actions requiring elevated access. Issues logging on to VCU CAS should be reported to the VCU Technology Services IT Support Center at 828-2227.

Elevated Access (per request)

Please note that each individual requesting elevated access must submit his/her own request for access. You may not request elevated access on behalf of another person.

DocuSign Sender

If you are designated by your department/unit as a sender, you will need to request DocuSign Sender access. Sender access is required to upload and sign or send documents for signature.

DocuSign Author

If you need to be able to create templates or PowerForms used by your department, you will need to request DocuSign Author access. Please note that Author includes the ability to Send.

DocuSign Developer

DocuSign Developer access is required to integrate University applications with DocuSign leveraging APIs. The VCU DocuSign support team will provide guidance regarding the implementation. More information is available at the DocuSign Developer Center.

Requesting Elevated Access

To request elevated access, submit the appropriate category of the request to the IT Support Center, under Application/System, DocuSign.

Any questions, please let us know!