DRS asks that faculty log in to the DRS Instructor Portal as soon as the semester begins to indicate their Exam Management Method in order to streamline the facilitation of exam accommodations.
- Method 1: All exams are online/I will proctor my own exams
What this means: your class has online assessments or, you can accommodate all your students outside of the Testing Center and within your academic department.
What this looks like in practice: you or a department representative ensuring a comprehensive understanding of student alternative testing accommodations, as well as ensuring there is time and space in order to administer exams with said accommodations.
You want to update your exam management method to “All exams are online/I will proctor my own exams.” Instructions are available on our website FAQ What if I am only administering online exams? Following, it is on you, the faculty member, to ensure there is time and space in order for all accommodated exams to take place. You will need to communicate this plan to your students regarding when and where to report for exams. This option completely removes the DRS Alternative Testing scheduling process. No alternative testing agreement is required. Students will not submit alternative testing requests and scheduling would be arranged internally within your academic department.
- Method 2: My class has no exams
What this means: your class has no assessments.
What this looks like in practice: without assessments in the course, alternative testing accommodations may not apply. Please contact DRS if you have any questions about your exam management method for a class that has no exams.
- Method 3: The Testing Center will proctor my exams (I will complete the agreement and add ALL exam dates)
What this means: you cannot provide the time or space to accommodate all your students outside of the Testing Center and within your academic department. Therefore, you require the DRS Alternative Testing Process to provide the Testing Center space for some or all students' accommodated exams. Review the Alternative Testing Agreement FAQ in its entirety.
What faculty need to do:
- Complete your alternative testing agreement with every exam date. If you don’t know when your final exam is, refer to the Final Exam Schedule and Information on the Registrar's website.
Can you accommodate SOME of your students outside of the Testing Center and within your academic department?
What this looks like in practice: you or a department representative ensuring a comprehensive understanding of student alternative testing accommodations, as well as ensuring there is time and space in order to administer exams with said accommodations.
Since you cannot ensure there is time and space for all students, but perhaps can capture a significant portion of the students (say, with 50% extended time) to administer exams within the department, it would be appropriate for you to complete your alternative testing agreement and add the exam dates. Instructions are available on our website FAQ How do I access and complete the alternative testing agreement? Students will submit alternative testing requests to reserve a seat in the Testing Center only if they cannot be accommodated in your department space.
Keep in mind: It is on you, the faculty member, to inform students of their options. You will need to communicate this plan to your students regarding how to schedule exams and where to report for exams based on how it is scheduled.
- Students in the classroom or academic department space should not submit alternative testing requests.
- Students who need to test outside of the classroom or academic department space should submit an alternative testing request to reserve their seat in the Testing Center.
Can you accommodate NONE of your students outside of the Testing Center and within your academic department?
You are not alone. Many departments lack the resources to provide accommodations within the department. Therefore, we offer the DRS Alternative Testing Process for Testing Center proctored exams.
What faculty need to do:
- Complete your alternative testing agreement with every exam date. If you don’t know when your final exam is, refer to the Final Exam Schedule and Information on the Registrar's website.
- Accommodated Departmental Final Exam Pilot
The accommodated departmental final exam pilot represents a collaboration between Disability Resources and Services, University Testing Center, Office of the Registrar, Office of the Provost, and Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. DRS offers the DRS Alternative Testing Process for Testing Center proctored exams, and this pilot reserves additional rooms for your departmental final exam needs.
Which Exam(s) Are Involved in the Pilot?
This pilot applies only to final exams in participating courses, not to other exams or quizzes throughout the semester.
What Actions Must You Take as an Instructor Involved in This Pilot?
- Complete your alternative testing agreement with every exam date. If you don't know when your final exam is, refer to the Final Exam Schedule and Information page on the Registrar's website.
- Communicate directly, with respect to privacy, with your students about your exam arrangements. This can be done in class with a general announcement, via Canvas, or via email and BCC to your DRS students.
- Please refer to the Departmental Final Student Communication guidance for recommended communication timeline, step-by-step messaging instructions, and sample language templates.
- Send an initial communication after the 4th week of classes, and then a reminder approximately 2 weeks before the final exam.
- Note: Students may be approved for accommodations throughout the term, so multiple communications are necessary.
Keep in mind: As the faculty member, you play an important role in informing students of their available options. You will also need to communicate your plan to students, including how to schedule their exams and where to report based on the selected arrangement.
- Students in the DRS departmental final exam room should not submit alternative testing requests.
- Students who need to test outside of the DRS departmental final exam room should submit an alternative testing request to reserve their seat in the Testing Center.
Which Students Will Participate in the Pilot?
Students approved for one or a combination of the following accommodations are eligible for this pilot:
- Extended test time (25% or 50%) with distraction-minimized environment
- Testing environment in which distraction is minimized
- Ability to use noise-cancelling headphones/ear plugs in examinations
- Use of scrap paper in examinations
- Food/drink allowed
Important: Students with these accommodations do not need to submit an alternative testing request for their final exam in pilot courses—they will test with their department.
Students approved for other or additional accommodations not listed above should continue to follow the standard alternative testing request process through the University Testing Center. Faculty should still populate a final exam in their Alternative Testing Agreement for these students.
What Additional Actions Will Academic and University Partners Take?
The University Registrar will identify and reserve a room for your department to proctor the accommodated final exam for students in this pilot. DRS will provide this information to you in an email update in February. Your department may elect to identify and reserve additional rooms for this purpose at their discretion.
Your department is responsible for arranging proctor(s) for this accommodated final and coordinating all associated details for the administration of this final.