Faculty Information on Academic Testing Services

Collaborating with Academic Testing Services

PSU Academic Testing Services now uses RegisterBlast to support exam proctoring on behalf of instructors. Through RegisterBlast, you can submit exam details, securely share exam materials, approve make-up exams, and view which students are scheduled to test and when. Once exam information is entered, students can register to test with ATS based on their accommodations and availability.

Learn more about how to provide exam guidance to ATS so your students can schedule exams.

Scheduling note: Students must schedule at least 72 hours in advance. Please enter your exam information ahead of time so students are able to schedule in this window of time. Submitting exam information early, ideally at the start of the term, helps ensure smooth coordination among students, instructors, proctors, and the DRC.

Questions? Email testingservices@pdx.edu

Make-Up Exams for Non-DRC Registered Students

In an effort to expand our faculty support, PSU Academic Testing Services (ATS) now offers limited support for make-up exams for non-DRC-registered students. This service was paused during the height of the pandemic, and we are pleased to resume it on a capacity basis, while continuing to prioritize support for DRC-registered students and their instructors.

Students can now schedule their own make-up exams directly through RegisterBlast. Faculty can facilitate this by creating a clone of the original exam in RegisterBlast, updating the dates to reflect when the exam will be taken, and adding the student as an eligible taker. This allows the student to register for the exam at a time that works within the dates you, as their instructor, have specified.

Learn how to set up make-up exams for your students

ATS Exam Process for Faculty

Additional Information for Faculty

Here are some quick tips for supporting the testing needs of DRC students:

• The student has the right to decide if and when each testing accommodation in the email will be used in the course. Faculty should assume students will use all accommodations listed unless the student indicates otherwise, and should not recommend that the student try testing without accommodations.
   
• Unless a student has a testing accommodation allowing for them to test in the Testing Center (and this will be indicated in the student’s DRC Faculty Notification Email), the instructor will need to consider their options for proctoring the accommodated exams. Please visit the DRC website for detailed information and guidance on those options: DRC Testing Accommodations for In-Person and Remote/Online Classes

Making Exams as Accessible and Inclusive as Possible: What Faculty Can Do

At Portland State University, we are committed to providing an inclusive and equitable learning environment for all our students. This commitment extends to the ways in which we assess learning and administer exams. By leveraging the Canvas learning management system, we can significantly enhance exam accessibility, meet a broad range of academic testing accommodations, and reduce the need for traditional test proctoring.

Accessible and inclusive assessment design can also have a substantial positive impact on student achievement, regardless of disability. Assessments built in accordance with the Universal Design for Learning framework tend to be the most inclusive for everyone. If you should choose to include timed assessments in your course, please review our detailed guidance for enhancing exam accessibility and inclusivity.

IMPORTANT: Given that we operate out of multiple locations around campus, in-person visits to our administrative office, including to drop off and pick up exams, are by appointment only. Please email testingservices@pdx.edu to schedule an appointment if needed.

Questions?

• For questions about specific student accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center (503-725-4150; drc@pdx.edu).
• For questions about testing procedures, please contact Academic Testing Services (503-725-4459; TestingServices@pdx.edu).

PSU Academic Testing Services (ATS)
Division of Student Success | Academic Affairs
Office Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Email: testingservices@pdx.edu (this is the best, most efficient way to communicate with us)
Telephone: (503) 725-4459