Guidelines for
Alternative Testing Services:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reinforced
and extended the standards for compliance set forth in Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The effect of this legislation
on higher education is far reaching. Reasonable accommodations
in policies, practices and procedures are necessary to avoid discrimination
on the basis of disability. In order to comply with the mandate
of Section 504, it is necessary to provide alternative testing
arrangements to students whose disability may impair their ability
to take examinations in traditional formats. It is the purpose
of the alternative testing service to measure actual achievement
rather than the impact or barrier caused by the student's disability.
Alternative testing arrangements might include extended time (up
to double time), use of adaptive equipment (i.e. computer, spell
checker, or Optilek), a private room, the use of a reader or scribe,
oral exams, enlarged printing, or an exam converted into Braille.
The needs for each student vary and accommodations are determined
after reviewing current professional documentation of the individual's
disability. Documentation should be within the last three years.
The Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides an alternative testing
service in compliance with ADA standards to students who have
disabilities. Eligibility for this service is determined by the
DRC professional staff, and is based on the professional documentation
provided by the student.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
1. Students who have never used the testing services in DRC need
to meet with the DRC staff to determine the appropriate accommodations
and to review the guidelines for taking tests.
2. During the first two weeks of the semester, meet with your
professors (not teaching assistants) to discuss your alternative
testing arrangements. At this time, present them with the letter
from DRC which verifies your need for alternative testing arrangements.
Informing faculty of your need for alternative testing accommodations
after the beginning of the semester may make arrangements more
difficult to schedule.
3. At least one week (5 working days) prior to each exam
that you want to take through the DRC office, contact your instructor
again regarding the following information:
A. Clarify special test conditions with the instructor,
such as whether or not the exam will be open book, open notes,
calculators allowed, etc. These conditions must be stated on the
envelope in which the test is delivered or in a note from the
professor included with the exam.
B. Determine the date and time of the exam*,
as well as if there will be any flexibility in when the professor
will allow you to take the exam. (If a schedule of exams has been
set, students may schedule exams for the entire semester. However,
the student is still responsible for reminding the professor of
the date and time of each exam.)
C. Clarify that the professor needs to ensure that the
exam arrives at least an hour before your scheduled exam time
(note: if an exam needs to be Brailled, it should be delivered
no later than a week before the scheduled time). Also let your
professors know that they need to make arrangements to have exams
picked-up after you have finished. (Due to minimal staffing, DRC
cannot pick-up or deliver exams to professors or academic departments
unless special arrangements are made in advance.)
4. After all details of the testing have been discussed
and approved with the professor (this having been completed at
least a week in advance), you should go to the DRC office to schedule
your exam or use this link to print off a testing
reservation form. At that time, specify any special
accommodations (i.e. computer, Optilek, reader, etc.) that are
necessary. DRC does not guarantee the provision of service for
late requests due to the difficulty in making arrangements for
proctors. Students also need to provide DRC staff with the course
number (or at least title) and the name of the instructor. In
the event that services cannot be provided, the student is responsible
for making arrangements with the professor.
5. Students are expected to arrive five to ten minutes early to
take their exams. Students will not be given extra time if they
arrive late. If a student arrives more than fifteen minutes late,
they will only be allowed to take the exam if space is available.
6. If an exam needs to be changed or canceled
due to illness or emergency, contact the Office of Disabled
Student Services at least an hour prior to the scheduled
test time. The student will be responsible for notifying
the professor of the change or cancellation and for rescheduling
an alternative time to take the exam. DRC will try to
accommodate these changes, but will not guarantee that services
can be provided on less than a week's notice.
*Students may take exams Monday through Friday, between
8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Any exam taken must be completed
within this time frame due to the availability of proctors. As
a result students should be aware of the amount of time they will
require to complete the exam.
Students are expected to understand and follow the above guidelines.
If guidelines are not followed, DRC cannot guarantee the provision
of service. DRC also reserves the right to terminate testing privileges
after three incidents of non-compliance with the guidelines.
Students are expected to uphold the integrity of the examination
process and are subject to disciplinary action for academic misconduct.
Academic Misconduct is not limited to obvious cases of cheating
but can also include leaving the testing environment for any reason
with out the permission of the DRC professional staff or exam
proctor.
All exams delivered to DRC will be logged in as having been delivered
by an appropriate staff member and then placed in a secure location
in the department office. DRC will schedule all rooms and proctors
for tests. Proctors are recruited from staff, administration,
and community resources.
Students who complete an exam prior to the beginning of their
class, will remain in the DRC office until their class begins
the exam.
Faculty Responsibility in using the Alternative Testing
Service
There are three things that professors are responsible for in
this process:
1. The exam must be delivered to Campus Center,
Room 137 or faxed to 442-3908 at least one hour prior to the student's
scheduled start time. Please call prior to faxing an exam to protect
the security of the test. Due to the difficulty in scheduling
time for the proctor, student, and room, it is imperative that
all exams start on time. When exams are not started punctually,
DRC cannot guarantee that testing accommodations will be available
for the entire time the student may need to complete the exam.
(Please note: if an exam needs to be Braille, large print, or
recorded, it should be delivered no later than one week before
the scheduled time.) Due to minimal staffing, DRC cannot pick-up
or deliver exams to professors or academic departments unless
special arrangements are made in advance.
2. Any special circumstances regarding the test,
should be noted on the test when delivered to DRC (e.g. open note/book,
use of calculator, formulas, etc.)
3. Once completed, the test will
remain in DRC awaiting pick-up by the professor or a designee
of the department. Due to very limited staffing, DRC cannot deliver
exams unless special arrangements have been made in advance.
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