The OARS Testing Center Policies, Guidance, and Accommodate

OARS TESTING CENTER FACULTY TIMELINE

Advance Communication with Students

Faculty are expected to communicate exam dates and times, including midterms and finals, to students with testing accommodations as early as possible. Early communication of dates and times ensures adequate time for students to book an exam in the OARS Testing Center and supports smooth coordination of accommodations. If a previously scheduled testing date and time is changed, OARS will work with the student to reschedule accordingly.

Reviewing and Approving Test Room Requests

Faculty must review and approve all Test Room Booking requests and complete the Exam Information Form.

To complete this process:

Log into Accommodate.
Select Test Room Bookings to Review.
Select Review beside the student’s name.
Confirm all required information, then select Save.
Select the Complete Exam Information Button to access the Exam Information Form, complete all fields, and select save.

Approval and completion of the Exam Information Form in Accommodate confirms that the exam is ready for proctoring and provides the OARS Testing Center with the necessary information and time to administer approved testing accommodations.

Blackboard Exam Settings

Please consider the following information and accommodations if your exam is formatted in Blackboard:

Break During Lab, Exams, Lectures, etc. as Needed: For students approved for Break During Lab, Exams, Lectures, etc. as Needed the Blackboard exam must be configured for an additional 30 minutes to account for stop/start pauses.
Blackboard Access Codes: If an access code is used and later changed, faculty must immediately notify the OARS Testing Center to avoid delays in student access.
Extended Time accommodations: For students approved for Extra Time 1.5x or Extra Time 2.0x, the additional time must be accurately reflected within Blackboard under the student’s Time Limit Accommodation.
Voice Recognition Software (e.g. Dragon): Students approved for Voice Recognition Software accommodations (also known as Voice Dictation) must have HonorLock disabled for all Blackboard exams. This ensures they can use their approved assistive technology (e.g., speech-to-text tools) and maintain necessary access to multiple browser windows during testing.
Reader Assistive Technology: While Blackboard’s built-in Reader Assistive Technology (ReadSpeaker) provides universal access to digital test content, it can only read text that is entered into Blackboard. To ensure full accessibility, all question text must be entered directly into the system, both the questions and corresponding answer choices. If a paper copy is provided for reference, the Blackboard version must still include the corresponding question text (not just the answer choices) to avoid disabling Honor Lock.

Exam Materials and Format Requirements

Scratch Paper: The OARS Testing Center provides college rule paper for scratch paper. If a student requires special lined paper or blue books, the instructor must provide them and clarify their intended use.
Exam Format: Faculty must clearly indicate whether the exam is a paper-based or online exam to ensure the OARS Testing Center can prepare the correct testing setup, materials, and location.

OARS Exam Cancellation Policy

The OARS Testing Center requires Test Room Bookings to be reviewed/approved and the Exam Information Form (with attached paper copy of the exam, if applicable) be completed at least 24-business hours prior to the scheduled exam time. If these tasks are not completed within the appropriate timeframe, the exam will be canceled. In such cases, the instructor is responsible for implementing all approved testing accommodations, such as extended test time, distraction-reduced testing environment, reader assistive accommodations, voice dictation accommodations, etc., directly.

Student Guidance if an Exam Is Canceled

If the OARS Testing Center cancels an exam due to an instructor’s late submission, students are advised to contact both their instructor and their Accessibility Specialist immediately to determine how their exam will be administered with all approved testing accommodations. Instructors are ultimately responsible for ensuring all applicable testing accommodations are implemented appropriately.

HOW TO APPROVE TEST ROOM BOOKINGS AND COMPLETE THE EXAM INFORMATION FORM IN ACCOMMODATE

1. Log into Accommodate.

2. Select Test Room Bookings to review. A quick link is provided on your home screen.

3. Select Review beside student’s name, confirm the information provided by the student, and complete the form.

4. Select Save.

5. Exam Information Form: To access and complete the Exam Information Form, select the Upload Button. Complete all required fields then select Save.

HOW TO FIND A COMPLETED STUDENT EXAM UPLOADED BY OARS

1. Select Courses.

2. Select the appropriate course by clicking on the course title.

3. Select Alternative Test Room Bookings. There will be 2 options (Pending and Approved).

4. Select Approved to see the students who have taken the exam.

5. Underneath the student’s name and test booking information, you will see Completed Exams. Hover over the title of the exam to click on the link.

HOW TO REVIEW STUDENT ACCOMMODATION LETTERS

1. Log in to your Accommodate Portal.

2. On the Home screen, click Letters to Review.

3. Find the course relevant to the student.

4. Click on the course title to open it.

5. Locate the student whose letter you need to review.

6. Click the Review button next to their name.

7. Carefully review each accommodation in the letter to ensure you understand what is approved.

8. Type your full name in the signature box.

9. Click Sign to complete the review.

OARS Testing Center