Transcript Establishing Testing Policies and Procedures for Students with Accommodations • Presented by • Cheryl Downey-Eber • Manager, Testing Center Services • Missouri University of Science and.

Establishing Testing Policies
and Procedures for Students
with Accommodations
• Presented by
• Cheryl Downey-Eber
• Manager, Testing Center Services
• Missouri University of Science and Technology
Focus on:
•S&T Testing Center history
•Noticing trends
•Adapting policy & procedures
•Frustration between Testing Center
and Disability Support Services
•Moving Forward
• Origins
During 2003
saw
addition
of
of Testing Center
Disability Support
Services Advisor and
Testing Center Manager
• 2005-2006 saw a 40%
increase in number of tests
administered to students
with self reported
ADA/504
accommodations
Current S&T
ADA/504
Population
Over
400 self identified
students registered with
Disability Support
Services
• Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
60%
• Learning Disability 25%
Observed Trends
• Increase in student population
• Steps made rebuilding relationships and service to
faculty
• Common classroom testing - not only final exams
• Increases from October to December and March to
May - Thursdays & Fridays
• Academic progress of students
• Noticing more double time and reduced distraction
environments
• Thinking someone else is responsible for test
arrangements
• Completion of general education core requirements
Communication
trends
Charts
Annualof
Report
Reserve
• Monthly updates
additional space
• 10 Reduced distraction environments- 16 adaptable seats - in which 12 seats
may serve as a reduced distraction environment
Workflow activity
 *AY-10-11 Testing Center
no longer administering the
Math Placement Exam for
Pro
 ** AY 11-12 Testing Center
no longer administering the
Trigonometry placement
test for Trig Review
Opening Week.
First accommodation testing policy
Appeared as walk in-no
clue as to who would be
showing up
• Established policy for
student's being
responsible for
scheduling
appointments
Changes over time
Limited Resources
Encouraged to set a registration/schedule statement
Students
As space was limited had to place deadline dates
Used student eConnection
Created webpage with policies
Faculty
Emailed faculty who used Testing Center
New Faculty Welcome and Orientation Day
End of the semester appreciation emails
Disability Support Services Advisor
Receive list and updates to of self identified students registered
Communication
Rarely heard from either the student or faculty
Increased emails sent
Faculty
Persistent Concerns
Tests not delivered
Too many students
Students
Lack of communication
Believed course professor made all arrangements
Testing Center
Not standing firm with policies
Disability Support Services Advisor
Revising Policies and Procedures
• Resources
• NCTA listserv
• David Espinoza, Tim O'Connor and Heidi
Pettyjohn
• Ad-hoc Committee for Non-Standard Testing
Accommodations
• Use of a mediator
• Next level
Discussion of Policy
• Had to change a few words
•
Registration/scheduling vs confirming
•
Test start time to time block
• Increase in Communication
•
Course professor has the decision how/where the
accommodation is to be met
•
Students have the responsibility to confirm test plan
•
Testing Center staff responsible to remain firm with
policy
Moving Forward-What I learned
Communication is important
Policy is to make the best possible use of
resources
Okay to have reasonable expectations
Sometimes you have to say "No," to see
changes
•
Each semester prior to taking the first test with your accommodations, present the accommodation letter to the
course professor.* The course professor then decides how and where the accommodation is to be met. If the
decision is to use the Testing Center’s services, then the following must be observed…
•
Confirm your intent to take your test by the test registration deadline. This deadline is seven days prior to the
day of your test for tests taken during the semester. Final exam deadlines – Fall semester must confirm by the
last Friday in October; Spring semester must confirm by the first Friday in March.
•
Exceptions (illness, recently self-identified accommodations, etc…) will occur and we will work with students and
faculty on a case-by-case basis; however, same day service will not be allowed. Less than 7 day notice may be
accepted, but is limited due to available resources.
•
•
•
•
Right to refuse service if:
Less than seven days notice from the student
Student reports more than 15 minutes late to scheduled test time block
A course professor presents Testing Center staff with a test, but the student has not confirmed with the Testing
Center.
Busy time of the semester, i.e. Midterm and Finals
Limited space and/or staff
Building maintenance, computer upgrades, special presentations
•
•
•
Questions and Comments
If you want copies of S&T policies for faculty and
students, test request form and/ or student
classroom test registration form send an email to
[email protected]