Testing Accommodation Questions

Question: If a Student Has Testing Accommodations, What Do I Do?

When you meet with the student about the implementation of their accommodations, consider the approved testing accommodations and how testing will be handled. Will you, as the instructor, be able to proctor the exam in the classroom or other space? Does your schedule allow you to proctor an exam before class time begins or after it ends? If you can proctor the exam, you will make the arrangements with the student as to when and where testing will take place. It is the responsibility of the student to inform you of the need for testing accommodations as part of the discussion between faculty and student.

If you are unable to proctor the exam, please inform the student that he/she/they will need to make arrangements with the Office of Accessibility 3-5 business days prior to the date of the exam.

Question: What is a Testing Agreement?

A Testing Agreement is a form filled out by faculty members who need proctoring assistance from the OAA. If a student will need to take an exam with the OAA, please do the following.

1. Navigate to the Bulldog Access faculty portal, sign in using your UNCA username and password.

2. Once on the main menu, select “continue to view accommodations.”

3. Choose “Alternative Testing,” which is located on a gray bar on the left side of the screen.

4. Select the course for which the testing agreement is being filled out from the dropdown menu. Select “continue to specify testing agreement.”

5.  Answer the questions listed on the form. Be sure to hit submit when the form is completed.

If you need assistance with this process, please contact academicaccess@unca.edu or call 828. 232. 5050 to connect with a OAA staff member.

 

Question: If I Can Proctor an Exam, Do I Need to Fill Out a Testing Agreement?

If you are able to proctor the exam without assistance from the OAA, you do not need to fill out a Testing Agreement. However, even if you are proctoring your own exams, you will need to inform the OAA that you are able to proctor the exams. To notify the OAA, please complete the following steps.

  1. Log into the Bulldog Access faculty portal using your UNCA username and password.
  2. Select “continue to view accommodations.”
  3. Choose “Alternative Testing,” which is located on the left side of the screen in a gray bar.
  4.  Scroll down to the “I will Proctor my Own Exam” section of the screen.  From the dropdown menu, please select the course for which you are serving as proctor.
  5.  Select “I will proctor my own exam” from the second dropdown menu. Please be sure to confirm your selection before exiting.

If you need assistance with this process, please contact academicaccess@unca.edu or call 828. 232. 5050 to connect with an OAA staff member. 

Question: My Course Doesn’t Have Exams. What Do I Do for Students with Testing Accommodations?

If your course does not have quizzes, exams, or a final exam, please inform the Office of Accessibility.

You should inform the OAA completing the following steps:

  1. Log into the Bulldog Access faculty portal using your UNCA username and password.
  2. Select “continue to view accommodations.”
  3. Choose “Alternative Testing,” which is located on the left side of the screen in a gray bar.
  4.  Scroll down to the “I will Proctor my Own Exam” section of the screen.  From the dropdown menu, please select the course for which you are serving as proctor.
  5.  Select “My course has no exams” from the second dropdown menu. Please be sure to confirm your selection before exiting.

If you need assistance with this process, please contact academicaccess@unca.edu or call 828. 232. 5050 to connect with an OAA staff member.

Question: When Should a Student Inform me of the Need for Testing Accommodations?

While a student may send out his/her/their Letter of Accommodation at any point in the semester, notification of the need for accommodations should be reasonable.

Students with accommodations are expected to communicate with their faculty members about the implementation of accommodations after sending their Letters of Accommodation. If a student receives testing accommodations and the instructor is serving as proctor, the student should strive to give 3-5 business days notice prior to the date of the exam. However, if the instructor is able to accommodate the student with less notice, they may do so.

The Office of

Accessibility may also offer proctoring assistance, if notified within 3-5 business days prior to the date of the exam. If the student is unable to to give advance notice and needs to take the exam with the OAA, the OAA will work with the student and faculty member to determine next steps.

Question: When Should I Communicate with the OAA about a Student’s Upcoming Exam?

If a student has scheduled an exam with the Office of Accessibility,  our Testing Coordinator will reach out to you to confirm the date and time of the exam.

If you have not done so, you will need to fill out a Testing Agreement (see FAQ #2).

The exam, and any other approved testing materials, should be sent to the Office of Accessibility  24 hours prior to the start date/time of the exam.

Exams may be uploaded via the Bulldog Access faculty portal, emailed to academicaccess@unca.edu, or dropped off at the front desk of the Academic Success Center.

 Question: How Can I Deliver the Exam to the OAA?

Faculty members may:

  1. Email the test directly to academicaccess@unca.edu
  2. Upload the test via the Bulldog Access faculty portal
  3. Deliver the test to the front desk of the Academic Success Center, located in the lower level of Ramsey Library.

 Question: A Student Needs to Reschedule their Exam with the OAA. What Can Be Done?

If a student needs to reschedule their exam, he, she or they should first confirm with the instructor that they may take the assessment at an alternate time than what was previously arranged. Then, the student should alert the Office of Accessibility of the need to change the date or time of the assessment. The student should submit a Testing Request, via the Bulldog Access student portal, with the date and time of the rescheduled test.

If the student requests that an exam be rescheduled without instructor permission, the Testing Coordinator will reach out to the faculty member and ask if the assessment may be rescheduled for the requested date and time. If confirmed, the student should submit a new Testing Request as soon as possible.

While the OAA strives to have students testing at the same time as other students in the course, this may not always be reasonable. For example, the OAA may request that a student take their assessment earlier to occur during business hours– when the OAA is staffed. Furthermore, the use of extended time may mean that a student will need to start an exam earlier to ensure that they have finished the exam by the end of business hours.

If the OAA needs to accommodate multiple students at one time, the OAA may ask that a student take their assessment at an earlier or later time so that the optimal amount of students may be accommodated.

If a change in testing date/time is requested by the OAA, due to a lack of space, time, or staffing,  the faculty member will be notified of any scheduling deviations by the Testing Coordinator.

What Happens if a Student Submits a Late Testing Request?

If a student is taking an exam proctored by the OAA, we request the notice of 3-5 business days. If advanced notice is not given, the OAA will evaluate the late request. Depending on the time, space, and staff available, accommodations may be provided on the requested date. However, if the OAA is unable to provide testing accommodations on the requested date/time, due to a lack of time, space, or staffing, the Testing Coordinator will reach out to the faculty member and the student regarding next steps.

My Question Isn’t Listed Here. May I Speak with an OAA Staff Member?

Absolutely. Our OAA staff members would be glad to assist you with any concerns that you have regarding testing. Please email academicaccess@unca.edu or call 828. 232. 5050 to connect with an OAA staff member.