Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to provide testing accommodations to students who request it?
Yes, assuming the student is registered with ODS and sent an accommodation letter to you specifying testing accommodations.
Through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), students with disabilities are ensured equal access to an education, including exam accommodations.
Can I provide a student with testing accommodations myself?
Assuming the student is registered with ODS and has been approved for exam accommodations, yes!
If you are able to work out an arrangement with the student to provide ALL of the necessary exam accommodations listed on their accommodation notice (and the student is comfortable with the arrangement), you may certainly do so. Please note, however, that it is necessary to allow for the entire amount of the approved extended time.
How do I know what test accommodations to provide?
Students who are approved for test accommodations should provide you with an ODS accommodation letter indicating the specific testing accommodations needed. These may include, but are not limited to: extended test time, reduced distraction environment, use of a computer, large print, a scribe or reader.
What constitutes a reduced distraction environment?
A distraction-reduced testing environment is a setting outside the usual classroom that limits auditory and visual interruptions. It allows for increased control of lighting, noise, or other environmental distractions that impact student performance in a testing situation. This accommodation can be provided by an instructor or by the ODS Testing Center.
Recommended Application:
- The operational rule of thumb for a distraction-reduced testing environment is one half the seating capacity of a room to provide students with adequate space while reducing distractions.
- When possible, use carrels to address various attentional needs for all.
- Provide preferential seating as needed (e.g., place students who need additional breaks for medication or restroom nearest to the door).
- Limit personal items allowed into testing room (excepting those who need access to water, medication, or food).
- Outline clear policies for late arrivals/early finishers to minimize distractions from entering and exiting (consider using tape to prevent clicking of door and jamb).
- Provide pre-sharpened pencils. Provide or permit disposable earplugs.
- Provide digital clocks vs. analog (reduces noise made by ticking).
- Secure additional space that may be required for last-minute adjustments.
Common Misconceptions:
Reduced distraction environment is a relatively common accommodation for students whose disability makes them prone to distractibility. The accommodation does NOT suggest that the student be provided a private testing space. If students are unclear about the parameters of any accommodation, suggest they contact ODS.
How do I enable extended testing time in Blackboard?
Please review Blackboard’s Help page that provides instruction on how to create extended time or make-up exams in Blackboard for a student.
If you need additional assistance, please contact the Center for Instructional Technology.
How do I enable an electronic reader or text-to-speech software during online exams?
For online exams, we recommend use of a text-to-speech program called Natural Reader Online.
If your exams have no proctoring requirements or restrictions, there is no action you need to take.
If your exams are required to be proctored, you will need to alert the proctor that the student is allowed to use Natural Reader.
If your exams require the use of Respondus LockDown Browser, please follow these instructions to allow access to the naturalreaders.com domain: Accessing external web domains in LockDown Browser. As noted in the instructions, the instructor must also include the link to the Natural Reader Online Reader in the first quiz/exam question (https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/). Instructors who need help following these steps can contact the Center for Instructional Technology.
A student with accommodations in my course is requesting a make-up exam. How do I proceed?
If a student has an accommodation for “Attendance Modification due to Disability-related symptoms” and/or “Make-up exams due to disability,” the student must be provided a make-up test option. This accommodation is not intended to automatically apply to every exam, nor does it offer unlimited rescheduling of a make-up exam.
ODS recommends that make-up exams be completed within 1 week of the scheduled exam date or during the scheduled departmental make-up exam date. The UA Registrar Deferred Final Schedule should be used for students who need to make-up a final exam.
Is the ODS Testing Center required to administer tests for students with exam accommodations?
No. The ODS Testing Center is a 50 room testing facility, but is not able to proctor exams for all students with testing accommodations. ODS encourages instructors to provide testing accommodations within the classroom or department when possible. If you have any questions about the best way to provide an accommodation, do not hesitate to contact an Accommodations Specialist at ods@ua.edu or (205) 348-4285.
I would prefer students take accommodated tests at the ODS Testing Center. Can I schedule the tests on their behalf?
No. Only the student can request testing space.
Can the ODS Testing Center proctor exams that are administered online?
Generally, no. The ODS Testing Center does not provide proctoring services for online exams. This applies to UA Online courses with online exams, as well as face-to-face courses with “take home” online exams. If the course exam is proctored on campus, but is taken on a computer, ODS is available as a proctor location.
Extended time settings can be configured within Blackboard. Support is offered by the Center for Instructional Technology (face-to-face courses) or the College of Continuing Studies’ Technical Support (online courses). You can also review this Blackboard Tutorial.
If you need support for a testing accommodation other than extended test time, please contact odstesting@ua.edu for additional guidance.
The ODS Online Portal shows a student’s testing space request as processing. What does that mean?
When a student requests testing space, the Portal will reflect that as processing until the request has been approved by the Testing Manager. If the request remains in processing for an extended period, it is because the Testing Manager has contacted the student with a question about the test and is awaiting additional information.
What does it mean if the ODS Testing Center is “full” on the date a student requests? What are my responsibilities?
The ODS Testing Center is a 50-room testing facility but is not able to proctor exams for all students with testing accommodations. If the Testing Center is at capacity on the date/time that a student requests space, and the student provides you proper notice (generally one week in advance of the test), you must arrange testing space for the student. Alternately, with your written permission, we can offer proctored space at another date and time.
If there is no space available for you to proctor the student, consult with your Department Chair and or College for support in locating space. If you have any questions about the best way to provide an accommodation, do not hesitate to contact an Accommodations Specialist.
What should I do if the ODS Testing Center is not available to proctor a student’s exam?
Ultimately, the responsibility for providing accommodations rests with the instructor and the academic department.
As a support to instructors, the ODS Testing Center makes every effort to proctor as many tests as possible. We engage in continuous evaluation of our space utilization and creative problem solving in order to maximize services. However, our testing space is finite and it is not possible for the ODS Testing Center to proctor every accommodated student. Therefore, we encourage academic departments to develop a back-up plan for exam proctoring. Some examples are provided below.
We encourage academic Deans to provide proctoring resources and support to each department. At the beginning of each semester, department chairs are encouraged to work with their instructors to develop a plan for proctoring.
- It may be possible to train Administrative Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants, or Student Workers to assist with test proctoring. The primary considerations for this are 1) ensuring this method does not violate a policy within your department or college and that you have the support of your chair, and 2) ensuring you properly train the proctors and have them sign a confidentiality agreement.
- Students are not required to receive a private room or distraction FREE environment while testing. Providing a reduced distraction environment simply implies a significant reduction in the number of students, noises, and movement compared to what would normally be experienced in that course section. It is usually reasonable to place several students in one classroom together. Astra can be used to search for available classroom space across campus if you are having difficulty identifying an available classroom in your department.
- Technology such as a web camera or the Zoom can be used to proctor students who are testing in a separate room from the proctor. This allows the proctor to continue working from a separate location while simultaneously proctoring the student.
Note: It is not appropriate to place a set of requirements on accommodated students that are not placed on all students in the course. For example, instructors cannot require accommodated students to delay their final until the deferred exam date, and cannot assign the student an Incomplete while waiting for the student to be proctored at a later date. These are not acceptable proctoring solutions and can be viewed as discriminatory.
What are my responsibilities if a student does not request space at the ODS Testing Center in a timely manner?
If a student does not request testing space in a timely manner (3 business days), ODS instructs them to take the test with the class, without accommodations, at the time indicated on the course syllabus. You are under no obligation to permit the student to reschedule for a later date and are not required to provide accommodations with insufficient notice.
I notice that a student in my course is scheduled to take a test at the ODS Testing Center at a time different that my class. Why does this occur? Should I have concerns about test integrity?
Testing Center procedures indicate that students should take their accommodated test at the same time as the class. However, if students have back-to-back courses, the accommodated test time may need to be altered to allow for extended test time. Once the student’s request is approved, you will receive an email with the scheduled test date and time, and it will also be reflected in the ODS Online Portal. Any concerns you have about the test time should be communicated to Testing Staff PRIOR to the student’s test.
Best practice for having tests proctored outside of the classroom is to create more than one version of the test. Accommodated students can be provided an alternate, but substantively similar version of the test.
Please contact the Office of Disability Services at (205) 348-4285 if you have any questions or concerns about providing testing accommodations. The student’s assigned Accommodations Specialist or a Testing Coordinator can provide assistance.
