Guidance on Proctored Testing for the Fall of 2020
In response to significant requests for the ability to have in-person proctored testing in the fall of 2020, a work group was formed to examine all possibilities and provide guidance around proctored testing.
After a cursory scan of requests from several academic units, the workgroup decided that demand for proctored exams would outstrip supply of available spaces. As a result several guidelines/requirements were developed:
- Only those courses offered in the in-person, hybrid traditional and online interactive formats will have access to schedule proctored exams in-person at IUPUI in fall 2020. These three formats were selected because they include required in-person meetings on campus. The workgroup felt that students should not be in a situation where the only reason they visit campus is to take an exam. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that for a course to use in-person testing, that students will be visiting campus at least once for reasons other than taking an exam.
- Courses that meet the above requirement will be afforded the opportunity to schedule up to two in-person exams during fall 2020, including the final exam.
- Exams will be limited to 75-minute time limits.
There are also several important caveats:
- Some students may require an accommodation due to health, quarantine, or illness (COVID or other illness that prevents their presence on campus as stated in the CRA). Even if a faculty member has an exam proctored on campus, accommodations will need to be made for an online evaluation/examination for students that cannot come to campus.
- It is important to note that these requirements only apply to courses where the needed additional classroom space is controlled by the campus (general inventory). Schools and departments that may have department spaces that can be used for testing using proper social distancing are not subject to these requirements; neither are classes that can safely accommodate all testing needs without requesting additional space.
For fall 2020, there will be three mechanisms for proctored testing:
- Proctored testing done on computers: This is the testing that is typically handled by the IUPUI Testing Center and offered in SL 070. In the fall, these tests may also take place in the Hine Hall Ballroom (starting no later than October 12). Students individually schedule a time to take an exam and the exam is proctored by IUPUI Testing Center staff. Because additional spaces will be used, there will be an updated list of IP addresses associated with new terminals doing testing.
- Proctored testing done with paper and pencil/pen: This scheduling will continue to occur via the Office of the Registrar. This form of testing is typically done in assigned classrooms and exams are proctored by faculty and graduate assistants. Given physical distancing requirements new spaces are now required. To accommodate this, CE 450 will be available throughout the day for scheduling of proctored exams in addition to any open classrooms across campus (likely restricted to nights and weekends). Scheduling will occur on a cohort basis (i.e. by course). Faculty will be responsible for coordinating proctoring of these.
- Online proctored testing: This is when students take an exam from their own device in their own space and an outside vendor is used to proctor the exam. In using either of the options below, instructors are cautioned to make sure students have sufficient technology and are trained on how to use the technology prior to the exam. There are two options for online proctored testing:
- Examity: Costs for Examity at IUPUI will only be covered for students enrolled in fully online programs listed at online.iu.edu. Costs for all other uses of Examity on the IUPUI campus will be assumed by the unit offering those courses/exams. (You will need to seek permission from your dean for this option).
- Respondus Monitor: This tool not only proctors the exam but Respondus LockDown Browser is used to block access to outside web resources and local programs on the student’s computer. To use this tool, instructors review recorded exam sessions after the fact, using a “flagged event” tool and other metrics to review events and determine if flagged events are issues to be addressed. There is no cost to the student or department for the use of Respondus tools. Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning for more information.
Other Important Clarifications
Adaptive Educational Services: The Testing Workgroup also included a focus on identifying proctored testing space for Adaptive Educational Services, and they will be delivering proctored exams to students that seek and qualify for accommodations in BS 3000.
13-week Session Exams: Final exams for 13-week classes in fall 2020 will occur on the final day of each class unless departments choose to schedule departmental exams. Departmental exams will be scheduled by request through the Registrar’s Office and will occur from Friday, November 20, through Sunday, November 22.
16-week Departmental Exams: Sixteen week will follow the already established final exam schedule BUT they will be done virtually rather than in spaces across campus. The established final exam schedule link can be found here – https://facultystaffcentral.iupui.edu/calendars/final-exam-schedule-fall.html. However, please note that all of the room columns have not yet been updated.
Process to Schedule Times for Exams
In order to schedule a proctored paper and pencil or computer based test, scheduling officers/representatives and/or faculty will visit the IUPUI Testing Center website at https://tc.iupui.edu to schedule all types of proctored testing. The website will direct scheduler/faculty to the correct scheduling location for their needs. Scheduler/faculty will need to know the dates and times of their exams as well as the estimated number of students taking each exam. The scheduling system will assign a location and provide the faculty an email confirmation.
