Being flexible with time and location, delivering a course online has some obvious conveniences and benefits, but when it comes to maintaining a high standard of academic integrity for student assessments, online courses can sometimes present a challenge. As such, some instructors choose to require in-person proctored exams.  Be aware that this decision can negate some of the benefits of an online course and can also negatively impact enrollment.  The following information may be helpful in deciding whether you will allow in-person remote proctoring for your exam(s).

Note: This article does not specifically address accommodation requests. Instructors should still work with the Center for Students with Disabilities for those situations.

Process Overview and Helpful Documents

1. Communicate the Requirement to Students on the syllabus and via other means (See: Sample Letter)
2. Provide Forms and Guidelines  (See: Alternate Proctored Location Form)
3. Approve/Deny Requests
4. Coordinate Testing Rules and Procedures with Remote Proctors

It’s essential that students are made aware of any proctoring requirements before registering for a course. This information should be clearly stated in the syllabus and listed in the Notes section of StudentAdmin. We also recommend that faculty send an additional reminder to all enrolled students shortly before the course begins. This gives students who cannot meet the requirements enough time to make alternative arrangements or drop the class if necessary.

Be mindful that students may incur additional costs when arranging for third-party proctoring services.

Syllabus Guidelines

Ideally, the syllabus should contain all relevant information regarding proctored exam requirements. This includes:

• Clear instructions on acceptable proctoring options

• Ample time for students to locate a test site

• Time for the instructor to coordinate and approve proctoring services

This level of detail is critical in helping students decide whether they are able to complete the course as required.

Define Your Requirements

Be specific about what is expected. Common scenarios include:

• In-person proctoring at a primary campus location, coordinated by the faculty member

• In-person proctoring at secondary campus locations, coordinated by departments or staff

• In-person proctoring at approved third-party testing centers (e.g., Sylvan, Prometric, other universities). Refer to NCTA’s website for a list of possible facilities.

Also, specify:

• Exam dates and times

• Deadline for students to request instructor approval for alternate proctoring arrangements

Reinforce Requirements Early

Remind students of the proctoring requirement at the start of the course, via an announcement and/or discussion board post.

StudentAdmin Notes – Sample Text:

“This online class will require in-person proctored exams for the midterms and final. The exams will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 7; Wednesday, June 20; and Friday, June 29 in Monteith, Room 104.”

Sample Letter Document (.docx)
Include a sample communication template or letter for students to use when arranging proctoring services (if applicable).

Provide standard forms for students to seek out on acceptable proctors. Make sure to provide a deadline for returning that form and  make that deadline early enough to allow for making other arrangements or dropping the class.

• Sample Alternate Proctoring Location Form (.docx)

Provide quick turnaround on approvals/denials.

Once an alternate proctor and location has been approved, work with the proctor to discuss expectations, test delivery, test integrity, test-taking rules, submission procedures, and whom to contact for questions or if an incident occurs.

Exam rules

You'll need to be very specific about the exam rules and determine permitted and prohibited resources-- things like textbooks, written notes, scratch paper, software, calculators, cell phones, access to other materials, and even bathroom breaks.

Typically, the same exam is administered at all locations — both remote and on the primary campus — and is synchronized to begin at the same time as the primary location. However, you may need to reconsider or adjust this approach depending on specific circumstances or student needs.

Format: Paper or Online in HuskyCT?

Since the exam is conducted in-person, you have the flexibility to choose between a traditional paper-based exam or delivering the exam through HuskyCT (Blackboard).

If you opt to use HuskyCT for all or part of the exam, you may want to consider enabling Respondus Lockdown Browser to prevent students from accessing unauthorized websites or digital resources during the test. Keep in mind that the feasibility of this will depend on the proctoring setup and the specific testing location.

If you're considering using Respondus, the Educational Technologies office is available to assist with setup, training, and support.

• Using Online Proctoring with eCampus and ProctorU
• Guidelines for the Authentication of Students in Online Courses