Can a plan be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and UETA in most states. Verify any statutory exceptions that may apply in a particular jurisdiction.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Most internal course plans do not require notarization or witnesses. If the plan executes legal assignments or is used as a grant deliverable, a notary or witnesses may be necessary depending on state or funder requirements.

How long should signed plans be retained?

Retain for the active period plus at least 3 years; follow IRS guidance (IRC §6501(a)) for tax-related records and 45 CFR §164.530(j) for HIPAA-covered records.

What happens if an approver's name is entered incorrectly?

Mismatched signer names can complicate enforcement and identity verification. Correct errors before finalizing and preserve an audit trail of changes.

Can the plan be exported for audits?

Yes. Export signed PDFs and audit trails. Ensure the platform produces tamper-evident files and a timestamped certificate of completion for audit purposes.

Which authentication level is sufficient?

Email-only authentication is common for internal approvals; higher-risk or regulatory workflows may require SMS codes, knowledge-based verification, or multi-factor authentication.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Education
Course Development Plan

Course Development Plan

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

COURSE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

This Course Development Plan documents the planned learning outcomes, structure, assessments, resources, timeline and approvals required to create or substantially revise an approved academic course. Completion of this form constitutes a certification by the course developer that the course will comply with institutional academic standards, accessibility requirements, and applicable intellectual property and privacy obligations.

Course Identification

Course Title: Course Code:

Credits: Department/Unit: Program:

Developer / Instructor Information

Developer / Instructor Name Role / Title Contact Information

Course Overview

Summary Description Target Audience / Enrollment Restrictions Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Measurable Learning Outcomes

List 4–8 specific, measurable learning outcomes stated as student actions. Each outcome should be assessable.

Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4

Course Structure & Weekly Modules

Provide a high-level module breakdown. Include module title, estimated contact hours or weeks, and core objectives/content.

Module 1 Title Module 1 Objectives / Core Topics Module 2 Title Module 2 Objectives / Core Topics Module 3 Title Module 3 Objectives / Core Topics

Assessment Strategy & Grading

Define assessment types and their weighting. Total weight must equal 100%.

Assessment Item 1 (Type) Assessment Item 2 (Type) Assessment Item 3 (Type)

Grading Scale (brief):

Rubrics / Assessment Instruments

Materials, Resources & Budget

Required Textbooks / Materials Estimated Development Budget

Accessibility, Compliance & Intellectual Property

The course developer certifies the course design will meet institutional accessibility standards and that all third-party materials will be used in accordance with copyright and license terms. Identify required reviews below.

Accessibility review required

Copyright / licensing clearance required

Notes on Accommodations / IP

Development Timeline & Milestones

Provide milestone dates for development, review, pilot, and final deployment. Dates are for planning and are subject to approval.

Milestone 1 — Description Date:

Milestone 2 — Description Date:

Milestone 3 — Description Date:

Final Deployment Date

Risk Management & Quality Assurance

Identified Risks or Constraints Quality Assurance Actions

Approvals and Certifications

By signing below, the course developer attests that the information provided is accurate and that the proposed course design adheres to institutional academic standards, accessibility obligations, and applicable copyright or licensing requirements. The Department/Program Chair certifies that the course aligns with program learning outcomes and resource commitments.

Additional Comments from Developer

Developer (Print Name):

By:

Date:

Program/Department Chair (Print Name):

By:

Date:

What a Course Development Plan Is and when it's used

A Course Development Plan is a structured document that defines scope, learning objectives, timeline, resources, assessments, and deliverables for a new or revised course. It organizes instructional design decisions, aligns stakeholders (subject-matter experts, instructors, compliance reviewers), and documents approval checkpoints so development proceeds predictably. Typical use cases include university course proposals, corporate training rollouts, continuing education modules, and compliance-driven curricula where documented sign-offs and version control reduce rework and regulatory risk. The plan serves as the single source of truth from concept through pilot and launch, enabling clear handoffs between design, review, and implementation teams.

Legal standing and compliance considerations for signed plans

When signed and retained correctly, a Course Development Plan documents agreement among parties and can serve as evidence of approvals and timelines. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and by state adoption of UETA (1999) in most jurisdictions; New York follows its ESRA framework. Exceptions apply for transactions statutorily excluded from electronic signing.

Typical stakeholders who prepare or approve a plan

Organizations use Course Development Plans to coordinate multiple contributors, set milestones, and document approvals before launch.

Academic program managers who approve curriculum changes and ensure learning outcomes align with accreditation standards.
Instructional designers who document pedagogy, assessments, and media requirements for build and QA.
Compliance or legal reviewers who confirm accessibility, privacy, and vendor contract requirements are met.

The plan centralizes decisions so signers understand responsibilities and so the final course meets institutional, regulatory, and quality expectations.

Roles authorized to sign

Curriculum Director

A senior academic or training leader authorized to approve course scope and budget. Their signature confirms alignment with program goals and resource commitments; include title and delegated authority to avoid later disputes.

Lead Instructional Designer

The practitioner responsible for design deliverables and timelines. Their sign-off certifies that assessment methods, accessibility checks, and production requirements are complete and ready for implementation.

Core elements every professional Course Development Plan should include

A concise plan groups essential project data so reviewers can assess readiness and risk quickly. Include measurable objectives, schedule, budget, content outline, and acceptance criteria.

Title & Scope

Clear course title, short description, and boundaries describing what is in and out of scope to prevent scope creep during development.

Learning Objectives

Observable, measurable objectives that map to assessments and determine whether participants meet required competencies.

Audience & Prereqs

Target learners and required prior knowledge or certifications; defines eligibility and enrollment controls.

Content Outline

Module-by-module breakdown with approximate duration, media types, and key deliverables for each development stage.

Assessment Strategy

Formative and summative assessments, grading criteria, rubrics, and any proctoring or integrity controls required.

Timeline & Approvals

Milestones, reviewer responsibilities, and required approvals with signatory names, roles, and expected completion dates.

Essential compliance and security details to record

Data Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest

Access Controls: Role-based permissions for edit and review

Audit Trail: Immutable timestamped signing history

HIPAA Consideration: BAA required if PHI included

21 CFR Support: Compliant workflows for regulated records

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 available

Step-by-step: complete a Course Development Plan

Complete sections in the order below to build a usable plan and gather necessary approvals efficiently.

01

Draft Outline: Capture title, objectives, audience, and high-level modules.
02

Define Assessments: Specify grading, rubrics, and pass criteria.
03

Assign Resources: List designers, SMEs, media needs, and budget.
04

Collect Signatures: Route to approvers in the documented order and archive final signed plan.

How to configure an online approval workflow

Set up routing and field logic so reviewers see only what they must approve and signatures occur in the correct sequence.

Field \| Purpose	Name of field \| Why it appears to reviewers
Conditional Sections	Show review fields only when specific options are selected
Signer Order	Set required sequential approvals to ensure correct authorization
Authentication	Enable email or SMS codes for signer verification
Integration	Push approvals to LMS or document storage for recordkeeping

Typical routing and submission destinations

A Course Development Plan moves from draft to approvals and finally to storage or LMS publication; map destinations to avoid lost records.

Authoring: Draft by instructional designer in collaborative document
Review: Subject-matter experts and stakeholders annotate and request changes
Approval: Authorized signers apply signatures in required sequence
Archive: Store signed plan in a records system or LMS

Digital signing and sharing options

Use an eSignature platform that supports secure authentication, audit trails, and integrations with your content systems.

Authentication Options: Email link, SMS code, or stronger methods
Integrations: Salesforce, Microsoft 365, NetSuite, Google Workspace
File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and HTML supported

Ensure the platform can provide tamper-evident signed PDFs, exportable audit trails, and any required business associate agreements for protected health information.

Typical timeline checkpoints and expected durations

Common planning and approval timelines help set realistic launch dates; adjust durations for institutional review cycles.

Initial Proposal:

Submit 2–4 weeks before development begins

Design Phase:

Typically 4–8 weeks depending on scope

SME Review:

Allow 1–3 weeks for content verification

Pilot Testing:

2–6 weeks to collect feedback and revise

Final Approval:

Sign-offs completed before LMS publication

Key development milestones from concept to launch

Organize the project into numbered milestones so approvals align with deliverables and launch readiness.

01

Milestone 1: Concept

Define objectives and secure initial budget approval.

02

Milestone 2: Detailed Design

Complete module outlines, media plans, and assessment blueprints.

03

Milestone 3: Build & QC

Develop content, run accessibility and quality checks.

04

Milestone 4: Pilot & Launch

Pilot with target learners and finalize for full rollout.

Common mistakes that delay approval or create compliance gaps

Vague learning objectives that cannot be measured, causing assessment misalignment and reviewer rework.
Missing approvals or unclear signer authority, which invalidates launch dates and raises governance questions.
Incomplete accessibility checks (WCAG) or privacy reviews, leading to remediation after deployment.
Poor version control where reviewers comment on outdated drafts, producing conflicting directions.

Short risks and consequences to watch for

Compliance Breach: FERPA or HIPAA exposure risk

Invalid Approval: Signatures lacking authority may be unenforceable

Accessibility Failures: Legal and reputational exposure

Data Loss: Insufficient retention or backup

Delayed Launch: Missed semester or cohort window

Intellectual Property: Missing assignment of work-for-hire rights

Real-world examples of signed development workflows

These examples show how organizations use signed plans to streamline approvals and keep auditable records for compliance.

Tim Martin — Martin Properties

Tim described processing all documents online with full compliance and security.

He highlighted mobile and offline execution.
The result was faster approvals and traceable audit trails that supported remote stakeholder coordination across multiple projects.

Kodi-Marie Evans — Xerox

Kodi-Marie noted flexibility to get signatures in the right formats based on integrations.

The NetSuite integration was central to their workflow.
That integration reduced manual entry, ensured consistent approvals, and simplified recordkeeping for training-related contracts.

Comparing eSignature vendors for Course Development Plan approvals

Vendor pricing and feature availability vary. Below is a concise comparison of common plan features and costs; signNow is listed first per vendor ordering conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about completing and signing the plan

Answers to common questions about signatures, retention, and compliance when preparing a Course Development Plan.

Need help? Contact support

Can a plan be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96, 2000) and UETA in most states. Verify any statutory exceptions that may apply in a particular jurisdiction.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Most internal course plans do not require notarization or witnesses. If the plan executes legal assignments or is used as a grant deliverable, a notary or witnesses may be necessary depending on state or funder requirements.
How long should signed plans be retained?
Retain for the active period plus at least 3 years; follow IRS guidance (IRC §6501(a)) for tax-related records and 45 CFR §164.530(j) for HIPAA-covered records.
What happens if an approver's name is entered incorrectly?
Mismatched signer names can complicate enforcement and identity verification. Correct errors before finalizing and preserve an audit trail of changes.
Can the plan be exported for audits?
Yes. Export signed PDFs and audit trails. Ensure the platform produces tamper-evident files and a timestamped certificate of completion for audit purposes.
Which authentication level is sufficient?
Email-only authentication is common for internal approvals; higher-risk or regulatory workflows may require SMS codes, knowledge-based verification, or multi-factor authentication.

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