Adaptive Test Center Instructor Guide

ATC & Instructor Working Together – Communication and Collaboration!

A collaborative relationship between UTSA’s instructors and the ATC, is essential to ensuring equitable access for all Runners across campus. A strong instructor-ATC partnership in the exam accommodation process is vital to ensuring important exam details are not overlooked, and that all students receive equitable opportunities to display their knowledge of course content.

Instructors can ensure success in our partnership by:

• Providing exam materials 3-business days before an exam is scheduled.
• Alerting the testing center ahead of time if any adjustments to exams or proctoring conditions need to be made.
• Maintaining open communication with ATC staff, including updated course contact information.
• Staying up-to-date on the ATC’s policies and procedures.

Students who require the use of special test components such as specialized equipment, tools or software may be referred to instructors for the direct provision of approved accommodations.  Students requiring specialized or technical knowledge from content matter experts in order to administer exams may also be referred to faculty for the direct provision of testing accommodations.  It is within the instructor’s purview to determine and arrange to provide students with their approved disability accommodations.

If you as an individual instructor or your department have any questions about partnering with the Adaptive Test Center you may contact us via Phone, Email.

Student Disability Services Adaptive Test Center (ATC) Policies

1. Exams must be scheduled by submitting a request via Student Portal at least 5 business days prior to the Exam/Quiz date. Final Exams must be scheduled 3 weeks in advance. Any Exam/Quiz not scheduled 5 business days in advance (3 weeks in advance for Final Exams) may result the student having to take the test/quiz with the instructor or a need to reschedule with your instructor for another date/time

2. Exams/Quizzes should be scheduled at the same time the class is scheduled to take the Exam/Quiz. Any variation in time will require the student to request for professor's approval of the alternative time

3. Students must arrive promptly at the ATC office at the time the exam is scheduled. If a student is more than 15 minutes late, the student must obtain permission from their instructor in order for ATC staff to administer the exam/quiz.

   • An exception will be made in case of illness, emergencies, or delays resulting from problems with VIA Trans

4. It is the student's responsibility to bring a pen, pencil, scantron, blue book, calculator, and/or whatever other materials are needed to complete the test. If the ATC does not receive a Testing Agreement from the students instructor approving the use of any other auxiliary materials or instruments during an exam, ATC staff will assume the use of additional materials is NOT permitted.

5. While in the testing room, students are not allowed to have anything at their workspace except for the items that have been approved by their instructor in the Testing Agreement. 

6. Students are expected to uphold the integrity of the examination process and to ensure compliance. Any misconduct will be reported to the intructor and be subject to disciplinary action based on the UTSA's Student Code of Conduct.

7. When exams are completed ATC Staff will ensure delivery to the instructor's departamental office and may include the proctor notes with details of observed student behavior.

8. Students with questions or concerns before or after taking exams, will be instructed to contact the instructor. If an issue arises during the exam, the ATC staff will immediately contact the instructor. It is highly recommended for intructors to have a way to be contacted directly, or to have someone designated to speak on their behalf if a situiation arises in the ATC during the scheduled exam/quiz time

9. Instructors can choose to provide the student with approved accommodations directly or by a designee in a location that fulfills the accommodated testing environment in which the student has been approved. It is within the Instructor's purview to determine and arrange to provide students with their approved disability accommodations directly.

AIM Instructor Link

Once a student in a course has submitted a test request in their student portal, the assigned instructor will receive an email notifying them about the request. Instructors can click the links in the email in order to

1. Let the ATC staff know what is allowed for the exam by completing the exam instruction form
2. Submit Exams electronically
3. Dispute Exam Requests

Scheduling

• All exams should be scheduled at the beginning of the semester by the student

Addressing Exam Schedule Concerns

• If you have a concern or question about a student’s exam request (such as a time discrepancy), you should reach out to the student to discuss your concerns. There is also a process for disputing exams in AIM.
  1. In the notification email you received there will be a statemat a bottom with a link like so:
     • "If you would like to dispute the student request, please use the following link to let us know within 1 days after the request was first submitted:
       Dispute Exam Request"
  2. Click “Dispute Exam Request" or copy and paste the link provided to you in your browser
  3. There is a section on this page labeled “Disputing Exam”. Select your reason from the drop down list and add any additional context in “Additional Note”.
     • Please note: Please make disputes or concerns with an exam known with at least a 3 day notice before the exam is scheduled.

How Exams will be Obtained & Returned

 An exam can be:

1. Uploaded in the AIM Instructor Link. (Recommended method – more efficient for you and provides better security of your test)
2. Delivered to MS 3.01.14

Generally, exams will be returned by the next business day if not picked up by the professor the same day. Exams will be returned via one of the following methods:

1. Physical Pickup from the ATC (MS 3.01.14)
2. Courier Service
   • Couriers will complete one route per day for pick-up/drop off.
3. Scanned and Emailed back to Instructor

Academic Integrity

We, the ATC staff, understand the importance and value of your exams. We hold ourselves to the highest standard of security to ensure the integrity of your exam is never compromised. Once you have entrusted them to our care, the tests remain in locked cabinets, with an added level of security of being in a locked room. They are only removed the day of the test and remain under constant supervision. Once the test is complete, they are sealed in envelopes and either picked up by you, uploaded to the AIM portal and/or delivered to your department. In addition:

• Test takers are monitored by surveillance cameras, staff, and/or proctors in order to promote the academic integrity expected of all Runners. 
• Academic misconduct and conduct violations will be reported to the course instructor and to UTSA's Student Code of Conduct

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Contact Information

Email: ATC@utsa.edu 

Phone (210) 458-8086