In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title II of the ADA, this policy ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to assessments by providing reasonable testing accommodations that remove disability-related barriers without altering the fundamental nature of the exam.  The purpose of extended time on exams and quizzes is to ensure that a student's performance reflects their understanding of the material rather than their processing speed. Providing additional time serves as an adjustment for specific disabilities, allowing for a more accurate assessment of the student's knowledge and skills.


Scheduling & Implementation

    • To schedule a test in SAR, the student must submit a test request form a minimum of five (5) business days prior to the scheduled test date (or deadline set by SAR for final exam requests) to ensure proper coordination of accommodations. The form is located in MyUWF by searching “SAR Accommodate Student Portal” and selecting the “Testing Room” tab. 
    • Final exams MUST be scheduled during university final exam time blocks and prior to the deadline set by SAR.  Students will be notified of the deadline for final exams by email.
    • All exams proctored by SAR must be taken on the campus where the class is offered.  Students may request alternate arrangements for serious extenuating circumstances but exceptions are subject to approval by both the instructor and SAR. 
    • Once the request is received and processed, the instructor and the student will receive written confirmation of test date and time.  
    • Exams are administered at SAR (Building 19, Room 100D) during the scheduled class time and during SAR business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm). If an exam time falls outside of SAR business hours or interferes with another class time, a different date/time will be coordinated between the student, instructor, and SAR. 
    • SAR cannot guarantee a completely noise-free environment. To reduce distractions and noise, SAR may provide “white noise” machines, as well as earplugs or noise-reducing headsets, upon request. 
    •  All make-up exams and exams for evening classes must be coordinated between the student, instructor, and SAR in order for the exam to be proctored during SAR business hours.
    •  Students who wish to take exams in the classroom must arrange this in advance with their professors to ensure extended time can be properly coordinated. If extended time is not feasible for a particular class, the professor should consult with the SAR office to explore alternative accommodations.
    • Accommodations for extended testing times do not apply to take home exams. Take home exams comply with Universal Design of instruction meaning extended time is built in and afforded every student taking the exam.
    • If a test request is not received by the deadline, neither SAR nor the instructor are obligated to provide the testing accommodation. In this instance, students are instructed to email the class professor and copy SAR (sar@uwf.edu) to initiate communication between the professor and SAR. Late requests are subject to approval by both the instructor and SAR. 


Limitations & Considerations

  • Testing accommodations should not alter exam content, difficulty, or grading criteria.
  • If a student is going to be late for a scheduled exam, the student must inform SAR in advance. If a student is more than 20 minutes late, the exam will be returned to the instructor. Testing time will not be adjusted if the student is late. 
  • Only approved items will be allowed in the testing room.  
  • Communication with other students, leaving the testing space, and/or frequent bathroom breaks are prohibited.
  • Online exams require that professors manually adjust the testing time in Canvas to reflect the approved extended time.  If, in error, the accommodated time is not added to an exam, the student should contact SAR for assistance.
  • All exams will be monitored by recorded video, audio, physical walk-through and/or observation windows.
  • Any student suspected of academic misconduct will be required to stop testing immediately upon request. The exam and other materials will be collected by the SAR staff. The instructor will be notified immediately and provided with all collected materials and video recordings for any further action they deem appropriate.  
  • Students suspected of academic misconduct will be required to meet with the SAR Director/Assistant Director to review testing guidelines and conduct requirements prior to scheduling another exam in SAR.  
  •  Students with multiple violations of the SAR testing guidelines may be referred to the Dean of Students Office.
  • The student is responsible for reviewing and following all SAR testing guidelines.  Failure to follow the guidelines may result in suspension of services.
  • Neither Student Accessibility Resources nor the instructor are obligated to provide the approved testing accommodations if the student fails to comply with these procedures.  

How to Submit a Test Request 

  1. The student will need to sign in through MyUWF and search for “SAR Accommodate Student Portal”
  2. On the SAR Accommodate Portal Welcome Screen, use the tabs on the left side of the screen and click the “Testing Room” tab.
  3. On the bottom left of the page, click “New Test Request”. On this page, the student will see pending and confirmed test requests.
  4. Student should complete the test request form (not all options need to be filled) using the instructions below:
    • Under “Course” Select the course for the test
    • Under “Date Range: Both start and end date must be the same date and match the exam date. Important: The student will not be able to book an exam with SAR if they do not fill out the form at least 5 days prior to the test date!
    • Under “Time Range” Do not fill out
    • Under “Final Exam” Do not fill out
    • Under “Building” Select the campus for the class. If the class is held at the Emerald Coast Campus, please email or call the SAR office.
    • Under “Days of the Week” Do not fill out

5. Click on “Check Availability”

6. Student will notice the available testing slots.  Select the slot that matches the course start time. SAR cannot approve test requests that do not match the course start time unless a professor confirms the alternate time.

7. After selecting the appropriate time slot, the student will be asked to confirm the exam booking.  Student should make sure the time and date are correct. The student may not put an alternate time but may add notes regarding any additional information. Submit the request when finished.

8. Once the request is submitted, it will appear as pending until it has been approved. The student will receive an email if it has been approved or denied.

9. Student should contact the SAR office at 850.474.2387 or sartesting@uwf.edu with any questions or concerns.

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