While you may bring a bag or backpack into the testing center, you must stow it inside a secure locker in the DSS lobby. Only permitted exam materials are allowed in the Testing Room. This includes a writing instrument, bluebook, or any materials/equipment that the instructor permits, or materials granted as an accommodation. All phones and smart watches must be turned off in the proctor's presence and must be kept in the lockers during the exam unless permitted through accommodations.

Yes. While several students are often taking exams at one time, and we cannot guarantee that there will be no distractions, we work hard to ensure that the Testing Center has as few distractions as possible. Students must whisper when communicating with the proctor. We provide earplugs upon request and noise-canceling headphones that may be used by students who have permission to use noise-canceling headphones as an accommodation. The seats in our testing center have visual buffers to minimize visual distractions.

It happens! First things first, you need to contact our office as soon as possible in order to determine if we have space for you to test. While a phone call is best for this, an email could work as well if we are far enough out from your exam. If we have confirmed that we are able to administer your exam, then you are good to come in to take your exam. However, if we do not have space available, you will need to reach out to your professor to determine a solution.

Students should schedule exams 5 business days in advance and final exams 7 business days in advance. In instances where you schedule exams within 3 days or less prior to your exam date or 4 days or less prior to your finals exams date; you may be subject to an inability to test in DSS due to space constraints and an inability to collect testing materials from the instructor in a timely manner. In the event that DSS is unable to proctor an exam, please note that it is the student’s responsibility to reach out to their professor as soon as possible to determine a solution.

If you don't see your class listed as an option when you are trying to schedule an exam, you may not have sent out your Accommodation Notification Letters. Please see our page on how to send out those Accommodation Notification Letters above. If you know you did send out your letters, quickly check to ensure that you selected "Alternative Testing" as an accommodation for this specific course. If both of these have been done and you still can't find your course –contact the DSS office!

It is expected that students with testing accommodations will take their exams as close to the scheduled in-class exam time as their course schedule allows. However, we do not ask students to miss or be late to a class due to taking an accommodated exam in another class. You may start exams as early as 8:15 AM. So, depending on the time of your exam, you may be able to begin taking it prior to the start of class. If this is not possible, either because the exam is for an 8:00 class or you also have another class directly before the exam, please coordinate with your instructor to agree on a time when you can take it at Disability Support Service.

If you are unable to make your exam, please contact both your professor and our office as soon as you are able. Please note: your professor must approve all exam time changes according to the make-up exam policy for their specific course. While our office does need to be informed of any missed or modified exams, you must first communicate with your professor regarding the reason for a missed exam.

Submit your exam request anyway! The first exam request of the semester prompts your professor to complete their Alternative Testing Agreement. There is nothing additional needed from you at this time. Our office will reach out to your professor and ask that they complete the Alternative Testing Agreement prior to your exam date.

While you can modify the date/time/exam type for exam requests, you cannot modify the course for which the exam is scheduled. If you incorrectly schedule an exam, you must cancel that original exam request and submit a new exam request for the same time with the correct exam. Please note that you will need to cancel your initial exam request first in order to schedule a new one in the same time slot.

If you have a question or a comment while taking an exam at the DSS Testing Center, there are a few ways to contact the instructor if the instructor permits questions/clarifications during an exam. If your instructor has provided a phone number, the proctor will allow you to use the testing center's phone. If the instructor did not provide a phone number but does permit questions to be asked via email, you will be able to type the question into an email that will be sent through the proctor’s email account. The proctor will let you know when and if the instructor responds.

If your question is not answered while you are taking the exam at the DSS Testing Center, the proctor will note on the exam envelope that our office attempted to contact the instructor. In these situations, it is best that the student answer the exam item to the best of their ability. This will allow the student to continue to work through the exam.

Disability Support Services provides proctors in the Testing Center for all exams. Proctors are trained to observe students carefully to ensure academic integrity during exams. If a proctor or other Testing Center staff observe behavior that could constitute cheating or other academic integrity violations, the student will be asked to step out of the testing area to discuss the event with staff. Depending on the type and severity of the observed behavior, the student may or may not be permitted to finish the exam. A detailed summary of the event, including the student’s explanation of their behavior, will be provided to the instructor.