Test Accommodations

Test Accommodations

Students may qualify for testing accommodations such as extended time, distraction-reduced testing, permission to avoid use of scantron forms, larger font, use of a computer and/or specialized software such as text-to-speech software, screen-reading software, or a scribe for tests.  The individual’s need for these types of accommodations are assessed on a case-by-case basis.  Some of these accommodations may be easily handled by the faculty member in the classroom, while others may require the assistance of the Disability Support Services (DSS) Office or staff.

Test Proctoring in the DSS Office

If a student qualifies for extended time, distraction-reduced testing environment, or assistive technology, and faculty cannot provide the accommodation themselves, DSS is available to proctor tests, quizzes, in-class timed writing, or exams. Faculty are responsible for completing a testing agreement in the DSS Faculty Portal and the student is responsible for reserving a testing room via the DSS Student Portal. The testing room should be reserved for the same day and time as the test is being proctored in class. DSS requires the student to reserve the testing room in the DSS Student Portal three business days in advance during the semester and two weeks in advance for final exams. Staff will attempt to coordinate late testing requests but availability cannot be guaranteed without sufficient notice. Faculty will be consulted on any necessary modifications in the time of the test due to conflicts with other classes or DSS proctoring availability.

Student Responsibilities

• Advise faculty of the desire to have the test proctored in DSS with sufficient notice for the professor to complete the testing agreement in the DSS Faculty Portal and deliver the test to DSS.
• Schedule test with DSS in the DSS Student Portal giving three (3) business days’ notice for usual tests and quizzes, and at least two (2) weeks notice for final exams. Exams should be schedules on the day/time the exam is being given in class unless otherwise specified by the instructor. Students are encouraged to schedule multiple tests early in the semester based on the course calendar.
• Arrive at the DSS office 5-10 minutes prior to scheduled exam time, bringing any needed writing utensils, scantron answer forms, approved calculators, etc.

Faculty Responsibilities

• Complete the testing agreement in the DSS Faculty Portal. DSS cannot administer tests without a completed testing agreement filled out in the DSS Faculty Portal.
  • The testing agreement gives DSS general instructions for all assessments given in the course. If there are specific instructions for each exam, please complete the exam instructions once a student schedules an exam.

• Once a student schedules an exam, the instructor will be notified via email. Review the scheduled exam time and approve it in the DSS If there are specific exam instructions that differ from what was specified in the original testing agreement, complete the exam instructions in the DSS portal.
• Upload the exam to the secure DSS portal. Exams may also be emailed to DSSTest@montevallo.edu or delivered in person to DSS. Please do not send exams via campus mail.
• Specify to DSS how the exam should be returned. DSS prefers to return exams via the secure DSS faculty portal. Exams may also be returned via email or faculty retrieving the exam from the DSS office. DSS has limited availability to return exams in person to faculty. If faculty would like the exam returned by DSS staff, they must communicate the following:
  • To where the exam should be returned?
  • To whom the exam should be returned? What time will that person be available?
  • If DSS attempts to return the exam at the specified time and the faculty member is not available, can the exam be returned in the mailbox? (If this happens and exams cannot be returned in the mailbox, the exam must be picked up in the DSS office)