TO:                  All SDSU Faculty

FROM:             Carol J. Peterson

                     Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

DATE:             September 17, 2003

SUBJECT:       Proctoring of Tests – Briggs Library

During the spring 2003 semester, Briggs Library experienced a sharp increase in the number of students requiring test proctoring. Traditionally the Library has provided test proctoring services to students enrolled in distance education (or correspondence) courses from other universities. These non-SDSU distance education test proctoring sessions have been infrequent and have not posed equipment or staffing problems.

However, in the last year library staff have proctored numerous tests for on-campus SDSU students who needed to complete tests or quizzes using Web CT or other course software. During the spring 2003 semester more than 80 tests were proctored by Briggs Library staff members for such SDSU students.

Although librarians have accommodated requests for services like this, the Library’s interior design and staffing do not provide a favorable environment for test proctoring. The library staff cannot devote time to carefully monitoring test takers on a frequent basis.

Proctoring computerized tests requires students to use computers in the public area of the reference department. This is not a quiet area and presents many distractions. It is not normally feasible for the library to devote staff time to proctor tests in the library’s electronic classroom where distractions could be controlled and the proctor could carefully monitor the students’ exams.

For the above reasons, proctoring tests for SDSU classes will not be considered as one of the roles of the Library. Please do not expect library staff to proctor tests – whether on paper or computerized – for your SDSU classes.

Academic Evaluation and Assessment (AEA) will proctor tests

1.       for SDSU students where the faculty member is at another location (i.e. Rapid City) or

2.       for SDSU students who are taking correspondence or Internet classes from another University as well as courses
     from SDSU.

Additionally, for a $25 fee, AEA will proctor tests for individuals enrolled exclusively at other institutions. (The individual is not taking courses from SDSU.) Students may contact AEA in Pugsley 201 (ext. 4217) to reserve a testing time and computer, if needed. Scheduling and proctor agreements are required.

This policy does not preclude faculty and staff in academic departments from serving as proctors for students enrolled in
course(s) where a cooperative agreement exists and the student(s) are taking a distance course at SDSU transmitted from another campus.

Test proctoring for on-campus students remains the responsibility of the faculty member teaching the course. For computer-based tests, the following arrangements are available for your students:

• Reserve an electronic classroom or computer lab where you (or your designee) could proctor your tests at scheduled times. The Library’s electronic classroom (room 125 containing 15 computers) could be scheduled occasionally for this purpose if other locations are not suitable or available. Other computer labs that could be used for this purpose include:

"     NFA 138 and NFA 142. Each lab has 26 computers, an instructor station, and a networked printer. The printer is connected to a Pharos print station. A card with a minimum of $1 in a Hobo Dough account must be used to pay for printed output. These instructional labs are scheduled by Lalita Rangi, 688-6027

"     NFA 128 (the UNS training lab). This lab has 15 computers, instructor station, and a networked printer (not attached to Pharos). The lab is accessed by key or programmed ID card. This lab is scheduled by Angie Pickering, 688-6352.

"     Hansen Hall (basement). This lab has 32 computers, an instructor station, and a Pharos printer. This lab is scheduled by Janet Wilson in the Economics Department, 688-4141.

• If possible, design Web CT tests that require no proctoring. The Instructional Technology Center (ext. 6312) can provide some guidance toward the development of such test designs, or refer you to another faculty member who may be of help. At this time we do not believe it would be a problem for individual students to use the Library’s public computer workstations to complete tests and quizzes that do not require proctoring oversight. It is unlikely that such unscheduled individual test takers would monopolize enough public computers to cause problems for other students with information needs.

We thank you for your cooperation.

Return to Library Policies page.