Testing Center

SAAS Testing Center

Mission

The mission of the Student Access & Accommodation Services (SAAS) Testing Center is to provide examination accommodations in a professional, secure, and accessible environment that ensures equitable access and supports the academic success of students registered with SAAS.

The SAAS Testing Center follows the National College Testing Association (NCTA) Guidelines. To achieve this, the SAAS Testing Center:

  • Facilitates paper and computer-based testing for students registered with SAAS.
  • Provides a clean, comfortable, quiet, and user-friendly testing environment.
  • Recruits and trains proctors to actively monitor all testing sessions.
  • Collaborates with faculty, staff, other institutions, and the NCTA to remain current on best practices in testing. 

Hours of Operation

Regular Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Summer Hours
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

The Testing Center will be closed when the campus is closed for holidays or due to inclement weather.

Proctoring

Instructors are responsible for providing all approved accommodations outlined in students’ accommodation letters. Testing outside of the classroom or department is only warranted when the instructor cannot provide the accommodation or when the student requires the use of assistive technology, a reader, or a scribe.

Testing Accommodations

Private Rooms

Private rooms are reserved for students approved for one of the following accommodations:

  • Use of assistive technology during exams (e.g., screen readers, text-to-speech, or voice-to-text software).
  • A reader or scribe for exams.
  • A darker testing environment due to a concussion.
  • Use of a monitor for medical alerts.
  • A documented medical condition requiring monitoring during testing.

Minimal Distraction Room

The minimal distraction testing room provides a quieter, more controlled environment to support focus and concentration.

  • Earplugs: SAAS can provide noise-reduction earplugs for additional quiet.
  • White Noise Machines: White noise machines are available to help reduce external noise.

Exams

Exam Notification Requirements

Students are required to notify their professors at least three business days prior to each exam or quiz. Saturday and Sunday do not count as business days.

Students must notify their professors regardless of where the exam will be taken, whether at SAAS or in another approved testing location.

Example: If an exam is scheduled for Tuesday, the student must notify the professor by Wednesday of the previous week.

Scheduling Exams with SAAS

SAAS requires a minimum of two weeks’ notice to schedule exams. It is strongly recommended that students schedule all exams at the beginning of the semester using their course syllabi.

Private Room Testing: Students approved for private-room testing should be aware that SAAS must reserve the space through the library. If the room is already booked, no alternate private testing location is available.

Minimal Distraction Room: The minimal distraction testing room accommodates up to seven students at a time. When the room reaches capacity, additional space cannot be provided.

Students who delay scheduling may risk SAAS not having space available. In such cases, students will need to work directly with their professors to either arrange testing accommodations within the department or request approval to test at a different date or time.

Scheduling with SAAS

When scheduling an exam, students must provide SAAS with the following information:

  • Course name and number (e.g., BIO 1530).
  • Professor’s first and last name.
  • Allotted class exam time (e.g., Class has 50 minutes for the exam).
  • Date and start time of the exam.

Exams may begin no earlier than 8:15 a.m. and must be completed by 4:45 p.m.

Students must also accept the Outlook calendar invitation for their scheduled exam. Failure to accept the invitation may result in the exam time being canceled.

Arriving to Take an Exam

Students should:

  • Check in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.
  • Place all personal items (backpacks, phones, smartwatches, etc.) in a locker.
  • Sign in on the iPad in the SAAS office.
  • Collect the exam or password from staff.
  • Return any scratch paper upon checkout.

Arriving Late to Take an Exam

Students who are late for their scheduled test time may not be able to take their exam.  The student has the following options.

  • Take the exam with the remaining time allotted.
  • Reschedule their exam. The instructor’s approval is needed.

No-Show Policy

Only students with the accommodation “Able to take exam within 24 hours due to disability” will not have a no-show counted against them.

Professors will be notified when a student does not appear for a scheduled exam.

Prior approval from the professor is required to makeup a missed exam.

The professor must approve the date and time for any makeup exam and determine whether the same or a different version of the exam will be administered.

Students with three unexcused no-shows may lose the privilege to test at the SAAS Testing Center.

Violation of the Methodist University Honor Code

Any student found cheating (e.g., using a smartwatch, cell phone, or unauthorized notes) will have their exam confiscated and will be immediately dismissed from the testing area. The professor will be notified by email, and the exam will be returned to them.

If the exam is computer-based, the professor will also be informed of the question or section the student was working on when the violation occurred.

Exams taken in Room #203 are monitored and recorded by camera.