Alternative Testing
Information for Faculty:
If e-mailing exam, send to: disability.resources@nau.edu
Disability Resources administers academic tests, quizzes, and exams that require the accommodation of extended time, distraction reduced environment, adaptive equipment, readers, scribes, and/or alternative test format. Disability Resources, however, may not be able to provide scribes or readers in some technical fields (e.g., foreign language, mathematics, science, and computer courses). Consequently, faculty may need to provide personnel to administer these tests, quizzes, and exams.
Faculty may choose to provide alternative testing accommodations within their department or utilize Disability Resources testing facility. The students' accommodation must be provided regardless of which area is used. Faculty should consult with the Testing Coordinator at Disability Resources, 928-523-8773, regarding appropriate accommodations and test administration procedures.
A faculty member may consult with the Testing Coordinator at Disability Resources regarding test restructuring; however, any changes in content are the sole responsibility of the faculty member.
Should the instructor change the date of an exam or the student requests to take an exam on a day other than scheduled per the instructor, Disability Resources staff may not change the scheduled day of an exam without the written permission of the instructor.
Testing Guidelines:
Disability Resources follows the guidelines listed below to protect the integrity and security of each test, quiz, and exam.
1. All Disability Resources administered tests, quizzes, and exams are proctored.
2. The Disability Resources Testing Coordinator calculates testing time for the student according to the full class period unless otherwise designated by the instructor.
3. Disability Resources staff and student workers will not administer or proctor tests, quizzes, or exams for classes in which they are currently enrolled.
4. Tutors do not administer tests to students whom they are currently tutoring.
5. In general, students with disabilities take tests, quizzes, and exams at the same time as the rest of the class unless there are time conflicts, in which case an alternate testing time is assigned with the instructor’s approval.
6. Disability Resources staff or student workers assisting with testing procedures only read and/or transcribe materials. They do not interpret, modify, or clarify the questions or responses.
7. Students caught cheating or found cheating during his or her use of Disability Resources testing accommodations will have his or her test and testing materials confiscated immediately. The appropriate instructor will be contacted and informed of the situation. Cell phone use is prohibited within the Disability Resources testing area.
8. In-class interpreting services are provided to ensure that the student has access to the instructor’s instructions, comments, class discussions, etc. The student’s questions and comments are interpreted. Interpreters only interpret between parties and do not attempt to “interpret” the question for the student. Written test questions are not interpreted into sign language. The student must direct all questions to the test administrator in the classroom and the interpreter interprets between the student and the test administrator.
9. Test, quizzes, and exams administered at Disability Resources do not include interpreter services.
Procedures:
Faculty, or Instructor Responsibilities:
1. Complete the Alternative Testing Request form:
a. include the length of test, quiz, or exam time allowed for the test during regular class time. Advise Disability Resources testing personel how exam will be obtained and returned to Instructor.
b. return Alternative Testing Request form to student.
2. Deliver test, quiz, or exam to Disability Resources via one of the following options:
a. One business day before the day of the test, quiz, or exam email it as an attachment to disability.resources@nau.edu as a .doc or .rtf file.
b. Two business days before the day of the test, quiz, or exam, deliver the exam saved to a disk as a .doc or .rtf file, or a hardcopy to Disability Resources (Bldg 92).
c. Three business days before the day of the test, quiz, or exam, leave a copy of the exam in your department office saved to a disk as a .doc or .rtf file, or a hardcopy for pick up by the Disability Resources testing staff by 3pm.
[NOTE: Disability Resources cannot accept paper copies of exams for students who use computer related accommodations. Check student Professor Letter or ask your student if he or she uses a computer when testing]
If none of the options work with your schedule, as an N.A.U. instructor, you are legally responsible for the proper administration of the student’s alternative testing accommodations.
Faculty test administration procedures:
1. Contact the Disability Resources Testing Coordinator to discuss appropriate provision of alternative testing accommodation.
2. Implement the accommodation.
3. If the test, quiz, or exam requires alternative print format (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape), please contact Disability Resources, 928-523-8773, to request an Alternative Format Request Form (or click on the link). The form must be completed and returned to Disability Resources seven working days before the scheduled test, quiz, or exam.
Disability Resources Responsibilities:
1. One day prior to administration, the Testing Coordinator will e-mail the faculty/instructor a reminder that his or her test, quiz, or exam will be administered by Disability Resources.
2. Ensure that all tests, quizzes, and exams are secured while at Disability Resources and properly administered by Disability Resources staff.
3. Ensure that all tests, quizzes, and exams completed at Disability Resources are delivered to the designated academic department office or faculty/instructor.
Information for Students
Qualified Student Responsibilities:
1. Pre-register or register for classes.
2. Meet with a Disability Resources coordinator to:
a. activate your accommodations with Disability Resources for the semester.
b. request testing accommodation.
c. complete and sign an Alternative Testing Accommodation Agreement.
d. obtain one Alternative Testing Request form for each test, quiz, and exam to be administered by Disability Resources.
3. Provide each instructor with a Professor Letter from Disability Resources for the appropriate semester.
4. Have the instructor complete an Alternative Testing Request form for each test, quiz, or exam you plan to take at Disability Resources.
5. Return completed Alternative Testing Request form to Disability Resources and schedule time to take the exam:
a. at least three working days before regular test, quiz, or exam.
b. at least ten working days before the last day of class for Final Exams.
6. If exam date is changed, you must call 928-523-8773 or come into the office to reschedule at least one business day before the original test date.
7. Report to Disability Resources front desk at scheduled time and check in for the test, quiz, or exam. You must bring picture identification.
8. Monitoring your testing time and completing the test, quiz, or exam on time.
ACCESSIBILITY