Case Study: Pepperdine University achieves 19-minute document turnaround and improved productivity with Adobe Sign

Pepperdine University, technology innovators in education

Pepperdine University, an independent university of about 7,700 students with campuses in California, Washington, D.C., and six international locations, faced slow, paper-based processes for signing and tracking documents. With dispersed faculty and staff, routine items like payroll forms, contracts, and complex grant approvals could take days or weeks, creating security, access, and efficiency challenges.

Pepperdine standardized on Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Sign (Adobe Document Cloud) to automate and mobile-enable signature workflows. The rollout cut turnaround times from days to an average of 19 minutes, saw 275+ documents sent within four months, and enabled bulk and mobile signing (90 staff signed a Code of Ethics in one day). The change improved productivity, collaboration, tracking, and sustainability while freeing staff to focus on student‑facing work.

Pepperdine University

Jonathan See

Chief Information Officer