ACCESSABILITY SERVICES

EXAM PROCEDURES 2014-2015ACCESSIBLE VERSION

ACCESSABILITY SERVICES

Website: https://uwaterloo.ca/disability-services/

Location: 1132 Needles Hall

Front Desk Hours:Monday – Friday 8:30 – 4:30 pm

Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 35082

EXAM TEAMThe exam team is made up of individuals who work with the student to put accommodations in place.

1.The student and AccessAbility Services advisor 2.The student and Professor 3.The student and the exam team made up of our coordinators & proctors

Exam Coordinators:•Hank Edwards•Geoff Shifflett

Exam Phone Line: 519-888-4567 ext: 32292

TO RECEIVE EXAM ACCOMMODATIONS

1. Register for our services.

2. Provide documentation and update as needed.

3. Meet with one of our advisors to review your documentation.

4. Determine your accommodations and complete the forms.

5. Meet with your professors to sign the forms.

6. Return the forms to our office.

7. Attend an “overview exam procedures session”.

8. Repeat this accommodation process each term.

9. Stay tuned to our website for updates and event notifications.

DUPLICATE FORMS

It is in your best interest to have all arrangements made well in advance of upcoming exams, thus reducing last minute running around which can increase exam stress.

SAMPLE DUPLICATE FORM

Remember to have your professor fill in all exam dates, the regular class time and duration of the exam.

IF YOU ARE TAKING AN ON CAMPUS COURSE THAT HAS AN ONLINE TEST:

• Check box number 1 on the duplicate form and ask the professor to adjust the length of time to meet your accommodation

• If you wish to write online tests with AccessAbility Services you must inform the Exam Coordinator of this when you return your signed duplicate form in order for us to arrange a space for you.

• You do not need to submit the Centre for Extended Learning Request for Accommodation Form, only the Duplicate Form.

TIME LINES

• Duplicate forms must be signed and returned to NH1132 at least 7 working days prior to your first midterm test for each course

-white copy for our department-yellow copy for your instructor

• If accommodations are only for finals, forms must be returned 2 weeks prior to the end of classes

• If circumstances change and you decide to write with the class without your approved accommodation, you must inform both our exam coordinators and your professor of this decision via email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the exam

CENTRE FOR EXTENDED LEARNING (CEL)

If you are taking an on-line course(s):

1. Complete and submit the Centre for Extended Learning Request for Accommodation Form within the first 2 weeks of the semester.

2. Make sure to complete the information for each course separately.

Direct all questions to Sepide Dadras. 

We update CEL each Friday. Their system is updated the following week. For you to receive your accommodations we must have received your form 1 week prior to your first on-line quiz, test, etc.

CENTRE FOR EXTENDED LEARNING (CEL)

Information on Quest regarding CEL final exams is for the general student population.

Students registered with AccessAbility Services have the following 2 options for their final exams:1.Write with AccessAbility Services2.Write with a home proctor

If a home proctor is required, download and submit the Proctor Declaration form to the Centre for Extended Learning.

Contact Jennifer Crane at CEL if you have questions regarding home proctors.

WRITING CEL EXAMS WITH ACCESSABILITY SERVICES

Do not choose “Waterloo” as your centre and do not change the centre if you see “invalid value”. 

Once the exam schedule is released you will see AccessAbility Services as the location of your exam.

You will receive an e-mail from Sepide Dadras with the date and time of your exam(s) 2 - 3 weeks prior to finals.

Please Note: CEL final exams are not scheduled to be written during the final 2 days of the Registrar’s formal exam period.

WHERE DO YOU FIND THE EXAM REGULATIONS THAT WE MUST ABIDE BY?

AccessAbility Services abides by final examination policies and procedures as governed by the Senate. They are found at Registrar’s Office – Exam Regulations.Sample Questions1.At what time do final exams start and when can I leave the proctored area?

2.How many final exams can you have in one day?

3.How do you know that the university is closed due to weather conditions etc.?

CONSEQUENCES OF A LATE ARRIVAL

Daytime ExamsStudents are expected to be on time for all of their exams.All tests/exams will be held at the same time as your class other

than an evening exam which will start at 6:00 p.m.

Evening Exams If you have an emergency which results in a late arrival you must

notify the exam coordinators at ext. 32292 in order to ensure that there is a proctor available to proctor your exam.

If you have a class that conflicts with your exam start time you must make arrangements ahead of time with the exam coordinators to accommodate your exam start time.

EXAM REGULATIONS

1. Cell phones are not allowed.

2. You must display your WatCard on the desk.

3. Policy 29: Smoking is not permitted in an examination room at any time. Students may not leave the proctored area for a smoke break.

4. Permissible items: pens, pencils, erasers, items listed on the examination cover sheet

5. Non permissible items: bags, purses, knapsacks, hats/caps, wireless or electronic devices.

EXAM REGULATIONS ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Honesty is the best policy – Consider Your Actions

Cheating on an examination is an academic offence punishable by disciplinary action (Policy 71).

If a proctor has reasonable grounds to suspect that cheating has occurred, the proctor will:1.Confiscate all of the evidence available.2.Inform:

the course instructorRose Padacz, director of AccessAbility ServicesYour AccessAbility Services advisorthe exam coordinator

EXAM REGULATIONS

The exam form permits you to write with accommodation at the same time as your class with the following exceptions:

All evening exams start at 6:00 p.m. regardless of the scheduled start time (i.e.: if your midterm starts at 7:00 p.m. you will write at 6:00 p.m.).

Your class schedule interferes with the 6:00 p.m. start time (i.e.: a lab). In this instance, prior notification is required for alternative time arrangements made with our exam coordinators.

Your approved extended time takes you past 10:00 p.m.

When writing an evening Final exam at 6:00 p.m. you must remain in the proctored area until 8:30 p.m. – university policy.

DATE CHANGESIf in discussion with your professor arrangements are made for you to write at a different time than the class, it is your responsibility:

1. to obtain written permission from your instructor (triplicate form, note, or e-mail)

2. to follow up with your Advisor

3.to forward this permission to the exam coordinator, hedwards@uwaterloo.ca.

The written permission must clearly state the course code, instructor’s name, and the date and time agreed upon for the exam.

Please Note: Your faculty may require the completion of a “Request for Deferred Final Examination Form” so check with your academic advisor or supervisor in your faculty.

A REMINDER

When writing an exam you must remain in the proctored area until one hour after the class has started writing according to University regulations.

The only exception occurs when you have a signed note from your instructor giving permission to leave when finished.

Plan ahead for those times when you have to remain in the proctored area; bring a magazine or novel to enjoy reading after your exam is finished.

PROCTORED AREA

If you are required to remain in the proctored area the following activities are permissible: read, enjoy a snack, relax, work on an assignment, or review for an upcoming exam.

It is not permissible to leave the proctored area without the permission of your proctor.

The following items are not allowed in the proctored area: electronic devices of any sort including any device with internet capabilities. Cell phones must be turned off and left in your bag before you begin an exam.

Please note: we will not assume responsibility for any theft or damage of your own electronic devices of any sort.

MEDICAL ALERT

Due to allergies & environmental sensitivities:

• Exam areas are scent free environments.

• Avoid the use of all scented products which can aggravate health problems for those with asthma, allergies and other medical conditions.

• No products containing nuts are to be brought into the exam areas for snacks.

• Due to others with latex allergies, it is essential that you thoroughly clean up all eraser crumbs from your exam area and throw them in the garbage.

PRE EXAM PREPARATION YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES Arrange with your instructor and/or TA to contact you during your

exam to discuss any possible questions that may arise. Remind (e-mail or call) your instructor of this arrangement prior to your exam.

Make sure that you know where the class is writing for midterms & finals, how much time your classmates have to write the exam and what aids you are allowed to use e.g.: calculator, crib/formula sheet, textbook.

It is your responsibility to check with reception either in person or by phone, ext. 35082, two days in advance of writing any exams to ensure that you are on the schedule.

If you find that your exam is not in NH 1132, but in a different building go directly to that location.

EXAM DAY

Arrive on time and inform the proctor that you have arrived, giving your identification, course name and number.

Take a seat and wait until you are called to your specific exam spot.

Enter the exam area quietly so as not to disturb students already writing.

Each student is seated individually.

Although you may experience a slight delay in start time, you will always receive your full time allotment.

GETTING STARTED

1. Read the cover page for instructions.2. Look over your exam for discrepancies such as a missing page.

Notify your proctor immediately if: you notice discrepancies with your exam you need scrap paper you need to go to the washroom – remember to notify the proctor of your return you are ill you are ready to print your exam

Questions – Clarification

Some professors have a no question policy.

Your proctor cannot answer exam questions.

If you need clarification or a question answered we cannot guarantee that your professor can be reached.

Please write: “My answer is based on this assumption…….” You can follow up with your professor during office hours.

University policy (pg. 8) regarding illness during an exam:

• A student who becomes ill during the writing of an examination and is unable to continue should ensure, before leaving the site of the examination, that the proctor in charge is notified of the situation. In addition, the student must notify the course instructor and supply the medical documentation specified above within 48 hours after the partially completed examination.

• If a student completes an examination, even though he/she is ill, the grade obtained in the course will normally stand. Subsequent petitions for an exception to academic regulations on the grounds of illness may be considered if accompanied by the documentation specified above. The student’s department or Faculty may take the illness into consideration, and possibly alter academic standing, but the grade will not normally be altered.

• False claims of illness and/or the submission of false supporting medical documentation constitute an academic offence that will result in disciplinary action under Policy #71.

http://www.registrar.uwaterloo.ca/exams/ExamRegs.pdf

NOTE TAKER ACCOMMODATION

If you require a note taker as part of your accommodation, it is your responsibility to follow up within two lectures with your professor to:

Get the note taker’s contact informationLet your professor know that you will not require the services of the note taker.

If your professor was unable to recruit a note taker after two lectures, please contact your AccessAbility Services Advisor.

If you decide to drop the course please email your:ProfessorAccessAbility AdvisorExam Coordinator – Hank Edwards

ACADEMIC ADVISORS

Students in all faculties studying at either an undergraduate or graduate level need to:

• know who their academic advisor(s) is/are• meet with this person as necessary to discuss academic goals and

approved academic accommodations such as a reduced course load

Engineering Students

1st year - Meet with the Associate Director 1st year Engineering

Upper year - Meet with your Engineering Associate Chair

CONTRACT

I attended the Exam Procedures Session at AccessAbility Services on _____________________covering procedures for alternate exam arrangements.

My signature indicates that I fully understand and agree to the above information.

_______________________Student’s Signature

_______________________Department Signature

_______________________Date