Center for Accessibility and Learning Equity

 

Testing Accommodations

 

Spalding University students who are registered with the Center for Accessibility and Learning Equity (CALE) may be eligible for testing accommodations if the functional impact of the student’s disability adversely affects their ability to take exams or quizzes under the same conditions as their classmates.

The guiding principle of testing accommodations is to remove or reduce barriers to the test-taking process and thus enable students with disabilities to be assessed on an equal basis with their non-disabled peers. Testing accommodations provide an opportunity for students with disabilities to demonstrate the mastery of skills and attainment of knowledge without being limited or restricted by their disability.

Testing accommodations may involve the modification of timing, the setting, the method of presentation, and/or the method of response. It essentially allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of the course content in an alternative way without undue interference from their disability.

    Examples of testing accommodations are:

• Extended test time; the extent of additional time is based on the student’s functional limitations
•  Reducing distractions in the testing environment
•  Providing the exam in an alternate text format
• Use of assistive technology, calculator, and/or spell checker
•  Providing a reader, scribe, and/or American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter
• Breaks during the test
• Others, as determined

Students who believe that, based on their disability, they need testing accommodations in one or more of their classes, meet with a member of our team by scheduling an appointment as soon as possible to engage in an interactive process to determine their individualized accommodations. Please note, this process can take several days and is best started at the beginning of each term.

Test- Taking Options

Faculty/Teaching Assistant Proctoring- Faculty members are encouraged to provide testing accommodations themselves whenever possible. Many faculty members arrange to proctor exams during office hours or have their teaching assistant(s) proctor exams.

In rare instances, and when no alternative options exist, the staff of the Center for Accessibility and Learning Equity may be able to assist with test proctoring.  In these cases:

• The student must request testing at least three (3) business days in advance.
• The instructor must provide a hard copy of the test and testing instructions at least one (1) business day in advance.

If these conditions are not met, the test will be rescheduled. 

Responsibilities for CALE, Student, and Faculty with regard to testing accommodation

Center for Accessibility and Learning Equity

       1.)Determine eligibility for testing accommodations.

       2.) Orient student to test-taking process and test-taking options.

       3.) Orient instructor/s to test-taking process and test-taking options.

       4.) If appropriate provide proctor, reader, scribe, or ASL interpreter.

       5.) Connect student, instructor/s, and proctor, reader, scribe, or ASL interpreter if/as needed.

 

Student:

1. Register with CALE.
2. Request testing accommodations from CALE in a timely manner, preferably at the beginning of the school year or after registering for courses. 
3. Discuss test-taking options with instructor shortly after or while presenting the accommodation notification; for example:
   1. Can the instructor/department provide the accommodations?
   2. I need a distraction-reduced test environment. Where will this be?
   3. The extended-time conflicts with another class on my schedule and I have to schedule for another time. What times and/or days will you allow me to take the exam?
   4. I use Assistive Technology for my exams; please provide the exam electronically in an accessible format.
4.  Communicate the preferred testing location to the instructor. Contact CALE should any issues arise

 

Instructor:

 

1. Review Accommodation Notification Letter provided by the student; Verify that Testing Accommodations are approved
2. Discuss with the student how testing accommodations will be met; Instructors are expected to provide testing accommodations to eligible students themselves.
3. Remember that students taking exams outside the classroom should receive the same assistance and/or instructions as students taken the exam in the classroom. 
4. If/when testing accommodations cannot be provided by the instructor or member of the academic department, communicate with the student so that they can contact the Center for Accessibility and Learning Equity at least three (3) days in advance.  Instructors will need to: 

• Ensure that a hard copy of the exam is provided to the Center for Accessibility and Learning Equity at least one business day in advance (can be delivered to the Spalding Library circulation desk) or dropped off in LIB 314.
• Communicate to CALE if additional resources are permitted (e.g. open book exam; both sides of 3x5 notecard allowed; calculator; etc.). Feel free to check in with the student during the exam or provide contact information where you can be reached.
• Exams completed in the Accessibility Services Testing Room are kept secure for the instructor to pick up or can be scanned to the professor's Spalding email address. Please indicate your choice when communicating with CALE staff. Please indicate if a person other than the instructor is authorized to pick up the exam.