Establishing Testing Policies and Procedures for Students with Accommodations

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

2. Focus on: • S&T Testing Center history • Noticing trends • Adapting policy & procedures • Frustration between Testing Center and Disability Support Services • Moving Forward

3. Origins of Testing Center • Prior to 2003 - Tutoring, Disability Support and Testing services under Counseling and Academic Support Programs • < 80 students and < 100 tests administered • During 2003 saw addition of 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 • Academic Support Programs dissolved toward end of 2007 - DSS and Testing under Counseling until 2009 • Testing Center moved to report directly to the office of Vice Chancellor-Student Affairs

4. Current S&T ADA/504 Population • Over 400 self identified students registered with Disability Support Services • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 60% • Learning Disability 25% • Aspberger's 13% • Psychological Disorders 13% • Health conditions 11% • Mobility 6% • Hearing Impaired 5% • Visual Impairment 4%

5. 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

6. Communication of trends • Monthly updates Charts Annual Report Reserve additional space • 10 Reduced distraction environments- 16 adaptable seats - in which 12 seats may serve as a reduced distraction environment Workflow activity

7. *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.

8. 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 • Faculty did not provide enough information to proctor a test • Established an online proctor request form • No information given to students regarding Testing Center • Created a two sided 8 1/2 x 11 policy document covering responsibility for appointments and using the Testing Center • Viewed the Disability Support Services Advisor as the expert

9. 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

10. Persistent Concerns Communication Rarely heard from either the student or faculty Increased emails sent Faculty 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 Reaction to active implementation of policies Revision 2012-2013

11. 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 • Campus and/or system wide legal services • Regional Office of Civil Rights

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 cherylde@mst.edu