Proctored Exam Procedures for Instructors

1. What is a proctored exam?
A proctored exam is one that is overseen by an impartial individual (called a proctor) who monitors or supervises a student while he or she is taking an exam. The proctor ensures the security and integrity of the exam process.

2. Why would I choose to give proctored exams?
It is possible to provide an exam for students online without using a proctor. However, there is better assurance of security if a proctor monitors the process.

3. What procedures should I follow to use proctored exams in my course?

1. Ensure all students are aware that the policies and procedures for Distance Learning have been updated to meet increased security standards.
2. Include exam dates in the course syllabus, clearly state which exams must be proctored, and ensure that this information is available to students no later than the first day of the semester. If the schedule must be changed, University guidelines for syllabus revision must be followed.
3. Include student instructions for Proctored Exam Procedures, which can be found on our website, Proctored Exam Procedures for Students.
4. Create exams in Blackboard at least five business days prior to each exam window. For assistance, contact the Blackboard Support Group at 644-8004.
5. Send proctor instructions to the Proctored Testing Staff at least five business days prior to each exam window. Instructions should answer at least the following:
• When is the exam window?
• What is the exam length? Please note, proctors must allow full time for the exam; for instance, if the exam length is 2 hours, the proctor must stop seating two hours before they close.
• What materials is the student permitted to use (e.g., books, calculators, notes, scratch paper)?

Give special consideration to the scheduling of final exams and/or projects. Current University policy links final exam dates to course delivery days and times. This does not apply to fully online courses since there are no regularly scheduled class meetings.

4. Who are our proctors?
Beginning Fall, 2008, all students must choose a proctor from our List of Approved Proctors. If the nearest proctor is 100 miles away, the student should contact us as soon as possible (it is in their best interest to do so before Drop/Add is over). In all cases, an acceptable proctor is someone with no conflict of interest in upholding FSU's Academic Honor Policy. Relatives, friends, spouses, neighbors, and co-workers of the student are not acceptable proctors.
Students and proctors are notified by e-mail stating whether their application has been approved or denied.

5. How are proctors added to the List of Approved Proctors?
A student may request for a testing center to be added to the List of Approved Proctors. Only public testing centers (at institutions of higher learning) that are able to proctor exams according to our policies and FSU’s Academic Honor Policy may be added to the List of Approved Proctors. The Proctored Testing staff carefully screens each requested testing center.

6. What technology must the proctor have access to at the testing site?
Each proctor must have the ability to use the following:

• A valid and working e-mail address
• Internet access for students taking internet-based exams

7. What are the student's responsibilities?

• Select a proctor from the List of Approved Proctors within the first two weeks of the semester (or earlier, if the syllabus requires).
• Ensure that the proctor is able to administer the exam within the exam window outlined in the course syllabus.
• Ensure that the proctor has the ability to use the required technology.
• Submit a completed Proctor Designation Form each term they are taking proctored exams.
• Provide the exam schedule to the approved proctor.
• Pay any fees that may be charged to them by their proctor.
• Schedule a day and time to take the exam with their proctor within the testing window outlined in the course syllabus.
• Students are alerted that failure to assume these responsibilities will be a matter to resolve with the instructor and could result in a failing grade on the exam in question.

Note: Fees for proctoring services are the responsibility of the student.

8. What are the proctor's responsibilities?

• The proctor must ensure the student does not use any unauthorized aides at any time during the exam.
• The proctor must ensure that all necessary technologies are available and working. (See question #6, above.)
• No printing of the exam may be made at any time.
• No person other than the proctor and student may view the exam. (The student may have access to the exam only during the time period allowed by the instructor.)
• The proctor must follow the instructor's requirements for administering the exam. These may include a time limit and inclusion or exclusion of books, calculators, notes, etc.
• The proctor must maintain proximity with the student and be able to observe the student during the entire exam administration.

9. How do students access their exam(s)?

• Several days prior to the exam window, the Proctored Testing Staff will inform the proctors of the password and any additional exam information.
• Students log onto their Blackboard account, go to the course site, and click on the link for the exam.
• When prompted, proctors enter the password (at no time do students receive passwords).

10. What if it is impossible for me to give exams through Blackboard?

In an effort to heighten security and reduce costs, the Center for Assessment & Testing is moving away from paper-based exams. Instead, we are encouraging all of our instructors to use Blackboard for their exams. There are numerous benefits to using Blackboard:

• Blackboard is significantly more secure than paper-based exams –there is no chance that an exam will be lost or given to the wrong examinee.
• Blackboard can be set to randomly assign questions from a question bank and/or assign questions in a random order (students will not be able to obtain their questions or answers from classmates).
• Instructors do not need to score exams, depending on exam settings.
• The instructor does not need to hand-enter grades into the gradebook.
• Rather than waiting a week, or longer, for exams to be returned, instructors receive results in “real time.” Instructors can use this to make immediate adjustments to the course.
• Because there is no waiting for exams to be returned, there is less worry about end of semester deadlines.
• Students can get immediate feedback, depending on exam settings.
• Instructors are in complete control of the exam window and exam length.
• Blackboard exams incur no additional cost to FSU.
• Blackboard is green. No gas is spent in the return of exams and no paper is consumed.

If it is impossible to administer your exam on Blackboard this semester, then please contact us as soon as possible so we can discuss alternatives.

Academic integrity applies to all FSU students, on campus and online, at all times. See FSU's Academic Honor Code and University Policy for violations.

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