Testing Accommodations

The student’s Accommodation Letter lists their pre-approved accommodations with descriptions, including any testing accommodations.

The DS Test Center

Only students with disability-related testing Accommodations can schedule tests in the DS Test Center. Tests are by reservation only; we aren’t a drop-in center.

  • Location: Main campus in FRET 230, inside the Disability Services suite.
  • Hours for Fall 2025: Mon-Thur, 8 AM – 6 PM; Fridays, 8 AM – 5 PM

Scheduling Deadlines for Students

  • Fall/Spring: 6 days prior to the in-class test date
  • Summer: 3 days prior to the in-class test date
  • Finals: Posted on our website under Important Dates (right side).

Scheduling Tests in the Test Center: 2 Paths

Path 1: Student-Initiated

  1. Student schedules the test in the Test Center.
  2. Instructor is notified via email of the test reservation and will continue to receive reminders until test information is entered.
  3. Instructor reviews the date and time that the student entered.
    • If incorrect, Instructor should edit the date, class start, and class end times for the in-class test. Don’t calculate the extended time; the system will do that, if applicable.
  4. Instructor enters the Test Proctoring Information for the Classroom. Items left unchecked will not be allowed for test takers.
  5. Next, Instructor reviews & confirms Test Details.
  6. Then, Instructor uploads test. Test may be uploaded later if not ready.
    • For Online tests, Instructor uploads materials distributed in the classroom, if any.
    • For Physical Materials (Hand-Delivery), if applicable, Instructor delivers to FRET 230 prior to test start time.

Path 2: Instructor-Initiated

  1. Instructor enters the date and and time of the test to correspond with class time.
  2. Instructor enters the Test Proctoring Information for the Classroom. Items left unchecked will not be allowed for test takers.
  3. Next, Instructor reviews & confirms Test Details.
  4. Then, Instructor uploads test. Test may be uploaded later if not ready.
    • For Online tests, Instructor uploads materials distributed in the classroom, if any.
    • For Physical Materials (Hand-Delivery), if applicable, Instructor delivers to FRET 230 prior to test start time.
  5. Tip: Instructor notifies student(s) that the date/time are set in the Portal and students can schedule their test.
  6. Student uses the Student Portal to schedule their test reservation according to the Instructor’s pre-entered details.

Tip: Using this path, the Instructor only needs to enter proctoring information and upload the test once per section. Since sections cannot be linked, treat each section of a course as a unique course.

Upload Deadlines: Cutoff Period
  • During the regular semester, test files should be uploaded a minimum of 3 hours before your specific student’s start time.
  • During Final Exams, test files should be uploaded a minimum of 12 hours before your specific student’s start time.

Test Security

  • The DS Faculty Portal is the secure system for sharing information with the testing staff. Student test-takers receive that information only when they arrive for their test.
  • Tests in the DS Test Center are proctored by DS staff and monitored by surveillance cameras. During finals, we additional classrooms in FRET that are monitored by a human proctor physically in the room.
  • Cell phone use by test-takers is not permitted while actively testing. The only use is for Duo, needed when accessing online tests.
  • Academic integrity concerns are reported to instructors via email.

Faculty Providing Testing Accommodations

Instructors have the option to administer testing accommodations directly, either in the classroom or by arranging an alternate location and time. This method offers several benefits: the student has direct access to you (or your TA) to ask questions during the assessment, and the completed test is returned to you right away.

If you, as the instructor, choose to provide testing accommodations, you must:

  1. Review the Student’s Accommodation Letter: Review the letter for descriptions of each testing accommodation and determine if you can meet the specific needs (e.g., extended time, low-distraction environment).
  2. Contact DS for Clarification: If you have questions about specific accommodations or how to implement them, contact the student’s assigned DS team member, whose information is listed on the letter.
  3. Coordinate Testing Location and Time: Plan with the student. Determine whether the accommodations can be provided in the classroom during the regular test time. If not, the instructor may offer to provide accommodations during office hours or an alternate date/time.

Students must speak with their instructor before the in-class test date to determine if testing accommodations can be provided without the use of the DS Test Center. Providing instructors with an accommodation letter is not the same as planning to use testing accommodations in the classroom. Coordination between the student and instructor is required.

Unable to Provide Testing Accommodations Yourself?

  • Instructors may be unable to provide testing accommodations due to time constraints, student assistive technology needs, etc.
  • If faculty cannot provide testing accommodations or haven’t agreed to do so in the classroom, the student must schedule a reservation with the DS Test Center to receive them.