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 is often the most equitable scenario because it allows greater access to the instructorm 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 eachother to ensure that needs will be met throughout the semester in the most convienient and equitable manner.

Accessibility Resources has partnered with Testing Services to provide accommodated testing resources to UC faculty for their students with disabilities. Testing Services operates on UC's West (Uptown) and East (Medical) campuses. 

Testing Services has a finite capacity. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so instructors may need to be flexible in the event that seats are not available at the preferred time. If Testing Services is unable to accommodate a student at the preferred test time, it is the instructor’s responsibility to provide accommodations or offer an alternate date and time for the student to take the exam with Testing Services. Faculty may choose to provide alternate (but of equal difficulty) exams to students who need to test a different time than the class. 

Students can schedule exams Monday-Friday 8am-8pm (West Campus), and Monday-Friday 8am-3:30pm (East Campus) up to three days in advance of their test (one week in advance for Final Exams).

Testing Services' professional staff and graduate student workers take the security of instructors' exams very seriously. Instructors and teaching assistants are welcome to stop by our office to view the facility's security features and meet our staff.

By utilizing Testing Services to fulfill a students' testing accommodations, student and faculty agree to our Accommodated Testing Policies. 

Accommodated Testing Policies
  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. Test Registration & Approval
    1. Approve/Deny student registration requests within Accommodate. Faculty will receive an email when a student makes a registration request. Faculty must approve or deny a student’s registration from their Accommodate account.
    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 will make every effort to submit test materials to Testing Services by 5pm EST the day before the test appointment. Tests received after this time may cause delays. Testing Services will provide email reminders for test submissions through the day before the test. 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 (formerly coversheets) must be submitted using the Exam form in Accommodate. Every test, even those without test documents, must have this information uploaded into Accommodate. Test materials, such as the actual test document and any supplemental materials, can still be submitted by any one of the following convenient methods: 
      1. Preferred Method: 
        1. Upload through Accommodate: Submit all proctoring information, test papers, and any supplemental materials along through the Exam form in Accommodate. This is the best and most recommended method.
      2. Alternate Methods:
        1. Email: Send test papers and supplemental materials to testdel@ucmail.uc.edu
        2. Drop-off: Drop off your materials in-person at 1505 French Hall West.
        3. Campus Mail: Send materials to Location 0078. Note: Campus mail is not recommended as it may be less reliable.
  5. Test Corrections: Submit any exam corrections to Testing Services by 5pm 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

This video provides faculty with instructions on managing test registration requests and exam materials in Accommodate. 

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

Faculty will receive an email notification any time a student makes a test registration request with UC Testing Services. All requests require your approval. 

To approve or decline a request: 

  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. By default, you will see your pending requests. To approve or deny, click on the student's name, scroll down to the faculty section, and approve or decline the request. Then select "submit"
    1. If you wish, you may also add your coversheet/test at this time by either selecting a previously uploaded test/coversheet, or add a new one. 

Students and faculty will receive notification emails once the registrations are approved or declined.

If declining an appointment, please make sure to reach out to your student to discuss your scheduling concerns.        

  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 "Upload New Exam/Coversheet" 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. 

Guide - Completing Exam Submission Form

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.