Home > Newsletters > Fall 2005 > Testing
Your questions about test accommodations answered
Have you recently received a request from a student seeking test accommodations in your class and wondered what to do? If so, please review the following checklist.
1. Has the student provided you with an accommodation letter and discussed his or her needs with you?
At the student's request, DSS prepares letters that the student must present to each faculty member, outlining the nature of the student's disability and the accommodations for which the student is eligible. You are not obliged to accommodate the student without prior receipt of this letter. Additionally, the student should speak with you to discuss and agree upon the arrangements before the exam takes place.
2. Are you able and willing to accommodate the student's needs yourself?
Faculty are encouraged to make every effort to accommodate most students' needs; however, access to special equipment or personnel needed for exams, as well as basic test proctoring support, can be arranged through DSS. In some cases, a student's request for extra time can be met directly by the faculty member without further involvement from DSS -- either in the classroom, the faculty member's office or some other suitable location. It is our belief that the student benefits from having you present and available for answering questions and clarifications.
3. Have you received an email notification of a test accommodation request?
DSS will proctor a student's exam provided that he or she complete our online test accommodation request form no less than seven days in advance of the test date. When the student completes this form, you will receive an email notification asking you to confirm that the student has made you aware of his or her needs along with the date and start time of the exam.
4. How much extra time does a student get?
Extended time on exams is a customary accommodation for students who work more slowly for reasons of a disability. Standard practice is time and a half for exams. Students with more severe or multiple disabilities may be granted additional time as determined by DSS. We do not view untimed exams as reasonable.
5. What if the student has a time conflict?
Assuming that the conflict itself is legitimate and not simply a matter of personal convenience, and that the student has indicated the time conflict to you in advance (either in person or via the web form), we ask that you make whatever arrangements are agreeable and reasonable to you and the student, and that you notify DSS of those arrangements. DSS makes its proctoring services available from 8:00am to 8:00pm, well beyond normal operating hours.
5. Have you hand delivered, emailed or faxed the copy of the exam to DSS?
If so, we'll take it from there!
Please do not hesitate to contact us at 994-8250 or dss@gwu.edu if you have any questions. Again we truly appreciate your help in leveling the playing field and giving our students the chance to succeed!
