Testing Accommodations - OARS Accommodation

It is OARS's responsibility to:

• Determine eligibility for testing accommodations.

• Consult with faculty (when necessary) to determine the nature of the testing accommodation to be provided.

• Answer questions about testing accommodations and other aspects of the testing accommodations process.

• Provide test security from delivery to return to faculty.

• Provide testing area and administer exams.

• Return completed test to faculty in a timely manner.

• Answer questions about testing accommodations and other aspects of the testing accommodations process.

• Provide testing accommodation supports such as a dry erase/white board, noise cancelling headphones, etc.

It is the student's responsibility to:

• Communicate with the professor the intention to use this accommodation by sending the Faculty Notification Letter in a timely manner. 

• Schedule an appointment to take the exam within the timeframe as directed by the professor. The student will receive an email from the Testing Center Coordinator with information on how to schedule their exam and the timeframe allowed. If the student does not schedule an appointment it is assumed they will be testing in the classroom.

• Arrive at the Testing Center on time for their appointment with the appropriate testing materials.

Students with the following accommodations refer to the policies below:

• Single testing, reader, and scribe: the student is responsible to notify the professor and OARS the intent to utilize the accommodation at least 5 business days prior for each exam and quiz.

• Typing exam responses: the student is responsible for typing exam responses in the format provided by the professor.

• Use of Notecard accommodation: it is the student's responsibility to create a 3x5 notecard at least 5 days prior to the exam and provide it to the professor for approval. A notecard may not be reasonable for quizzes; however, a notecard may be used for a quiz if the quiz falls within the 5 day prior notecard submission timeframe.  Notecard should not be a glossary of definitions. Examples for notecard usage: minimal words to help with memory recall.) In some courses, the Testing Notecard accommodation is not reasonable as its use affects displaying mastery in the subject.

• Listening to Music Without Words accommodation: the student will be allowed to use their phone to play music in a single testing space. The phone has to be on the other side of the room and the student is not allowed to access it while taking the exam. Students are not allowed headphones or earbuds.

• Use of Dry Erase/White Board accommodation: The student will be allowed to use a dry erase/whiteboard during exams. It is the student’s responsibility to ask the Testing Center Coordinator or Proctor for a dry erase/whiteboard before the exam. 

• Use of Noise Cancelling Headphones accommodation: The student will be allowed to use noise cancelling headphones during exams.  It is the student's responsibility to ask the Testing Center Coordinator/Proctor for the headphones before the exam. 

It is the professor's responsibility to:

• Submit the test request form at least 3 days prior to the exam date with the appropriate accommodations listed.

• Deliver exams/quizzes to Testing Center Coordinator no later than 24 hours prior to student’s arrival to take the test. Drop off test at BAC328, or email to undergrad-testing-center@bethel.edu. 

• Collaborate with OARS staff to resolve problems or questions regarding exam/quizzes as they arise.

For students with the following accommodations refer to the policies below:

• Time and a half or double time: the professor is responsible to provide extended time (50% or 100% additional time) to the student for both in person exams and quizzes as well as those given through Moodle. 

• Reader and scribe: the professor is responsible to work with OARS, if needed, to ensure the accommodation is in place for the student.

• Type Exam Responses: the professor is responsible to provide the student with a copy of the exam or quiz in a digital format that allows the student to type the responses.

• For the Use of Notecard Accommodation: Approve the notecard prior to the exam date and send it to the Testing Center. The notecard can be attached to the exam and dropped off at BAC 325 or sent electronically to undergrad-testing-center@bethel.edu. The purpose of the notecard is to help with memory retrieval and it is the professor’s discretion to approve or deny content.