Student Accessibility Services

BEFORE ENTERING THE TESTING CENTER:

• Students will follow the Buffalo State Student Code of Conduct: Academic Misconduct Policy and all Testing Center policies and procedures. Students suspected of academic misconduct or found with any unauthorized item(s) during their exam, will have the item(s) confiscated by a member of staff and the incident will be reported to the course Instructor which may result in a conduct charge.

• Students are responsible for knowing and bringing all required/allowed materials needed to take their exam, the Testing Center cannot guarantee that extra supplies will be available for student use.

• All personal or unauthorized items must be left outside the Testing Center. Lockers are provided for students to secure their items. Items that cannot fit in lockers should not be brought to the Testing Center. Staff are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Only the exam, and materials authorized by the Instructor for use with the exam may be brought into the Testing Center.

  • Unauthorized Items include all personal items belonging to the student that are not authorized by the Instructor to take the exam. This may include (but are not limited to)*

    • Heavy/Bulky Outerwear including but not limited to the following: jackets, coats, hoodies, sweatshirts, scarves, and hats.

    • Purses/Backpacks/Briefcases/Oversized Bags etc.

    • Food and Drink, unless with an approved accommodation.

    • Textbooks and Coursebooks.

    • Notebooks/Notes/Study Aids.

    • Any unauthorized devices, including but not limited to the following: cell/smart phones, tablets/iPads, cameras, SmartPens, smart watches, and recording devices.

    • You will be asked to show that your cell/smart phone has been turned off in order to assist in maintaining a distraction-reduced environment for all.

    *The Testing Center reserves the right to declare an item as an unauthorized item/personal item at any time.

WHILE IN THE TESTING CENTER:

• Students will check their exams and notify staff immediately if there is a problem (missing pages, wrong test, etc).

• Students are responsible to monitor their time while in the Testing Center and turn in their exams when their accommodated time expires. If a student’s time has expired while they are still completing an exam, the student will respectfully hand over their exam to staff when prompted to do so.

• Students may not leave the Student Accessibility Services suite during their exam. If a student leaves without permission, their exam will be collected, time will end, and the exam will be returned to the Instructor.

• Students who need to contact their Instructor to ask questions about their exam must request to do so during their allotted exam time. Additional time will not be given at the end of an exam to contact an Instructor for questions.

  • If Instructors are not available to the student during the exam time, or cannot be reached, Testing Center staff will email the Instructor notifying them of the situation.

• Students are not permitted to have food and/or drink in the Testing Center unless they have an approved exam accommodation. If a student has an accommodation for food, this should be in the form of a small snack, and they are expected to consume it during an approved break in the Waiting Area so as not to disturb other students. If a student has an accommodation for drink, approval is granted for water in a closed container to enter the Testing Center, no other beverages are allowed.

• Breaks during exams are only authorized for the use of the bathroom, or if it is associated with a student’s approved exam accommodation. Only the bathroom in the Student Accessibility Services suite is authorized for use during the administration of an exam.*

  *The Testing Center reserves the right to decline a requested break and/or limit requested breaks at any time.

  • Approved breaks that are associated with an approved exam accommodation are the only type of break that will pause the timer on a student’s exam.

  • Students are required to notify staff each time that they request to leave the Testing Center, including the reason for the request.

  • Students who receive approval for a break must give their exam and exam materials to the Learning + Accommodations Specialist before taking the break.

  • During a break, students are not allowed to access any unauthorized materials, or their locker in the Waiting Area.

  • Repeated or lengthy departures from the Testing Center for breaks will be reported to the Instructor.

EXAM COMPLETION:

• Students will return any loaned equipment, if applicable, to the Testing Center staff upon the completion of their exam.

• Students must immediately turn in their exam to staff once their accommodated time has ended. Students may not continue to read or respond to exam questions or fill in answers. If a student does so, their Instructor will be notified of their actions.

GENERAL RULES:

• Students will conduct themselves professionally and treat all staff members and other students with respect and courtesy at all times.

• Students are not permitted to wait and/or study inside the Student Accessibility Services Suite. We kindly ask that students take advantage of our location in the library if they arrive early or for any last-minute study needs.

• Students are responsible for ensuring their area is clean after their exam. This means throwing away all trash, tissues, etc. Students may be asked to brush or wipe off their desks with cleaner/disinfectant and paper towels.