Testing Services for Students Needing Accommodations
The Center for Academic Success offers testing services as a tertiary option for students with recognized accommodations through Disability Support Services, and whose testing needs cannot be accommodated by their professor and department. We know that students benefit when exams are administered by their instructors, as students can be made aware of last- minute exam changes and clarifications, as well as ask exam-related questions. We recognize, however, that the complexities of class scheduling and space constraints do not always make this possible. In these cases, instructors will work with the Center for Academic Success so that we can coordinate the appropriate accommodations.
Students who are eligible for testing accommodations through Disability Support Services (DSS) must share their accommodation letter with their faculty members and discuss the provision of the accommodations for each of their classes. Faculty members will work with the Center for Academic Success to identify students who require the use of testing services.
For exams, in particular, it is important that students contact their instructors as soon as possible and no later than seven (7) business days before the exam if they need testing accommodations. Students who fail to contact their professor seven (7) business days before the exam, are at risk of not receiving their eligible testing accommodation. If the instructor and the department are not able to proctor the exam, students will submit a Testing Services Request Form five (5) business days before the exam to be reviewed and confirmed by the faculty and the Center for Academic Success. Please note that proctoring requests are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Center for Academic Success will also schedule and administer make-up final exams at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.
Testing services are available 20 hours a week on Mondays to Thursday from 9am-2pm and administered in Williams Hall 451.
Please contact us at either 610-758-0242 or testingservices@lehigh.edu with any questions.
Text and policies adapted from George Washington University, Wake Forest University, and Tulane University.
Testing Services Process Overview
- Students share accommodation letters no later than 7 business days prior to the exam date. Instructors meet with students to discuss testing needs and options.
- Not 7 days prior, risk of not receiving eligible accommodations
- If instructors are not able to administer the exam, the student will submit a testing services request form (5 business days prior to exam, minimum).
- Requests not submitted five business days prior to the exam will risk not being able to be administered by the Center for Academic Success.
- There is limited space within testing services and not all requests can be honored due to the limited capacity.
- The Center for Academic Success will confirm availability and will work with instructor and student to administer the exam and return the completed exam to the instructor.
FAQ for Faculty
There is significant benefit for students to take their examinations with their instructors and so it is important to explore all options to this end. Rescheduling exams for students who are not able to start or complete the exam during the scheduled exam period or exploring options for proctoring by academic department staff and/or graduate students can be considered. It is important to note that our testing services are limited and we may not be able to fulfill all requests.
Exams can be uploaded to Accommodate, Lehigh’s exam management service, or hand-delivered to Julie Kessler in Williams Hall Suite 301.
Exams can be returned electronically through Accommodate or picked up in Williams Hall Suite 301.
Electronic files uploaded to Accommodate will be deleted after the exam is completed.
We will contact you to see if you or your department is able to proctor the exam given the change in schedule. If not, we will reschedule the exam based on your guidance and the student’s schedule.
We will send all relevant information to the instructor and the Office of Student Conduct.
Students requesting to use the restroom will sign out and in and note the time of the exit and reentrance. The proctor will initial each break time. Unless stated in the student’s accommodation, the time during the break will be counted as part of the exam time (ie: the exam clock will not stop for breaks). The proctor will include the break time log with the testing materials when they are returned.
In Fall 2022, the Center for Academic Success will provide 20 hours a week of proctoring and related administrative services with capacity to serve a maximum of 20 students at a given time. There may be times when we will not be able to proctor an exam due to this limitation, thus we expect faculty to continue using existing resources within the department before considering this service. In these cases, faculty may administer the exam during a different section of the class or enlist department staff and/or graduate students to proctor the exam.
Testing services will attempt to fulfill requests for specific start and end times of an exam; however, there may be some cases when this is not possible. In the event that we are unable to meet the timing request of an instructor, we will communicate alternative available times.
We will email you if a student cancels their session with advance notice or if they do not attend. We will request your guidance for next steps. If the exam is to be rescheduled with testing services, we can provide information about scheduling availability.
FAQ for Students:
Students taking a test with a proctor from testing services should arrive 10 minutes ahead of their scheduled testing time. Students will sign in with the Coordinator for Testing Services and Student Support, place their belongings (including cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices) in a storage cubby. The proctor will review the materials students are able to have with them during the exam and confirm the amount of time available for the exam then show students to their assigned testing location.
Students should bring the materials that their professor is expecting all students to bring to the exam. Testing Services will provide the materials that your instructor provides along with any resources related to accommodations through Disability Support Services.
In Fall 2022, students with approved testing accommodations through Disability Support Services may use testing services if their accommodations cannot be met in the classroom setting or accommodated by the instructor or department.
It is crucial that you contact your professor about a need for testing accommodations as soon as possible and no later than 7 business days before the exam. This is to ensure that appropriate accommodations can be provided whether that be with your professor, the department, or through the Center for Academic Success. If you do not notify your instructor 7 days before the exam, you may risk not receiving your eligible accommodation.
If you arrive up to fifteen (15) minutes after the start time of the exam, that time will be deducted from your testing time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, your exam will need to be rescheduled if your professor agrees.
If you need a restroom break during your exam, you will sign out and in and note the time of your break. The proctor will initial your time in and out. Your break sheet will be submitted to your professor with your exam.