Can I use Adobe to electronically sign my Other Support documentation?

Yes, but with qualifications. Use Adobe's Prepare Agreement option under the Sign menu and the Insert Digital Signature function to ensure the required audit trail is assigned.  Do not use Adobe's "Fill & Sign" or "Sign Yourself" options.

NIH requires that "[a]pplicants and recipients maintain supporting documentation to reasonably authenticate that the appropriate individual signed the [Other Support] form."  In this case, supporting documentation is interpreted to mean an audit trail associated with each application of an electronic signature.  The individual is responsible for locating and providing a signature's supporting documentation upon request from NIH or others.  When using Adobe, the PDF file, electronic signature, and audit trail are stored locally (e.g., on an individual's computer drive). 

U-M recommends using SignNow to sign Other Support documentation.  As UM-supported software, the PDF file and correspondiing signature supporting documentation is stored centrally and availalble through SignNow.