Test Taking

Special testing accommodations are approved and provided on a case-by-case basis to students with documented disabilities. A member of the DSS counseling staff will determine if testing accommodations are required for each individual student, and which specific accommodations will be allowed. Only students with appropriate documentation from a qualified professional will be considered for services. 

Extended Testing Time

Extended testing time typically applies to timed exams and quizzes that are finite in duration (i.e., 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours). In comparison, an un-timed exam may already allow for multiple days or even a week to complete and a time extension may not be applicable. 

Accommodations

It is important to keep in mind that testing accommodations may not be provided in situations in which doing so would result in a fundamental alteration to a course or program of study.

For example, if an exam or quiz is timed and the student’s ability to answer questions correctly  or perform a task within a specified time limit is deemed to be essential (e.g., credentialing requirements, licensing requirements, clinical skills assessments and etc.) then extended testing time may not be a reasonable accommodation.  However, decisions regarding the appropriateness of an approved testing accommodation will need to be made utilizing the interactive process and will involve DSS, the assigned course instructor, and may include the program chair and dean of the college (or designee). Students or instructors who have questions on the applicability of extended time for an exam or quiz should contact DSS well in advance of the scheduled exam or quiz.

Students who are approved for testing accommodations can come by the DSS Testing Center in Administrative Building Suite 4200 to pick up their Testing Accommodation Packets for each class in which they are enrolled at the beginning of each semester. Alternatively, students can have their testing packets emailed to them by sending a request to testingscheduler@csusm.edu. Upon request, DSS can email the student’s instructors the testing packets as well and this will likely be done by the end of the first week of the semester. The packet consists of a general cover letter for the instructor, a Faculty Approved Accommodation sheet, and a blue-colored Testing Accommodation Request Form. The student is responsible for filling in the first three lines at the top of each blue accommodation request form with information pertaining to each course before giving the packet to the instructor.

Temecula Location

Students enrolled in Extended Learning (EL) courses and programs and taking classes at the Temecula location should contact the Temecula campus staff by emailing temecula@csusm.edu as early as possible to arrange testing accommodations. Please note that separate forms are required for the Temecula site, and students will work directly with Temecula Staff.

Students enrolled in non- EL courses, taking courses at the Temecula campus, should work directly with DSS to coordinate their testing accommodations and receive the appropriate forms and instructions.

All required forms, procedures, and coordinator contact information are available through DSS upon request. Please contact DSS at 760-750-4904 or testingscheduler@csusm.edu.

Testing Accommodation Packets

If the student decides to use special testing accommodations for a class, the packet should be given to the instructor as early in the semester as possible. The instructor will complete the remainder of the form and should return it directly to the Testing Scheduler in the Testing Center as soon as possible. To ensure the integrity of information on the form, the instructor, not the student, should return the accommodation form to the Testing Scheduler in the Testing Center. Testing accommodations cannot be arranged until this form has been received by the Testing Scheduler.

When picking up student Testing Accommodation Packets, only ask for as many as you are planning to use. Not all students will make use of special testing accommodations in each course. This is important so we are not involved in the administration of exams that a student has decided to take in class instead of the Testing Center. Students will need to email this paperwork to their online instructor. If a student would rather have DSS send the paperwork, then please email testingscheduler@csusm.edu to make this request. Regardless, it is good practice to remind your online instructor to adjust your permitted time allowed prior to any scheduled timed exam or quiz.

Reserving a Testing Accomodation

A test date and time are not automatically scheduled for the student. The student needs to contact the Testing Center, located in Administrative Building Rm. 4200, to complete a Testing Accommodation Reservation form for each individual exam throughout the semester. This is required so DSS can work on acquiring sufficient rooms for exam administrations throughout the semester. Ideally, testing accommodations must be set no less than two (2) weeks prior to each exam. Accommodations will not be guaranteed with shorter notice unless there are specific circumstances to justify the situation. 

If exams are being administered by the instructor on a “to be announced” basis, the student is responsible to contact the Testing Scheduler as soon as the exam date is announced in class. If the instructor changes an exam date, the student should inform the Testing Scheduler immediately and reschedule the previously set testing accommodation appointment.

A testing accommodation appointment will be set between the student and the Testing Scheduler in accordance with the following: 

1. The student will begin the exam in the Testing Center at the same time that the class begins the exam and will receive a time extension (according to the approved accommodation) past the end of the testing period for the class.
2. If #1 is not possible because the student has a class immediately following the class in which the exam is being administered, then the student will begin the exam prior to the class starting time. The student’s starting time will be determined according to the time extension allowed for the student so that the student’s ending time for the exam will be the same as the class ending time.
3. If #1 and #2 are not possible because of back-to-back classes, the student will need to notify their instructor and the Testing Scheduler.
4. If #3 is the only workable option, the Testing Center to work out the necessary arrangements. The student is responsible to contact the Testing Center to set up a testing accommodation reservation following the parameters set by the agreement with the instructor.
5. If the student has an exam that extends past or begins after are regular hours of operation, then DSS will work on providing the necessary staffing to proctor the exam. If this is not possible, then DSS will work on trying to secure the necessary authorization to administer the exam on a different day or time frame.
6. If the student has a Saturday class, the student should contact the professor to seek permission to take the exam on Monday or Friday. However, if this is not possible, then DSS will provide the necessary staffing to proctor the exam on a Saturday.

It is the responsibility of the student to remind the instructor in advance of each exam that the test will be taken in the Testing Center, and to inform him/her of the scheduled start time to ensure that an exam copy will be made available before that time. In addition, students taking exams and quizzes that are administered online are strongly encouraged to remind their instructor to adjust their exam time to reflect the amount of time they have been authorized to receive for an extension through DSS.

Once an accommodation reservation has been established for a student’s exam, it is binding. Rescheduling will be allowed only with permission of the instructor and/or a DSS Counselor.

Missed Exams & Makeup Exams

If the student misses an exam due to disability related reasons, a makeup exam must be allowed by the instructor. DSS will contact the instructor to see if a makeup exam can be provided without it resulting in a fundamental alteration to their course or academic program.

Students are expected to notify DSS in a timely manner when an exam (or quiz) is missed because of their disability. The student is responsible for contacting the instructor to determine when the makeup exam must be completed by. The instructor must personally inform the Testing Scheduler of the parameters agreed upon with the student. As soon as an agreement is reached with the professor, the student must contact the Testing Scheduler to set a testing accommodation reservation for the makeup exam. Before the Testing Scheduler can administer the makeup exam, the student must provide verification from an appropriate professional substantiating that the absence on the original test date was disability related.

The student is expected to check in at the Testing Center at least five minutes before the scheduled starting time for the exam. Except with permission of the instructor, a student who arrives late for an exam will not be given additional time to compensate for testing time missed due to tardiness.

Alternative Formats

An alternate testing format shall be provided to any student whose disability prevents them from completing the normally formatted class exam. These situations are handled on a case-by-case basis to determine the best possible testing format to measure the student’s knowledge of the course information.

Classroom Testing Accomodation Issues

If a problem should arise between the instructor and the student regarding the implementation of testing accommodations, the student should inform the Testing Scheduler who will either intervene or have the Director of DSS take action on the student’s behalf.

Please be advised that students taking exams in DSS are monitored using cameras. A student who is caught using aides that are not permitted will have the items removed from the testing room and the professor will be immediately notified. A written explanation of the events that transpired will be emailed to the instructor. It is important to keep in mind that DSS has no official role in the Student Conduct process if this route is taken by an instructor. Regardless, a student will not lose their eligibility to access their accommodations. 

Testing Center Hours

• Monday through Thursday: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Need a different time?

Arrangements can be made to administer exams/quizzes that need to be taken after scheduled hours of operation and on weekends.