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ApplyA student’s testing accommodations will be indicated on his/her Classroom Accommodation Request Forms (CARF’s) issued by the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). SSD recommends that students schedule private consultations with their instructors at the start of the semester to present their CARF’s and discuss the arrangements for accommodated exams, as well as any other accommodations indicated on the forms. In general, making the necessary arrangements for testing accommodations is a responsibility shared by the student, the instructor, and SSD (see the topics listed below for additional information). Questions or concerns regarding testing accommodations should be addressed to the SSD staff at the Counseling Center (Lee Drain North Annex, telephone 936-294-3512).
Extended Time for Exams
Testing Site with Limited Distractions
Adaptive Technology for Test-taking Purposes
Counseling Center Testing ProceduresThe Woodlands Center Testing Procedures
Blackboard and other On-line ExamsCorrespondence Course Exams
Extended Time for Exams
The amount of time allotted to students approved for this accommodation is typically either time and a half (1.5x) or double time (2x), as indicated on the Classroom Accommodation Request Form. The extended time factor is applied to the base time allotted by the instructor for the classroom (or on-line) exam (e.g., time and a half for a 60-minute exam would be 90 minutes). A student approved only for extended time (not a testing site with limited distractions) may take classroom exams in the classroom setting, provided that arrangements can be made for the extended time. In the event that class scheduling conflicts preclude the allotment of extended time in the classroom setting, SSD requests that the instructor locate an alternative testing venue for the accommodated student in the academic building or department in which the class is held. The Counseling Center (Lee Drain North Annex, telephone 936-294-3512) may also be used as the alternative testing venue in such an instance, provided that the academic department is unable to accommodate the extended time format due to scheduling conflicts (see Counseling Center Testing Procedures below).
Testing Site with Limited Distractions
A testing site with limited distractions is a private room or office (separate from the classroom) that is relatively free of ambient noise and social interaction and furnished with adequate lighting and desk space. SSD will approve this accommodation for students whose disabilities render them especially vulnerable to distractions in a testing situation. With regard to the identification of a limited-distractions test site, SSD requests that the instructor first attempt to locate an appropriate venue for the accommodated student in the academic building or department in which the class is held and to make the necessary proctoring arrangements (e.g., with a departmental teaching assistant or support staff). In the event that an appropriate venue is not available and/or proctoring arrangements cannot be made in the academic department, the Counseling Center (Lee Drain North Annex, telephone 936-294-3512) may serve as the alternative testing venue with advance notification on the part of the student and instructor (see Counseling Center Testing Procedures below).
Note: A hallway or corridor in an academic building is not considered to be an appropriate venue for the purposes of limited-distractions testing.
Adaptive Technology for Test-taking Purposes
Depending on the nature of the student’s disability, SSD may approve the use of adaptive technology for test-taking purposes. Among the technologies available at the Adaptive Technology Lab in the Counseling Center (Lee Drain North Annex) are CCTV video magnifiers and various software programs, such as screen magnifier/reader and scan-read, text-to-speech software. Students approved by SSD for the use of such technologies on exams should, in most instances, make the necessary scheduling arrangements to take their exams at the Counseling Center’s Adaptive Technology Lab (see Counseling Center Testing Procedures below). It should also be noted, however, that the ADA workstations in the Computer Labs and the Newton-Gresham Library are equipped with screen magnifier/reader software and other adaptive technologies (see Adaptive Technology Available on the SSD home page).
Counseling Center Testing Procedures
The Counseling Center (Lee Drain North Annex, telephone 936-294-1715 or 936-294-3512) has testing rooms/cubicles and an Adaptive Technology Lab designated for accommodated exams. Advance notification on the part of the student and instructor is required for the use of the Counseling Center’s testing facilities. The responsibilities of the student, the instructor, and SSD with regard to testing arrangements at the Counseling Center are detailed below.
Note: Students approved by SSD for testing accommodations are not required to take their exams at the Counseling Center, provided that the instructor is able to make the necessary arrangements for the accommodations in the academic department. Due to the heavy demand on the Counseling Center’s testing rooms, SSD requests that instructors first attempt to determine whether or not a student approved only for extended test time and/or a testing site with limited-distractions can be accommodated in the academic department (see Extended Time for Exams and Testing Site with Limited Distractions above). If the academic department is unable to provide the approved testing accommodations, the Counseling Center is available as the alternative testing venue on the main campus (as per the procedures detailed below).
1. The student is responsible for discussing the testing arrangements with the instructor prior to each scheduled exam.
2. The student is responsible for scheduling a test appointment with the Counseling Center. Advance notification on the student’s part is required for scheduling purposes. To schedule test appointments in the Fall and Spring semesters and Summer sessions, the student must contact the Counseling Center at least three (3) working days prior to the date of the classroom exam (e.g., by 5:00 pm on Wednesday for an exam to be taken the following Monday), ten (10) working days in the case of final exams. For the purposes of the mini session (i.e., mini-mester), at least two (2) working days’ advance notice is required for scheduling test appointments, five (5) working days in the case of final exams. The student taking a mini session course is advised to schedule his/her test appointments for the entire session upon receiving the classroom exam dates from the course instructor. The student may also schedule test appointments for the entirety of the Fall or Spring semesters or Summer sessions at the outset of the term.
Failure on the student’s part to provide sufficient, advance notice will result in the denial of his/her request for a test appointment on the date in question.
The student is expected to schedule his/her test appointment to coincide with the date and time of the classroom exam, unless a conflict with his/her course schedule or the Counseling Center’s testing schedule precludes such an arrangement. In the latter event, SSD recommends that the student schedule the test appointment at a time approximate to that of the classroom exam. It should be noted that the Counseling Center’s testing facilities are available during business hours only, i.e., Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Due to the aforementioned scheduling constraints, SSD is unable to guarantee that a test appointment will be available to coincide exactly with the time of the classroom exam. Test appointments at the Counseling Center are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. SSD recommends that students provide as much advance notice as possible for the scheduling of final exams, given the demands on the Counseling Center’s testing facilities during finals week.
Test appointments must be scheduled in person at the Counseling Center (Lee Drain North Annex) or by telephone at 936-294-1715 or 936-294-3512 (unless an alternative means of scheduling has been identified, as in the case of a student whose disability prevents him/her from communicating by telephone)
3. The student is responsible for apprising the Counseling Center staff of his/her need for special testing arrangements, such as the assistance of a reader and/or scribe or the use of a computer and/or adaptive technology, upon scheduling his/her test appointment.
Note: Such accommodations require prior SSD approval.
4. The student is responsible for providing the instructor with advance notice of the date and time of each test appointment scheduled at the Counseling Center. With regard to test appointments in the Fall and Spring semesters and the Summer sessions, the student should notify the instructor at least three (3) working days prior to the appointment date, ten (10) working days in the case of final exams. For the purposes of the mini session (i.e., mini-mester), at least two (2) working days’ advance notice to the instructor is required, five (5) working days in the case of final exams. It is therefore recommended that the student notify the instructor by voice mail and/or e-mail of the test appointment date and time upon scheduling with the Counseling Center, or, in the event that the student has scheduled test appointments for the entire semester at the outset of the term, to provide the instructor with a timely reminder of each appointment. The student is further advised to request that the instructor deliver or forward a copy of the exam and a completed, SSD Testing Form to the Counseling Center at least one (1) working day prior to the test appointment date, three (3) working days in the case of final exams (see Instructor’s Responsibilities below).
5. The student is responsible for arriving at the Counseling Center on time for his/her test appointment. If the student is more than fifteen (15) minutes late for the appointment, he/she will not be allowed to take the exam. In such an event or in the case of a no show, the student is required to obtain the instructor’s written permission in hard copy or e-mail and to submit same to SSD in order to reschedule the test appointment at the Counseling Center. A student arriving for a test appointment at the Counseling Center up to fifteen (15) minutes late will be seated for the exam but will have his/her test time docked accordingly.
6. The student is responsible for notifying the Counseling Center as soon as possible in the event that he/she is unable to attend a test appointment due to an illness or emergency. In such an instance, the student is required to obtain the instructor’s written permission in hard copy or e-mail and to submit same to SSD in order to reschedule the test appointment at the Counseling Center.
7. The student is responsible for observing the institutional standards regarding academic honesty and integrity while testing at the Counseling Center. In the event that a student is suspected of academic dishonesty, SSD staff will confiscate any materials in question, mark the item on which the student was working when said materials were confiscated, and allow the student to complete the exam. Once the exam has been completed, staff will notify the instructor of the suspected offense and forward a report on the incident and any confiscated materials to the instructor for adjudication.
8. The student is responsible for adhering to the rules of classroom conduct while testing at the Counseling Center. The student will not be allowed to have food or drink available or to take multiple restroom breaks during the testing session unless such accommodations have been previously approved by SSD for medical reasons.
9. The student is responsible for providing routine testing tools and materials (e.g., writing instrument, Scantron form, blue book, etc.) and being familiar with the operation of any adaptive technology approved by SSD as a testing accommodation.
10. The student is required to surrender cell phones and other electronic devices, personal effects, and any study materials not authorized by the instructor for use on the exam to SSD staff for storage during the testing session.
1. The instructor is responsible for completing the SSD Testing Form, available in hard copy from the Counseling Center or in electronic format from the SSD home page.
2. The instructor is responsible for delivering or forwarding the exam and the SSD Testing Form to the Counseling Center at least one (1) working day prior to the student’s test appointment date, three (3) working days in the case of final exams. Such test materials may be hand delivered by the instructor or a teaching assistant, faxed to 936-294-3794, or e-mailed to disability@shsu.edu. When sending an exam and the SSD Testing Form by e-mail attachment, the instructor is advised to request a receipt confirmation.
3. The instructor is responsible for making the necessary arrangements to collect the exam from the Counseling Center once SSD has notified him/her of its completion or indicating his/her preferred method of return. The instructor is advised to indicate on the SSD Testing Form whether he/she or a teaching assistant will collect the exam in person or whether the exam is to be returned by SSD via fax, e-mail attachment, campus mail, or sealed envelope sent with the student.
1. The SSD staff is responsible for proctoring the exam so as to ensure the integrity of the testing process. A video monitoring system is used for this purpose.
2. The SSD is responsible for facilitating the approved testing accommodations, such as the provision of a reader or scribe or access to adaptive technologies.
3. The SSD is responsible for notifying the instructor in the event that a student is suspected of academic dishonesty on an exam (see Student’s Responsibilities above).
4. The SSD is responsible for notifying the instructor once the student has completed the exam. If the instructor has indicated a preferred method of return (e.g., fax, e-mail, campus mail, or sealed envelope sent with the student), SSD will make arrangements to return the exam by the method indicated. Note: SSD does not hand deliver completed exams to instructors.
The Woodlands Center Testing Procedures
The Woodlands Center-SHSU has a Testing Suite (Suite 303) that may be utilized for proctored, accommodated exams. Advance notification on the part of the student and instructor is required for the use of The Woodlands Center’s testing facilities. The responsibilities of the student, the instructor, and the on-site SSD staff with regard to testing arrangements at The Woodlands Center are detailed below. Adaptive technologies required for test-taking purposes are available in the Testing Suite 303.
Note: With regard to accommodated testing, The Woodlands Center’s testing facilities are to be used only for the testing purposes of academic courses held on site and are not available for testing required in courses held on the Huntsville campus.
1. The student is responsible for discussing the testing arrangements with the instructor prior to each scheduled exam.
2. The student is responsible for scheduling a test appointment with the SSD Staff Assistant in the Testing Suite 303 or by telephone at 936-202-5045. The SSD Staff Assistant is available for scheduling purposes from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. Advance notice on the student's part is required for scheduling purposes. The student must contact the SSD Staff Assistant at least three (3) working days prior to the date of the classroom exam (e.g., by 9:00 pm on Wednesday for an exam to be taken the following Monday) and at least ten (10) working days prior to the exam date in the case of final exams. The student is encouraged to schedule test appointments for the entirety of the Fall or Spring semesters or Summer sessions at the outset of the term.
Failure on the student's part to provide sufficient, advance notice will result in the denial of his/her request for a test appointment on the date in question.
The student is expected to schedule his/her test appointment to coincide with the date and time of the classroom exam, unless a conflict with his/her course schedule or the Testing Suite’s schedule precludes such an arrangement. In the latter event, SSD recommends that the student schedule the test appointment at a time approximate to that of the classroom exam. It should be noted that the regular hours for proctored, accommodated testing at The Woodlands Center Testing Suite are 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Monday through Thursday (to coincide with the work schedule of the SSD Staff Assistant). Requests for testing arrangements at alternative hours due to extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Due to the aforementioned scheduling constraints, SSD is unable to guarantee that a test appointment will be available to coincide exactly with the time of the classroom exam. Test appointments for The Woodlands Center Testing Suite are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. SSD recommends that students provide as much advance notice as possible for the scheduling of final exams, given the demands on the Testing Suite during finals week.
Test appointments must be scheduled in person at the Testing Suite 303 or by telephone at 936-202-5045 (unless an alternative means of scheduling has been identified, as in the case of a student whose disability prevents him/her from communicating by telephone).
3. The student is responsible for apprising the SSD Staff Assistant at The Woodlands Center of his/her need for special testing arrangements, such as the assistance of a reader and/or scribe or the use of a computer and/or adaptive technology, upon scheduling his/her test appointment. Note: Such accommodations require prior SSD approval.
4. The student is responsible for providing the instructor with advance notice of the date and time of each test appointment scheduled at the Testing Suite. The student should notify the instructor of the test appointment at least three (3) working days prior to the appointment date, ten (10) working days in the case of final exams. It is therefore recommended that the student notify the instructor by voice mail and/or e-mail of the test appointment date and time upon scheduling with the SSD Staff Assistant, or, in the event that the student has scheduled test appointments for the entire semester at the outset of the term, to provide the instructor with a timely reminder of each appointment. The student is further advised to request that the instructor deliver or forward a copy of the exam and a completed, SSD Testing Form to the SSD Staff Assistant in the Testing Suite at least one (1) working day prior to the student's test appointment date, three (3) working days in the case of final exams (see Instructor's Responsibilities below).
5. The student is responsible for arriving at The Woodlands Center Testing Suite 303 on time for his/her test appointment. If the student is more than fifteen (15) minutes late for the appointment, he/she will not be allowed to take the exam. In such an event or in the case of a no show, the student is required to obtain the instructor's written permission in order to reschedule the test appointment with the SSD Staff Assistant. A student arriving for a test appointment up to fifteen (15) minutes late will be seated for the exam but will have his/her test time docked accordingly.
6. The student is responsible for notifying the SSD Staff Assistant at The Woodlands Center as soon as possible in the event that he/she is unable to attend a test appointment due to an illness or emergency. In such an instance, the student is required to obtain the instructor's written permission in order to reschedule the test appointment with the SSD Staff Assistant.
7. The student is responsible for observing the institutional standards regarding academic honesty and integrity while testing at The Woodlands Center Testing Suite. In the event that a student is suspected of academic dishonesty, the SSD Staff Assistant will confiscate any materials in question, mark the item on which the student was working when said materials were confiscated, and allow the student to complete the exam. Once the exam has been completed, the SSD Staff Assistant will notify the instructor of the suspected offense and forward a report on the incident and any confiscated materials to the instructor for adjudication.
8. The student is responsible for adhering to the rules of classroom conduct while testing at The Woodlands Center Testing Suite. The student will not be allowed to have food or drink available or to take multiple restroom breaks during the testing session unless such accommodations have been previously approved by SSD for medical reasons.
9. The student is responsible for providing routine testing tools and materials (e.g., writing instrument, Scantron form, blue book, etc.) and being familiar with the operation of any adaptive technology approved by SSD as a testing accommodation.
10. The student is required to surrender cell phones and other electronic devices, personal effects, and any study materials not authorized by the instructor for use on the exam to the SSD Staff Assistant for storage during the testing session.
1. The instructor is responsible for completing the SSD Testing Form, available in hard copy at the Testing Suite 303 or in electronic format from the SSD home page.
2. The instructor is responsible for delivering or forwarding the exam and the SSD Testing Form to the SSD Staff Assistant in the Testing Suite at least one (1) working day prior to the student's test appointment date, three (3) working days in the case of final exams. Such test materials may be hand delivered by the instructor or a teaching assistant to the Testing Suite 303 during the hours of 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. Alternatively, the instructor may e-mail the materials to twcdisability@shsu.edu or fax them to 936-202-5092. When sending an exam and the SSD Testing Form by e-mail attachment, the instructor is advised to request a receipt confirmation.
3. The instructor is responsible for indicating on the SSD Testing Form his/her preferred method of receiving the completed exam. The instructor may indicate on the form whether he/she or a teaching assistant will collect the exam in person from the SSD Staff Assistant (available in the Testing Suite 303 from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Monday through Thursday) or whether the exam is to be returned by fax, e-mail attachment, inter-campus mail, or in a sealed envelope sent with the student.
1. The SSD Staff Assistant at The Woodlands Center is responsible for providing or facilitating a proctoring arrangement for the exam.
2. The SSD Staff Assistant is responsible for providing or facilitating the approved testing accommodations, such as an exam reader and/or scribe or access to a computer and/or adaptive technology (available in the Testing Suite 303).
3. The SSD Staff Assistant is responsible for notifying the instructor in the event that a student is suspected of academic dishonesty on an exam (see Student's Responsibilities above).
4. The SSD Staff Assistant is responsible for notifying the instructor once the student has completed the exam. If the instructor has indicated a preferred method of return (e.g., fax, e-mail, inter-campus mail, or sealed envelope sent with the student), the SSD Staff Assistant will make arrangements to return the exam by the method indicated. Note: The SSD Staff Assistant does not hand deliver completed exams to instructors.
Note: Additional questions or concerns regarding the testing procedures for accommodated exams at The Woodlands Center may be addressed to SSD on the Huntsville campus at 936-294-3512 or disability@shsu.edu.
Blackboard and other On-line Exams
Students approved by SSD for extended time on exams are entitled to receive this accommodation for on-line exams, including exams administered on Blackboard. For information on how to create an extended-time format for an exam on Blackboard, faculty members are referred to the protocol detailed below, “Creating Exams with Extended Time on Blackboard 9.1.”
It should be noted that SHSU students requesting accommodations for on-line courses must first register with SSD and submit documentation of a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits academic functioning. Students are advised to contact the SHSU Counseling Center at 936-294-3512 (TDD 936-294-3786) to schedule a disability intake appointment (or telephone interview in the case of distance learners). Documentation may be submitted by fax (936-294-3794) or mail (Services for Students with Disabilities, Box 2059 SHSU, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2059). If the student is approved for accommodations, SSD will forward an accommodation letter to the instructor of the on-line course.
Creating Exams with Extended Time on Blackboard 9.1
Note: For additional assistance in creating exams with extended time on Blackboard, faculty members are advised to contact SHSU Online, i.e., the DELTA Center, at 936-294-2780 or delta@shsu.edu.
I. In order to create an extended-time exam that is to be administered concurrently with the standard exam:
1. Go to the Test Manager in the Control Panel and click on “Add Test.”
2. Give the exam with extended time a different name from the standard exam. It is recommended to use the same name as the standard exam, with the addition of the accommodated student’s initials or other discreet tag. Examples: “Biology Mid-term KO (student’s initials)” or “Biology Mid-term SWD (which stands for ‘student with a disability’).”
3. The Test Canvas opens. Choose the Reuse Question button and select Find Questions from the menu.
4. A window will pop-up (make sure that your browser’s pop-up blocker allows pop-ups from blackboard.shsu.edu) which contains an area to find questions from Question Pools, existing Tests and other areas. Click the Tests link and locate the existing (standard) exam for which you are making an extended-time version, and select its checkbox.
5. The questions will appear to the right – scroll to the bottom of the window and click the Select All button to make sure all questions are displayed; select the checkbox to the left of the “Question Text” heading to select all of the questions. Verify the number of selected questions at the bottom of the window and clickSubmit.
6. This will bring you to the Test Canvas. From here you can either close the Test, or add more questions using the “Add Question Here” links.
7. When you deploy the extended-time exam you have just created to a Content Area, set the time limit to extended time, i.e., the amount of time indicated by the student’s accommodation letter, generally either time and a half (1.5x) or double time (2x). Example: If the standard exam is timed to 1 hour, the accommodated student would receive 1 hour, 30 minutes on the extended-time format if he/she has been approved for 1.5 extended time. The maximum time that can be set for a test on Blackboard is 4 hours, 55 minutes. In the event that additional time is required by the student’s accommodation, you may divide the test into two parts and administer each as a separate exam on Blackboard in accordance with the aforementioned procedures.
8. To release the extended-time exam to the accommodated student (so that his/her classmates do not see two tests): once the exam has been deployed to a Content Area, click the gray circle button beside the Test’s title and choose Adaptive Release to create an Adaptive Release rule.
1. Under 2. Membership, enter the accommodated student’s username in the “Username” area to add him/her to the Membership Criteria.
2. Click “Submit” at the bottom. Now, only the student whose username you have specified will be able to view the extended-time exam. Note: Multiple test-takers with disabilities may be accommodated by means of one, extended-time exam, provided that their usernames are entered in the “Username” area and each of them has been approved for the same time extension (e.g., 1.5x).
ALSO—you can prevent the test score from being released so that the accommodated student does not see two grades from two different columns. In the Grade Center, click on the gray circle button at the column heading of the extended-time exam. Choose the “Edit Column Information” option from the pop-up menu. Under 3. Options, choose “No” for “Include this column in Grade Center Calculations” AND “Show this column to Students” This will prevent the other students from seeing the grade column, and from it being used in the calculations of the Grade Center.
9. You will need to manually enter the accommodated student’s score into the ORIGINAL test column so that he/she can access the grade through the My Grades option if the other students are using this feature, and so that his/her score will be calculated with the rest of the grades.
II. In order to create an extended-time exam with a different start date and/or time as that of the standard exam:
1. Under the gray circle button beside the test in the Content Area, choose Edit the Test Options; change the date and/or time(s) that the test will be available and the amount of time allowed for the test.
2. After your original test is closed, using Adaptive Release rule as described above, select ONLY the accommodated student.
3. Under the “Modify” button beside the test in the Content Area, change the date and/or time(s) that the test will be available and the amount of time allowed for the test.
Note: To request time extensions for exams administered on platforms other than Blackboard, such as a publishing company’s website, faculty members are advised to contact the web/platform administrator.
Correspondence Course Exams
SHSU students requesting accommodations for correspondence course exams must first register with SSD and submit documentation of a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits academic functioning. Students are advised to contact the SHSU Counseling Center at 936-294-3512 (TDD 936-294-3786) to schedule a disability intake appointment (or telephone interview in the case of distance learners). Documentation may be submitted by fax (936-294-3794) or mail (Services for Students with Disabilities, Box 2059 SHSU, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2059). If the student is approved for accommodations, SSD will either: (a) provide him/her with an accommodation form to present to the Correspondence Office; or (b) forward an accommodation letter to said office in the case of a distance learner. The Correspondence Office will provide the testing accommodations for exams administered on site or will forward directions regarding the accommodations to the designated testing site. For more information on the designated testing sites for correspondence courses, students are advised to contact Gail Wright, Correspondence Office Coordinator, at 936-294-1003 or cor_gmw@shsu.edu.
