One of benefits of the Return for Revisions routing step (RFR) is that it can be used in combination with an Applicant-Driven Routing Step (ADRS). This may apply to scenarios such as:

  • a faculty mentor asking a student to make tweaks to their project proposal or
  • a department chair asking a faculty member to add details to their budget

before the submission enters a more formal review process.


While this type of configuration can save approvers and administrators valuable time, there are a few key points to remember:


1. Return for Revisions routing steps cannot run concurrently.

  • By design, any RFR step must be completed before the application can proceed to any other steps.
  • So, if you have 2 ADRS and you want both to have the power to return, they cannot review at the same time. The reviewer assigned to ADRS1 will have to submit before ADRS2 opens.
    • AND if the ADRS1 reviewer returns the application for edits, the applicant will need to resubmit before ADRS2 opens.
    • Conversely, if the ADRS1 reviewer doesn't return the application for edits, it proceeds directly to ADRS2.

2. When returning, reviewers only have a blank message box to compose their feedback.

  • They can include bullet points, a numbered list, or even a chart to outline their feedback.
  • There is not a way to collect additional specific questions from the reviewer at this point.
  • If you need detailed responses from a reviewer in addition to their "return" comments, consider assigning the reviewer to a Form Designer routing step, and having the administrator manage the RFR step(s).

3. Only one reviewer can return per application.

  • If many reviewers have the power to return in your process (e.g., any committee member can request a return), consider having separate steps for 1) collecting reviewer feedback and then 2) returning, based on reviewer responses in Step 1.
  • If it is your first time trying out the RFR step, we recommend you (as the InfoReady administrator) handle any returning. As you get more comfortable, you can assign other individuals, based on your specific workflow.

Have more questions about this topic? Go to the Community Forum to pose the question to other users or submit a support ticket to InfoReady.