Testing Center

The Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) Testing Center is available to proctor exams for students with testing accommodations.  Additionally, if a professor is unable to implement an accommodation due to a scheduling conflict or space limitations, the professor may request that OSA proctor the exam.

The testing center is comprised of nine individual rooms, as well as a testing lab with space for up to 20 students. Please note, while the center does provide a reduced distraction environment for testing, the rooms are not guaranteed to be soundproof or distraction free.   All testing areas are equipped with cameras for monitoring.

Students may only bring permitted items, as determined by the instructor, into the testing area ( i.e. computer, charger, paper exam, pencil, scrap paper etc..)  Outerwear, backpacks, food, bottles, pencil cases and additional items are not permitted in the testing area.  The room temperature in the center is generally maintained between 72 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit so please plan accordingly.   Lockers are provided for storage of personal belongings.

Test rooms are not available as study space prior to an exam.

The Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Center is in the Undergraduate Library,

500 Howard Place NW, Sublevel 1, Room L013, Washington DC 20059.

Phone 202-238-2420  email oss.disabilityservices@howard.edu

The Testing Center is open (9AM – 5PM) Monday thru Friday and follows the university calendar for holidays and closings.    

The Student Handbook (H-Book) outlines the Academic Code of Student Conduct and details the procedure and penalties for violation of such.

The policy states”…Any student enrolled for study at the University may be disciplined for the academic infractions defined below.

Definitions of Academic Infractions

1. Academic Cheating—any intentional act(s) of dishonesty in the fulfillment of academic course or program requirements. This offense shall Include (but is not limited to) utilization of the assistance of any additional individual(s), organization, document, or other aid not specifically and expressly authorized by the instructor or department involved. (Note: This infraction assumes that with the exception of authorized group assignment or group take-home assignments, all course or program assignments shall be completed by an individual student only without any consultation or collaboration with any other individual, organization, or aid.)

2. Plagiarism—to take and pass off intentionally as one’s own the ideas, writings, etc. of another without attribution (without acknowledging the author).

3. Copy Infringement—Copy infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner”

For purposes of the Testing Center, the following are examples of violations of the code 

• Copying from another person's work during an examination  
• Allowing someone to copy from you during an examination
• Using unauthorized materials during an examination
• Taking an examination for another individual or permitting another individual to take an exam for you  
• Obtaining or providing an un-administered test or answers for yourself or another individual
• Removing or attempting to remove a test, its answers, or any portion thereof from the Testing Center

Students

Students may request to take their exam in the Testing Center by following these steps:

1. Email oss.testingcenter@howard.edu no less than 5 business days before the scheduled exam date.
2. CC your professor on the email
3. In the subject line of the email put Testing Center Request: Exam Date (Month, Day, Year).
4. In the body of the email indicate the name of the course, the professor’s name, and the scheduled date and time of the exam.

The Office of Disability Support will confirm the exam time and details with the instructor.   All exams must be scheduled to begin and end during operating hours of 9AM to 5PM. For example, a three-hour exam (including accommodated time if applicable), must be scheduled to start no later than 2PM to conclude by 5PM.   In the event of a scheduling conflict, or the need to reschedule an exam the student should make arrangements with the instructor for an alternative time.

Students are encouraged to submit request as early as possible to allow time for coordination.  Space is reserved on a first come first serve basis.

Professors/Instructors

DSS will email Professors/Instructor to confirm the below information.  Please be sure to respond without the student on the message

1. Is the exam a hard copy or done through the computer?
2. What is the original time allotted for the class to complete the exam?
3. If paper, how would you like to send it to us and receive it back once completed? (OSS cannot return paper exams in person, please select one of the following options:
   1. we can scan and email it back to you
   2.  you can come pick it up from our office,
   3. we can send the completed exam in a sealed envelope with the student to your office/department.
4.  If online, is there a password to access the exam?
5. What materials are the students allowed to use during the exam? (Ex. Scrap paper, calculator, formula sheets, etc.) 
6. What is the best way to reach you if there is an issue during the exam?

All paper exams not collected by the end of the semester will be destroyed.

OSA does not have access or maintain copies of digital exams completed online or through a Learning Management System

Students who do not show for a scheduled exam, must contact their professor to discuss options.  OSA does not determine make up exams or alternative dates.

Office of Student Accessibility

Phone 202-238-2420

Email oss.disabilityservices@howard.edu

Dr. Paris Adon, Director

202-238-2423 

paris.adon@howard.edu