3.2 Testing Accommodations

OSWD has established testing procedures as mandated by Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Faculty will fill out a "Testing Services Request Form" (found on the OSWD section of the Gallaudet website) prior to the test. This form should be e-mailed, hand-delivered, or faxed to OSWD. Once a test is completed by the student, OSWD will either hand deliver the completed test to the faculty member, or wait for the faculty member to pick it up at the OSWD office, as previously arranged.

Common testing accommodations include the following:

● Extended testing time
● Notes, formula/vocabulary lists provided during test-taking
● Distraction-reduced testing environments
● Alternative testing formats
● Breaks during testing
● Tests divided into sections to be taken over a period of time
● Use of adaptive technology/computers during test taking
● Reader/scribe services during test-taking

Student Responsibilities

● The student will take the exam during OSWD testing hours
● The student will produce a student identification card, and will leave bags and other disallowed items in the OSWD office while taking the exam
● The student will comply with the Academic Integrity Policy during the test and, when finished, will hand back the completed exam to OSWD personnel

Testing Format

By law, course content and testing format cannot be fundamentally altered to accommodate a student's disability if the change would compromise the validity of test measurement. However, certain proctoring methods may be allowed to accommodate the student's disability.

For example, a student may request, depending on the nature of the disability, that test questions be read or signed by the faculty or reader/scribe. This is perfectly acceptable so long as the student is not being evaluated on reading comprehension. Similarly, the student may request to make oral or signed answers to the test questions, so long as the student's writing skills are not being measured and evaluated.

Testing Request Service Form

The faculty member should verify that the student is a registered OSWD client by referring to the Faculty Accommodations Letter sent by the office which outlines appropriate and approved accommodations. The faculty should thoroughly and legibly complete the Testing Services Request Form and return it to OSWD along with the exam at least 24 hours prior to the time the exam is to be given. When the exam is received, the faculty member will verify receipt of the exam by signing the form.

Policies and Procedures

These policies and procedures are in force for all students who are registered with OSWD and who receive the accommodation of taking exams at OSWD:

  • Exams with accommodation must be scheduled at OSWD prior to the original exam's test date. Any exam not scheduled in advance may need to be rescheduled.
  • The student must explain the procedures to the faculty member and inform the faculty that the exam, along with any special instructions and the Testing Request Form, must be e-mailed, faxed or brought to the OSWD prior to the time the student is scheduled to take the exam. This applies to online tests as well.
  • It is the student's responsibility to remind the faculty member that s/he is taking the exam at OSWD, and that the faculty member needs to bring the exam to the OSWD office at SAC 1220.
  • On the day of the exam, the student must arrive at OSWD prepared and ready to begin the exam at the arranged time.
  • If the student does not appear for the exam, then the exam will be returned to the faculty member the following day.
  • Tests must be completed entirely during OSWD business hours.
  • The student may not adjust the time or date of the accommodated exam without prior approval from the faculty member, who must give confirmation of a change, either orally or in writing, to a member of the OSWD staff.

Notice on Gallaudet's Academic Integrity Policy

"Academic integrity grows from the long-standing traditions of the world university community, and is defined as a firm adherence to the code or standard of values of the University and the individual professions. Academic freedom is a commitment on the part of students, faculty, staff, and administrators, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, truth, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Commitment to academic honesty encourages the mutual respect and moral integrity that our University community values and nurtures."

OSWD follows all standards of conduct expected of students enrolled at the University, including prohibiting violations of academic-integrity as specified by the Academic Integrity Committee.

Examples of items that are not allowed during a test:

  • Books, notes, formula or vocabulary sheets, or any paper not previously approved by the faculty member or OSWD staff
  • Electronic devices such as cell phone, pagers, PDAs, iPODs, or flash drives
  • Backpacks or bags
  • Calculators not previously approved by the faculty member or OSWD staff
  • Personal laptops
  • Any other items not previously approved by OSWD staff

Any instance of academic-integrity violation will result in an automatic referral to the faculty. A student who violates Gallaudet University's Academic Integrity Policy will be subject to disciplinary action.
Any unauthorized use of computers at OSWD while testing is strictly prohibited, and will result in disciplinary action.