In accordance with practice defined by the Provost's Office, the University currently employs different approaches to providing testing accommodations for students registered with OSAS. The approach depends on the program the student is enrolled in. Please reference below to determine which approach is applicable.
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN, IN-PERSON CLASSES FOR IN-PERSON PROGRAMS (UPC)
- The OSAS Testing Center is responsible for proctoring exams (in-person only) for all students with testing accommodations, including students approved for 1.5x only.
- Students should submit an exam request through “MyOSAS” at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Due to the high volume of exams the OSAS Testing Center proctors and limited space, we cannot guarantee a space for requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date. Exam requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date will be considered as time and space allow.
- Faculty/Departments have the option to proctor exams for students with testing accommodations.
- Students should make arrangements directly with their faculty member(s) at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Students who are eligible to test at the OSAS Testing Center may choose to test with the class with the understanding that their Instructor may not be able to provide any or all of their approved testing accommodations (e.g. 1.5x, a reduced distraction test setting).
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ONLINE CLASSES FOR IN-PERSON PROGRAMS (UPC)
- The OSAS Testing Center is responsible for proctoring exams (in-person only) for all students with testing accommodations, including students approved for 1.5x only.
- Students should submit an exam request through “MyOSAS” at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Due to the high volume of exams the OSAS Testing Center proctors and limited space, we cannot guarantee a space for requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date. Exam requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date will be considered as time and space allow.
- Faculty/Departments have the option to proctor exams for students with testing accommodations.
- Students should make arrangements directly with their faculty member(s) at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Students who are eligible to test at the OSAS Testing Center may choose to test with the class with the understanding that their Instructor may not be able to provide any or all of their approved testing accommodations (e.g. 1.5x, a reduced distraction test setting).
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ONLINE PROGRAMS
- Faculty/Departments are responsible for proctoring exams for all students with testing accommodations.
- Students should make arrangements directly with their faculty member(s) at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- The OSAS Testing Center is unable to provide remote proctoring services for students enrolled in online programs. However, if online students have any specific questions, please feel free to contact the OSAS Testing Center.
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN, IN-PERSON CLASSES FOR ONLINE PROGRAMS
- The OSAS Testing Center is responsible for proctoring exams (in-person only) for all students with testing accommodations, including students approved for 1.5x only.
- Students should submit an exam request through “MyOSAS” at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Due to the high volume of exams the OSAS Testing Center proctors and limited space, we cannot guarantee a space for requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date. Exam requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date will be considered as time and space allow.
- Faculty/Departments have the option to proctor exams for students with testing accommodations.
- Students should make arrangements directly with their faculty member(s) at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Students who are eligible to test at the OSAS Testing Center may choose to test with the class with the understanding that their Instructor may not be able to provide any or all of their approved testing accommodations (e.g. 1.5x, a reduced distraction test setting).
STUDENTS LOCATED AT THE HEALTH SCIENCE CAMPUS (HSC) AND/OR THE ALHAMBRA CAMPUS
- Faculty/Departments are responsible for proctoring exams for all students with testing accommodations.
- Students should make arrangements directly with their faculty member(s) at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- The OSAS Testing Center is unable to provide proctoring services at the HSC or the Alhambra campus. However, if students have any specific questions, please feel free to contact the OSAS Testing Center.
USC GOULD SCHOOL OF LAW STUDENTS
- The Law School proctors exams for all students with testing accommodations.
- Students should make arrangements directly with the Gould Registrar’s Office at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- The OSAS Testing Center is unable to provide proctoring services for USC Gould School of Law. However, if students have any specific questions, please feel free to contact the OSAS Testing Center.
USC HERMAN OSTROW SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY STUDENTS
- The OSAS Testing Center is responsible for proctoring exams (in-person only) for all students with testing accommodations, including students approved for 1.5x only.
- Students should submit an exam request through “MyOSAS” at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Due to the high volume of exams the OSAS Testing Center proctors and limited space, we cannot guarantee a space for requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date. Exam requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date will be considered as time and space allow.
- Students may choose to test with the class with the understanding that their Instructor may not be able to provide any or all of their approved testing accommodations (e.g. 1.5x, a reduced distraction test setting).
- Note: To make full use of approved testing accommodations, students are encouraged to test directly with the OSAS Testing Center.
STUDENTS APPROVED FOR VIRTUAL CLASS ATTENDANCE
- The OSAS Testing Center is responsible for proctoring exams (virtually) for students who are approved for virtual class attendance and any testing accommodation, including students approved for 1.5x only.
- Students should submit an exam request through “MyOSAS” at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Due to the high volume of exams the OSAS Testing Center proctors and limited resources, we cannot guarantee a virtual proctor for requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date. Exam requests submitted less than one week before the quiz, test, or exam date will be considered as time and staffing allow.
- Faculty/Departments have the option to proctor exams for students with testing accommodations.
- Students should make arrangements directly with their faculty member(s) at least one week in advance of the quiz, test, or exam date.
- Note: Students who are eligible to test with the OSAS Testing Center may choose to test with the Instructor with the understanding that their Instructor may not be able to provide any or all of their approved testing accommodations (e.g. 1.5x, a reduced distraction test setting).
- Faculty/Departments are also responsible for proctoring exams for students who are not approved for any testing accommodations but are approved for Virtual Class Attendance.
Best Practices for Implementing Testing Accommodations
Students are responsible for providing each faculty member/instructor a copy of their OSAS-issued Accommodation Letter as early in the semester as possible. Further, students are asked to make arrangements with their faculty member(s) at least one week in advance of the examination date to allow for logistical and proctoring arrangements to be made.
EXTENDED TIME - 1.5X (TIME AND ONE-HALF)
Testing time equal to time-and-one-half of that granted to the class, applicable to any timed assessment (ie: quiz, pop quiz, test, exam, midterm, final).
EXTENDED TIME - 2.0X (DOUBLE TIME)
Testing time equal to double that granted to the class, applicable to any timed assessment (ie: quiz, pop quiz, test, exam, midterm, final).
IMPLEMENTING EXTENDED TIME
- Option 1: Have students with extended time start the exam before the rest of the class so all students have the same end time.
- Option 2: Have the entire class start the exam at the same time and have students with extended time stay after for their extended time. If the classroom reserved for class is not available after class time, faculty should work with their department to secure an alternate location for the remainder of the students' exam time.
- Option 3: Work with your academic department to reserve a separate room for students with extended time:
- To take the exam at the same time as the rest of the class. OSAS recommends assigning a designee (ie: TA, Administrator, etc.) to monitor/proctor students.
- To take the exam at a different time than the rest of the class. OSAS recommends assigning a designee (ie: TA, Administrator, etc.) to monitor/proctor students.
TAKE-HOME EXAM/UNTIMED EXAM
The accommodation of extended time is to be applied to timed exams only. For example, if you are giving all student two hours to complete what you consider to be a one hour exam, this would be considered "timed". You would still need to calculate extended time accommodations based on the two hour time given to all students. Whereas, if you are giving all students a 5 day window to complete an exam, and a timer is not counting down once students begin/access the exam, this would be considered "not timed". You would not add extended time to the 5 day window.
REDUCED DISTRACTION TEST SETTING
A reduced distraction test environment is a setting outside the usual classroom with limited interruptions and external stimuli, such as auditory and visual distractions.
Acceptable reduced distraction test settings include a classroom with a minimal number of other students taking an exam for the size of the space provided, a study/breakout room, a library space, a conference room, or an office. The number of students/seats will depend on the size of the classroom/testing space. For example, if the classroom normally accommodates 30 students, OSAS recommends having 15-17 desks available.
PRIVATE ROOM FOR TESTING
A private space/setting where student can test alone.
CUBICLE FOR TESTING
Testing should take place in a cubicle or in an equivalent individualized space. In certain circumstances, the student may need to test in an equivalent individualized space if a cubicle is not available.
BREAKS DURING EXAMS
Students with an accommodation of "Breaks During Exams" will have an additional 25% time incorporated into their total testing period, which is based on the standard exam time. This approach allows those proctoring exams (OSAS, Instructors, or Academic Departments) to accommodate breaks efficiently. It also allows students to manage their own breaks as needed throughout the testing period. The OSAS database will automatically calculate the total exam time, inclusive of breaks.
- A student approved for breaks only, should receive 25% additional time.
- Therefore, standard time x 1.25x (1.00 + 0.25) = total testing time.
- A student approved for 50% (time and one-half) plus breaks, should receive 75% additional time.
- Therefore, standard time x 1.75x (1.50 + 0.25) = total testing time.
- A student approved for 100% (double time) plus breaks should receive 125% additional time.
- Therefore, standard time x 2.25x (2.00 + 0.25) = total testing time.
- A student approved for 150% (double time and one-half) plus breaks should receive 175% additional time.
- Therefore, standard time x 2.75x (2.50 + 0.25) = total testing time.
- A student approved for 200% (triple time) plus breaks should receive 225% additional time.
- Therefore, standard time x 3.25x (3.00 + 0.25) = total testing time.
The OSAS Testing Center
The OSAS Testing Center offers dedicated testing space and services for OSAS students who are approved for testing accommodations. Please review the first section above to determine which students are eligible to take their exams at the OSAS Testing Center.
While the OSAS Testing Center is unable to provide proctoring services for online programs or programs located at the Health Science Campus (HSC) and/or the Alhambra campus, we offer consultation for academic departments to discuss best practices for implementing testing accommodations. OSAS also provides disposable ear plugs, noise canceling headphones and white noise machines upon request. For more information, please contact the OSAS Testing Center.
The OSAS Testing Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Science and Engineering Library (SSL), Suite 301. It is accessible by elevator and/or stairs, and a power assist door is located at the building’s south entrance.
Please note that the main OSAS office, located at GFS 120, does not administer exams. Please be sure to visit the OSAS Testing Center for any testing-related business.
Testing at the the OSAS Testing Center
Students taking exams at the OSAS Testing Center are expected to schedule their exams at the same time the class is scheduled to take the exam. Exceptions should be made when a student’s testing accommodations (e.g. Extended Time - 1.5x) would cause the student to miss another class. Exceptions should also be made for classes that are held outside of the OSAS Testing Center's proctoring hours which are Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, and 8am - 6pm the week of finals, so students can receive their approved testing accommodations. Adjustments should align as closely to the original test day and time as possible. Any alternative exam schedule must be approved by the course Instructor.
Students’ personal preference, work schedules, travel schedules, or other personal circumstances are not viewed as disability-related reasons for which OSAS would support an adjustment to the exam schedule. Adjustments of this nature will be directed to the Instructor to discuss directly with the student, and notify OSAS of the approved outcome.
Any request to test at the OSAS Testing Center is processed via the MyOSAS database, and issues automatic communications to the Instructor of record for the course. Faculty will be notified of the information submitted by the student, including the date and time the student is scheduling the exam. OSAS reserves a space for the date and time requested, however, the request is considered “pending” until we receive confirmation of approval from the Instructor. Please note that database email communications may present a sense that OSAS is approving the request prior to faculty review, however, our actual practice is to only hold the space, pending final faculty approval.
Exam Security and Academic Integrity
The OSAS Testing Center employs multiple means of ensuring security of exams (e.g., the MyOSAS database is a protected system, accessible only by OSAS staff, exams are stored in locked file cabinets, etc.), and protecting Academic Integrity (e.g. through video surveillance, in-person monitoring, live/synchronous monitoring, etc.). Any exceptional circumstances that may occur during an exam will be documented for you. Students are responsible for abiding by the University’s Academic Integrity Policy and the Instructor’s class policies while taking exams. Failure to abide by these policies may result in a report to the Office of Academic Integrity (OAI).
OSAS is happy to collaborate with any Instructor to address questions and appropriate next steps, in light of the nature of the exceptionality.
Faculty Process for OSAS-administered Exams
We rely on Instructors to provide exam instructions, a copy of the exam, and to confirm allowable exam materials. Our staff is preparing and administering exams for many students in many courses each day. To help ensure we are able to best represent you in our administration of your course exam, we ask that you please complete the Exam Instruction form and provide a copy of the exam to The OSAS Testing Center at least 2 business days in advance of the exam.
Faculty will receive an automated email each time a student requests to take an exam at the OSAS Testing Center. Each automated email includes a link that will allow you to complete an Exam Instruction form and upload a copy of the exam to our secure and confidential database (i.e., MyOSAS).
3 Easy Steps for Faculty to Follow
- Step 1: Review the exam details of the email and click on the link.
- Note: The exam details provided in this email reflect information submitted by the student. OSAS considers these details “pending” until approved by the instructor.
- Step 2: Click on the “Exam Instruction” icon and complete the Exam Instruction form. Then, click “Submit Exam Instruction.” You will then see a “System Update is Successful” notification.
- Note: When completing the Exam Instruction form, please do not include angle brackets (< or >). You will not be able to submit the Exam Instruction form or upload the exam if these symbols are entered.
- Step 3: Click on the “Upload Exam” icon to upload the exam. Please note that you can upload multiple documents. After you have completed the “File Information” section and have attached the exam(s), click on “Upload Exam.” Once you have successfully uploaded the file(s) you will see an “Exam Upload was Successful” notification.
- Note: If there is only one version of the exam, please upload the file and we will distribute it to all students taking this exam. If there are multiple versions of the test being used, you may upload all versions to one student’s exam request. Please provide guidance on how you would like us to distribute them among the students taking the test.
If you have any questions or need assistance completing an Exam Instruction Form and/or uploading an exam, please contact the OSAS Testing Center at 213-821-9620.