Testing

Faculty Information

Faculty are essential in maintaining accessibility standards and ensuring all students have equal opportunities to succeed at the University of Cincinnati.

Whenever possible, faculty should administer tests with a student’s approved accommodations. UC Testing Services can assist when direct administration of accommodations isn’t feasible. If Testing Services cannot facilitate a student's accommodations, it is the faculty member’s responsibility to ensure the student receives the necessary support through alternative means.

Testing Acccommodations are a type of academic accommodation, which under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are adjustments, modifications, auxiliary aids, or services provided to students with disabilities to ensure they have equal access to educational programs and opportunities. These accommodations aim to remove barriers and allow students with disabilities to participate fully in their academic pursuits.

Testing accommodations are available to students who are registered with Accessibility Resources with a disability that requires accommodation. 

Testing Accommodations can consist of, but are not limited to things such as 50% or 100% additional time on tests, distraction-reduced testing spaces, individual testing rooms, enlarged-text printed exams, test readers, test scribes, etc. Please visit Accessibility Resources' page on Academic Accommodations to learn more about these types of accommodations.

Testing Accommodations do not apply to students who do not have a disability and simply need to make-up a missed test date. For these types of situations, please visit our Non-accommodated Proctoring resources page. 

First, understand that students with testing accommodations must be registered Accessibility Resources, and must notify instructors through an Accommodation Letter originating from the Accessibility Resources office. Students are encouraged to engage the instructor about how their needs will be met throughout the semester. A copy of each student's Accommodation Letter is always kept within the faculty's Accommodate account for their records.  

Instructors should aim to administer accommodated tests directly using their department's resources whenever possible. This scenario allows greater access to the instructor should the student have questions during the exam, the department's resources, and it more closely mirrors the experience of their classmates.

The approach to providing testing accommodations depends on the specific accommodations required for each student. The Accessibility Resources office offers guidance and resources to help faculty ensure that the accommodations are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Students and faculty are strongly encouraged to proactively engage with each other to ensure that needs will be met throughout the semester.

Set Expectations with Students

  1. At the start of each semester, faculty will receive Accommodation Letters for their students. If a student has testing accommodations, faculty should discuss with them how these accommodations will be provided. If you plan to use Testing Services, let the student know that this is your preferred method. 
  2. To use Testing Services, students must register through their Accommodate account for each test where they wish to use their accommodations. Registrations must be submitted at least 72 hours in advance to ensure a reserved seat during the semester, and 7 days in advance for Finals Week. 
  3. Testing Services reviews and accepts registrations as they come in based on our availability. In general, if the student is able to successfully make a registration, we have availability and will accept the request immediately. 
  4. At this time, faculty will be informed that the registration has been accepted by Testing Services, and Faculty action is now required to either:
    1. deliver test materials to Testing Services, or
    2. deny the registration (due to incompatible requested test date/time) 

Delivering Exams to Testing Services

Instructors must provide a copy of the exam or password for online exams to UC Testing Services no later than 12 p.m. one (1) business day before an exam is to be administered.

Exams can be delivered to Testing Services by:

  • Upload to Accommodate 
    • Please see the Accommodate resources and guides below for assistance.
  • Email (to testdel@ucmail.uc.edu) 
    • You may email us a copy of your test along with a completed Exam Coversheet. The coversheet is required. The exam and coversheet must come in one email, they must not be submitted separately.
  • Drop-Off  (to French Hall West, 1505)
    • If dropping off, please ensure that the tests come with an Exam Coversheet. Otherwise, our staff will ask you to complete one upon drop off. 

We cannot accept late submissions. Not submitting an exam or password by the deadline means Testing Services will be unable to administer the exam. As a result, the student’s appointment will be canceled, and it becomes the instructor’s responsibility to administer the exam and provide accommodations. 

Exam Returns

Exams can be returned in several ways. Instructors indicate their preference when completing a coversheet or uploading their test to Accommodate.

  • Scanned and returned via Email
  • Scanned and uploaded to Accommodate
  • Hold for Pick-up
  • Student Return
    • This involves the student brining the exam to you in a sealed envelope provided by the Testing Services office upon the completion of the exam. 

For emailed or uploaded exam returns, Testing Services strives to return exams as soon as possible after the completion of the test. In most cases, the exam will be returned the same day it was completed by the student. However, high volume times may slow this process. If you haven't received your student's test by the next business day, please reach out to us. 

Additional Guidelines

  • If you notice a mistake in your exam, let us know right away. However, if the mistake is noticed on test day, please know that we may be unable notify students before they complete their exam. If that happens, we will notify you when the exam is returned. 
  • Testing Services is not able to administer webcam-monitored exams. If this format is required, it will be the instructor’s responsibility to administer the exam and provide accommodations.
  • Testing Services cannot support block testing. That is, tests that require all students with accommodations from a single class to be tested at the same time. If block testing is required, it will be the instructor’s responsibility to administer the exam and provide accommodations.
  • Testing Services may not be able to administer exams that require specific technical or logistical controls, such as limited audio playback. Due to our quiet testing environment and setup, faculty may need to handle these components directly.
  • Students schedule exams on a first-come, first-served basis. While rare, there may be times when we are unable to administer exams, even if a request is received prior to the scheduling deadline. If this happens, the instructor and student will be notified immediately. It will then become the instructor’s responsibility to provide accommodations or offer an alternate date and time for the student to take the exam with Testing Services. 
  1. Faculty review student Accommodation Letters within their Accommodate account. Instructors should review and acknowledge these forms at the beginning of each term. If an instructor has questions about an accommodation listed on the letter, they should contact Accessibility Resources for clarification. Accommodation letters are maintained in Accommodate.
  2. Ensure use is within scope of Testing Services:
    1. Eligibility:
      1. Approved Accommodations: Testing Services are only available for students who are registered with Accessibility Resources and have approved testing accommodations due to a disability.
    2. Purpose:
      1. Classroom Tests Only: Testing Services are intended solely for classroom tests, not for other types of assessments or assignments.
    3. In-Person UC Classroom Tests:
      1. For In-Person Courses Only: Testing Services are for students with accommodations taking exams for in-person UC courses.
      2. No Modality Changes: If a class has an online-at-home exam, students with accommodations should also take the exam online-at-home. The testing modality should remain consistent.
      3. Faculty Responsibility: It is the faculty's responsibility to ensure that any online tests are set up with the appropriate accommodations for students, whether taken at home or in the test center.
  3. Student Test Requests
    1. Faculty will receive an email notification when Testing Services accepts a test request from a student. Faculty will receive an email when Testing Services accepts a student's test request. These are accepted based on our center's availability. Students are informed that Faculty have final say when determining their test date/time. Faculty may deny a student’s registration from their Accommodate account any time before the scheduled appointment. Students will receive email notification of the denial. 
    2. Work with students who have scheduling conflicts. Before you deny a request, understand that students are expected to register for appointments at the same time the class will be taking the exam, but there are instances where this might not be possible. In some instances, you will need to work with the student to find a resolution to these scheduling conflicts:
      1. Class Overlap: If accommodations overlap with another class, arrange an alternate test time that fits both the student’s schedule and Testing Services’ hours (8:00am to 8:00pm, Monday through Friday). Alternatively, you may proctor the exam yourself with the accommodations.
      2. Testing Services Hours: If the test time is outside Testing Services' hours, collaborate with the student to find a suitable alternate time. Tests must be completed by closing time, including any extended time.
      3. Full Capacity: If Testing Services is full during your class time, arrange an alternate test time with the student. If no suitable time is available at Testing Services, faculty are responsible for providing the test and accommodations to the student outside of Testing Services resources. 
    3. Communicate to students with denied requests. If you deny a student registration request, you should engage with that student to discuss why the request was denied, and next steps regarding how the student will receive their test and accommodations.
  4. Submit Test Materials to Testing Services
    1. Faculty should make every effort to submit test materials to Testing Services by 12pm EST the day before the test appointment. Tests received after this time may cause delays in service. Testing Services will provide email reminders for test submissions through the day before the test.  
      1. If faculty cannot make the 12pm, day before submission deadline, or cannot provide test materials until the day of the exam, it is most helpful if you print the exams and coversheets and drop them off directly to our office. Our staff have limited ability to print and prepare exam materials same-day.  
      2. If a test is not received by the student’s appointment time, the student will be returned to class, and it will be the instructor’s responsibility to administer the exam with accommodations.
    2. Proctoring Information / Exam Coversheets must be submitted along with the exam papers. Every test, even those without test documents, must have this information. The coversheet form is built into Accommodate, however, if you plan on submitting via Email or Drop Off, a blank, fillable coversheet will be provided to you with every test registration notification email. 
    3. Exam Submission Methods: 
      1. Accommodate Upload: 
        1. Submit all proctoring information, test papers, and any supplemental materials along through the Exam form in Accommodate. This method works best if you plan on submitting for one or more students in the same course and section.
      2. Email:
        1. You may send your coversheet, test papers, and supplemental materials to testdel@ucmail.uc.edu. This method works best if you are submitting test materials for multiple students across several sections or courses. 
      3. Drop-off: You may drop off your materials in-person at 1505 French Hall West. Please remember to bring with you a completed coversheet, or our staff will ask you to fill one out upon drop off. 
  5. Test Corrections: Submit any exam corrections to Testing Services by 12pm the day before the exam. Late submissions may not be processed in time, and Testing Services cannot guarantee the corrections will be relayed to the student before the end of their appointment.
  6. Permission for Late Arrivals:
    1. Written Permission: Provide written permission if a student needs to start their test late. Testing Services will need this permission along with available space to accommodate the late session.
  7. Reporting 
    1. Testing Services will report to faculty breaches of policy and confirmed or attempted acts of misconduct. Testing Services will cooperate fully with any conduct investigations.
    2. Testing Services may file reports of non-academic misconduct with the office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Testing Services may file these reports even if faculty choose not to file an Academic Misconduct report. 

Accommodate Resources

Accommodate Guide - Viewing and Denying Registrations
Accommodate Guide - How to Upload Exams

Faculty will receive an email notification when Testing Services accepts a student's registration request. Faculty are able to view registrations at any time in their Accommodate Portal. 

To view active registrations: 

  1. Login to your Accommodate account using your 6+2 UC Credentials. 
  2. From your Accommodate homepage, navigate to the "Courses" tab on the left navigation panel. 
  3. Select the course for which the student has made a registration. 
  4. Within that course, select the "Testing Services" tab across the top menu.
  5. In the Testing Services tab, there will be two sub-tabs: 
    1. In Review (no faculty action required)
      1. These are requests made by students that have not yet been reviewed by Testing Services. We review requests on a daily basis and accept them based on our availability. In general, if the student was able to make the request, we have availability, and we will accept the request immediately.             
    2. Registrations Accepted by Test Center 
      1. These registrations have been reviewed and Accepted by Testing Services based on our availability.    
  6. In the "Registrations Accepted by Test Center" tab, you may review these registrations, add your test to them, or deny them if they do not approve of the requested date/time.   
  1. Login to your Accommodate account using your 6+2 UC Credentials. 
  2. From your Accommodate homepage, navigate to the "Courses" tab on the left navigation panel. 
  3. Select the course for which you are uploading a test. 
  4. Select the "Testing Services" tab across the top navigation bar. 
  5. Select the "Registrations Accepted by Test Center" sub tab.
  6. Find the registration in question, and click on the student's name. 
  7. In the next page, scroll down to the “Faculty Section” at the bottom of the student’s registration details.
  8. Under the question “Do you approve the date/time of this request” select “No”
  9. Then click “Submit” at the bottom of the page. 

The student will be sent an automatic email notifying them of the denial. This will also cancel their appointment. Anytime you deny a request, you should reach out to your student to discuss the issues with the registration. 

  1. Login to your Accommodate account using your 6+2 UC Credentials. 
  2. From your Accommodate homepage, navigate to the "Courses" tab on the left navigation panel. 
  3. Select the course for which you are uploading a test. 
  4. Select the "Exams/Coversheets" tab across the top navigation bar. 
  5. Select "Add New Exam" and the submission form will open. Complete this form as directed. A detailed guide is provided below. 

You may also upload a new test directly from a student's registration by selecting that student's name, scrolling down to the 'Faculty Section' and selecting the 'Exams/Coversheets' button. 

*Students will never have access to exam materials or coversheet content in Accommodate. The student will only ever see your exam title. 

Accommodate Assistance

UC Faculty who would like help with using Accommodate with Testing Services may request a consultation appointment with Testing Services staff. 

Please send an email to testing@uc.edu to request an appointment.