Exam Accommodations

Exam accommodations are some of the most common accommodations that Disability Services (DS) provides. Instructors may choose to proctor the exams themselves, or they may request that the students with exam accommodations schedule the exams with DS Exam Proctoring Center (EPC). The EPC proctors tests and exams for students who have registered with Disability Services in advance, and who have received one or more exam accommodations. Due to the volume of access needs, The EPC relies on students to take their quizzes with accommodations from the faculty in most situations.

A Reduced-Distraction Test Setting

This accommodation can allow students to focus on the exam and reduce the barriers caused by overstimulation. Disability Services’ Exam Proctoring Center provides a distraction reduced setting. Instructors may also be able to offer a distraction reduced setting for students in an office or small classroom.

Extended Time on Exams

Students may require additional time on exams for a variety of reasons pertinent to their disability. Students who qualify are typically given either 1.25x (aka "time and a quarter" or 25% extra time), 1.5x (aka “time and a half” or 50% extra time) or 2x (aka “double time” or 100% extra time) to complete their exams, and this distinction is based upon their diagnostic documentation provided and self-report. Extended time can allow students the additional time they may need to process and understand exam questions, produce responses, and/or self-regulate in the test setting.

Instructors may be able to accommodate the extended time in their classroom. Exams can also be scheduled in the Exam Proctoring Center through the Clockwork database.

Periodic Breaks During Testing (with Paused Timer)

This accommodation may be appropriate for students who don’t need a set amount of extended time to complete the exam, but may need to take short breaks during testing to take short breaks during testing to attend to a medical condition or self-regulate outside the test setting. Rather than the exam time being extended, the timer for the exam is paused while the student attends to their needs, and resumes when the student returns to the exam.

The Exam Proctoring Center is managed by Disability Services, for students with disabilities who have registered with our office. Students with approved exam accommodations may take their tests and exams in the EPC if the instructor is unable to provide the accommodations directly. Due to the volume of access needs, the EPC relies on faculty to administer quizzes, with accommodations, for students in most instances.

As of January 2025, the EPC is located in 420 Goodell. There is ground floor access to 4th floor from the north side of the building that directly leads to the EPC. The elevator is just down the hall.

EPC Hours of Operation 

The Exam Proctoring Center is closed on weekends, holidays, and campus closure days. All exams must be scheduled to end before the EPC closes, including extended time. For exams scheduled in the evening, please see our Evening Exams and Other Scheduling Conflicts procedure below.

For any exams to be taken in the Exam Proctoring Center, you must schedule the exam in Clockwork at least five (5) business days in advance of the exam. If you can schedule them all that the beginning of the semester, that’s even better! Exam dates are generally listed on the syllabus received at the start of the semester.

Exams in the EPC are scheduled through Clockwork for Students. From the homepage, choose Schedule an Exam. From the black bar menu at the top of the screen, choose Schedule a test, mid-term. From there, follow the prompts of the system to schedule the exam. It is expected that you schedule your proctored exam so that it overlaps with the standard exam time scheduled by the instructor.

Your exam will remain Tentative until it is processed and officially booked by EPC staff. You can check the status and details of the appointment in Clockwork by selecting My Schedule (Exams, Appointments etc.) from the homepage, or by selecting “My upcoming events” from within the Schedule an Exam module. You will also get an email confirmation prior to the exam.

Final Exams — Deadline November 14, 2025 

Due to the volume of final exams (~1,300) that are taken at the EPC in a five-day period, the deadline for scheduling those exams is much earlier than the standard five business days. For the Fall 2025 semester, the finals booking deadline is Friday, November 14th, 2025. We strongly encourage you not to wait until the deadline to schedule your exams.

The final exam schedule is determined by the University Registrar, and is available in SPIRE by going to Manage Classes tile > Class & Finals Schedule > Finals Schedule. Final exams taken in the Exam Proctoring Center start at the same time as the regularly scheduled final exams, except for the 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. exams. Finals that begin at 3:30 p.m. will be administered beginning at 2:00 p.m., and finals that begin at 6:00 p.m. will be administered beginning at 4:00 p.m., so please plan accordingly.

Please note that there is not space in 420 Goodell for every student to take every final exam. Most exams will be administered in small classrooms in Bartlett Hall and Herter Hall academic buildings.

Late Exam Requests

Clockwork will not allow students to schedule exams fewer than five (5) business days in advance of the exam. Students with exam accommodations who miss the window to schedule their exams in the EPC may fill out a Fall 2025 Late Exam Request form.

Please note that making the request does not guarantee that the exam can be scheduled, as requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please also note that no next-day exam requests will be approved. In those cases, please ask your instructor if they can accommodate you.

Evening Exams and Other Scheduling Conflicts

Students testing in the EPC are required to schedule exams at the same, or an overlapping, time that the rest of the class is taking the exam, whenever possible. Exceptions include:

• The class is scheduled to take the exam in the evening, outside of EPC operating hours.
• You have a scheduling conflict due to the extended time allotted for the exam.
• You are making-up an exam.

In those cases, the Clockwork scheduling system does not allow the exam to scheduled, you need written permission from your instructor to take the exam an alternate time that you propose. To accomplish this:

•  Email your Instructor detailing the conflict/need and requesting permission to take the exam at an alternative date and/or time — and copy (cc:) the EPC at @email Instructors must inform the EPC Coordinator of their permission in order for an appointment to be booked.
• Note: you do not need to disclose the reason that you have exam accommodations or any information about your disability.
• Email the instructor’s written permission to the EPC, @email, along with the following information:
• Your name and student ID number
• Exam Date you have permission for and your available start time
• Course name and number
• Accommodations needed for the exam
• Duration of class exam (example- 50 minutes) — This is important to ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of additional time.

Except in the cases of make-up exams, these requests should still be submitted five (5) business days in advance. Once the exam has been booked, it will appear on "My Schedule" in Clockwork.

Please plan to arrive at the EPC at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time of your exam. Bring your student ID to check in with the student assistant at the reception desk. You will sign the Disability Services Honesty Policy prior to receiving the exam.

Unless otherwise explicitly stated in the exam conditions, all coats, backpacks, purses, hats, phones, electronic devices, etc. will be left outside of the exam rooms. There are lockers and places to hang coats within the EPC. Please be sure to silence all electronic devices. 

Please try to use the restroom before starting your exam. If you do need to use the restroom during exam administration, be aware that a proctor will escort you. There are gender neutral bathroom facilities in the hallway outside the EPC, including two fully accessible, single-user restrooms.

Students with questions pertaining to the Disability Services Exam Proctoring Center should email @email, or call the EPC directly at 413-545-0321. Students may also visit the EPC in 420 Goodell.