Case Study: Academy of Art University achieves streamlined onboarding of 600 adjunct instructors per semester with Adobe Acrobat Sign

Academy of Art University prepares students for successful careers in art and design with Adobe Creative Cloud

Academy of Art University (est. 1929; ~9,500 students) in San Francisco faced the dual challenge of proving art and design can be taught effectively online while preparing students for real‑world creative careers and modernizing paper‑based HR processes. The university also needed to scale support for a global student body and rapidly adapt when COVID‑19 forced in‑person classes online.

By providing campus‑wide access to Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Education Exchange, integrating Adobe XD into coursework, and using Adobe Acrobat Sign with Workday to onboard 600 adjuncts each semester, the university built a robust LMS-backed online program. The result: accredited, industry‑ready graduates, a seamless pandemic transition, expanded global reach, and streamlined HR workflows that save time and materials.

Academy of Art University

Kate Griffeath

Executive Vice President of Educational Support