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Proctoring Solutions (Policy 8170)

University Policy 8170

Download a Printable Version of Policy 8170

Effective Date

January 21, 2021

Responsible Party

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, (208) 426-1202
Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, (208) 426-5775
Testing Center, (208) 426-2762

Scope and Audience

This policy applies to instructors who choose to use a Proctored Exam or Assessment, students who take courses with a proctoring requirement, and the Testing Center responsible for facilitating the use of campus-supported proctoring solutions.

Additional Authority

  • Higher Education Opportunity Act
  • DoD Voluntary Education Partnership MOU
  • National College Testing Association (NCTA) Proctoring Guidelines
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

1. Policy Purpose

To establish instructor, student, and Boise State University Testing Center responsibilities for Proctored Exams or Assessments and to provide guidelines for requesting and scheduling a Proctored Exam or Assessment.

2. Policy Statement

Boise State University is committed to providing Proctored Exams or Assessments that ensure academic integrity, exam security and define appropriate solutions for the University to provide students with access to proctoring solutions considering student location, physical ability, and time constraints.

3. Definitions

3.1 Proctored Exam or Assessment

An exam or assessment supervised by an approved, neutral person (i.e., a proctor) who verifies the student’s identity and ensures all exam or assessment details are met such as date range, allotted exam or assessment time, and approved test aids. A Proctored Exam or Assessment must take place in the Boise State University Testing Center, or a computer lab or classroom at an approved physical proctoring location (off-campus proctoring), and/or through the use of Boise State University’s preferred virtual proctoring service (virtual proctoring). Virtual proctoring must be made available for any fully online course (see Section 4.4).

4. On-Campus Proctored Exam or Assessment

4.1 Testing Center

Instructors may schedule a Proctored Exam or Assessment to be administered at the Testing Center through the exam submission process on the Testing Center’s website. The Testing Center proctoring staff will administer the Proctored Exam or Assessment and or provide support for the selected proctoring solution.

4.2 Instructor

Instructors may conduct a Proctored Exam or Assessment in a quiet distraction free setting. The instructor, teaching assistant, or department-approved proctor will administer the Proctored Exam or Assessment.

5. Off-Campus Proctored Exam or Assessment

The Testing Center will assist students in finding an approved proctoring location for Boise State exams. Students can make this request by filling out a Proctor Location Form. Once an approved location has been found, the student must complete a Proctor Verification Form. The Proctor Verification Form will be sent directly to the instructor so that the exam details can be communicated to the approved proctoring location.

5.1 Proctor Eligibility

Eligible Proctors include the following:

  • Members of the teaching faculty or educational administrators of a regionally accredited institution of higher education
  • Staff members at a local college and/or professional testing center
  • Corporate educational/training officers
  • Embassy education officers
  • Military base/station education officers, commissioned or non-commissioned officers of a higher rank than the student, commanders, or military base librarians

Ineligible Proctors include the following:

  • Relatives or friends with whom the student has a personal relationship with outside of school or business
  • Athletic coaches or members of the coaching staff
  • Previous or current Boise State University students (unless the individual meets the eligible proctor qualifications and is not a friend or relative)
  • Coworkers, employers, or supervisors
  • Spouse or significant other
  • Past or present tutors of the student testing (unless the individual meets the eligible proctor  qualifications and is not a friend or relative)

5.2 Location Eligibility

Proctored Exams or Assessments will be administered at an educational facility or at the proctor’s place of employment. Special circumstances requiring an alternate location may be approved by the instructor.

5.3 Instructor Responsibilities

a. The instructor is responsible for communicating all exam details directly to the approved proctoring location for each Proctored Exam or Assessment requiring face-to-face proctoring.  Exam details include the name of the student, name of the exam, exam date duration, allowed time for the exam, approved test aids (calculator, notes, instructor handout etc.), exam URL, and exam password (if applicable). Exam details, including the exam password, must not be shared with the student.

b. The instructor must notify the student that additional charges may be required for the Proctored Exam or Assessment (see section 4.5).

5.4 Student Responsibilities

a. Students are responsible for finding an approved proctoring location. Once the approved location and proctor has been found, the student must fill out a Proctor Verification Form and send it to their instructor.

b. Scheduling a Proctored Exam or Assessment, paying any required proctoring fees, and following proctoring location protocol are the student’s responsibility.

6. Virtual Proctoring

6.1 Testing Center Responsibilities

The Testing Center will provide information, as needed, to an instructor or student about the campus-preferred virtual proctoring vendor. Information about the preferred virtual proctoring vendor may be found on the Testing Center’s website.

6.2 Instructor Responsibilities

a. To make a Proctored Exam or Assessment available for virtual proctoring, the instructor must create an account with the virtual proctoring service and submit exam details for each exam. Exam details include, but are not limited to: exam title, exam date duration, allowed time for the exam, approved test aids (calculator, notes, instructor handout, etc.), exam URL,
and exam password (if applicable). Exam details, including the exam password, must not be shared with the student.

b. The instructor must communicate any additional costs associated with the Proctored Exam or Assessment to the student (see section 4.5).

c. If an instructor chooses to use a Proctored Exam or Assessment in a fully online course (requires no in-person class time), the instructor must offer virtual proctoring in addition to any other proctoring solutions selected for their course.

6.3 Student Responsibilities

If the instructor approves virtual proctoring, the student will be responsible for scheduling the Proctored Exam or Assessment and paying any required fees unless otherwise noted.

7. Proctoring Solution Exceptions

There may be instances when an exception to an instructor’s required proctoring solution must be made. These exceptions include, but are not limited to the following:

7.1 Location Limitations

a. A student located outside of the U.S., or who is in a location with limited or no access to needed services, may require an exception. If the student is required to take a Proctored Exam or Assessment, and is unable to find an approved physical location, the student must submit a Proctor Location Form to the Boise State University Testing Center for assistance.

b. If the Testing Center is unable to locate an approved proctoring location within ten (10) miles from the student’s location, virtual proctoring must be allowed if the exam is in an online format.

7.2 Approved Reasonable Accommodations

Virtual proctoring must be allowed for any student approved to take online exams or assessments as an approved reasonable accommodation on file with the Educational Access Center (EAC). Questions about reasonable accommodations should be directed to the EAC.

8. Notice of Costs for Off-Campus and/or Virtual Proctoring

a. For any required off-campus and/or virtual Proctored Exam or Assessment, the instructor must notify students of the proctoring requirement and that additional charges may be required, if applicable, at the time of registration, e.g., through class notes in PeopleSoft.

b. The Testing Center can provide current pricing and sample language for both PeopleSoft and the instructor’s syllabus.

9. Forms

Proctoring Location Request Form
https://www.boisestate.edu/testing/proctoring-assistance/

Proctor Verification Form
https://www.boisestate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/507/2019/10/Verification-Form-.pdf.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Boise State Testing Center
https://www.boisestate.edu/testing/

Proctored Test Guidelines
https://www.boisestate.edu/testing/policies/proctored-test-guidelines/