Extended time on exams. Perhaps the most common and fundamental exam accommodation is the provision of additional time. Students will typically be eligible for either time and a half (150% time) or double time (200% time), but in very rare cases a student may be eligible for longer or “untimed” exams (which may extend to a full business day). Determination of the accommodation length is based upon the clinical recommendations found in the student’s diagnostic documentation, the experiences of the qualified student, and the professional judgment of the student’s Consumer Manager at Disability Services.
A distraction reduced setting. This accommodation calls for you to arrange an alternative setting, one with less likelihood of auditory or visual distractions. For small classes, this accommodation may not be necessary (speak with the student to determine if this is true); but for larger classes, where the sounds of students moving, zipping up bags, moving chairs, and turning in exams can be distracting, it is necessary to schedule an alternative room for the students receiving this accommodation to take the exam. If you are unable to provide this accommodation, the proctoring center at Disability Services can offer assistance.
Remote exams. For remote instruction, the student has to select a location where they can best reduce their own distractions. It is best if the student can book the remote exam with the instructor, but if additional accommodations are necessary, or the faculty member cannot provide the exam remotely, DS can proctor the exam remotely with 5 business days notice.
Use of a computer. In some cases, the nature of a student’s disability requires the use of a computer to access or respond to an exam. In these cases, Disability Services is prepared to support the student with appropriate hardware and/or software via our exam proctoring services. When necessary, Disability Services will provide test takers with appropriate assistive technologies access such as JAWS, Kurzweil, and MathType.
Large print version of test. In many cases, this accommodation only requires that you make an enlarged copy of an exam with your department’s photocopy machine. If the materials are electronic, they can typically be accessed through the accessibility features native to most computers. The student should be consulted to determine the degree of enlargement/font size required.
Night Exams. Evening exams are often a challenge for students who need extended time or other exam accommodations. In order to provide proctoring assistance, if needed, night exams should be scheduled for 5pm. Those who require time and a half (150% time) will have until 8 pm to complete the exam and those with double time (200%) will have until 9 pm to complete the exam You may contact the EPC Coordinator to provide approval for students to take their exams during the day of the exam or the day after, but students cannot book those exams without instructor approval. From time to time, we can provide 2 proctors for evening exams held elsewhere. This requires considerable planning, so please notify the Coordinator of this request as soon as you schedule your exams.
Mt. Ida campus. Students should follow the same procedure on Clockwork, but if there are exams scheduled after 5 pm, or exams that must be scheduled at a time that does not overlap the class, please contact Patricia Link at examsaccess@admin.umass.edu 5 days in advance to make arrangements. All exams are to be taken remotely. Please be aware that lab practicals and practical exams in the Veterinary Technology program must take place in the allotted location and during the schedule time-frame for the course. Extended time cannot be provided for these types of exams. Standard (lecture) exams can be accommodated by the Disability Services Exam Proctoring staff. Simply log in to Clockwork at www.umass.edu/disability, 5 days in advance to request a proctored exam accommodation (if eligible).
Use of a scribe *and/or* reader for exam. The purpose of a scribe and/or reader is to allow the student to access exam content and accurately represent their responses. Readers and scribes do not correct answers or clarify the meaning of questions. Some instructors prefer to provide these accommodations themselves so they can ensure that the student understands the questions fully, but Disability Services is prepared to offer a scribe or reader as needed remotely, assuming the request is received seven business days prior to the exam date.