Testing Center

Disability Access Services (DAS) provides testing accommodations for students with documented disabilities who are registered with the office and have approved testing accommodations. Once approved for testing accommodation, students are responsible for scheduling their own exams each semester.

The DAS Testing Center provides an secure, proctored alternative testing environment designed to support approved accommodations while maintaining the integrity, fairness and security of all academic assessments.

The center supports equitable access while maintaining the academic integrity, security and essential requirements of each course. To ensure test security and consistency, all testing sessions are monitored by staff and the room is equipped with video surveillance (no audio recording).

Location, Hours & Scheduling

Location: Olin Hall, 3rd Floor

Hours of Operation: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, 1–5 p.m.

Testing Times:

• First exam start time: 8:30 a.m.
• Last exam start time: 3 p.m. (dependent on exam length and end-of-day closure)
• All exams must end by 5 p.m.

Schedule an Exam in Accommodate

Instructions for Scheduling an Exam

To ensure appropriate coordination of accommodations, DAS staff complete several steps prior to each exam, including communication with faculty, receipt and secure handling of exam materials, room scheduling and preparation of any approved assistive technology.

• All regularly scheduled exams must be requested at least 72 hours (3 business days) in advance.
• Final exams must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance and may be scheduled up to 6 weeks in advance.
• Final exams require early planning due to high demand and limited testing capacity. Early scheduling helps ensure students can be supported as close as possible to their scheduled exam time.

Scheduling Availability

Because the Testing Center has limited space and staffing, DAS may not always be able to accommodate requested last minute exam times.

When scheduling conflicts arise, DAS will work with the student and instructor to identify an alternative time that:

• Provides equitable access for the student.
• Maintains academic integrity and course requirements.
• Reflects available space and staffing resources.

DAS can only proctor exams when sufficient advance notice is provided to ensure appropriate coordination and accommodations.

Student Responsibilities

Students approved for testing accommodations are responsible for:

• Requesting accommodations each semester through DAS.
• Scheduling exams at least three business days in advance (two weeks in advance for finals).
• Submitting exam requests using Accommodate.
• Communicating promptly with DAS about scheduling concerns.
• Following all DAS Testing Center policies and procedures.
• Completing required testing-related agreements when applicable.

If students experience barriers to scheduling due to missing faculty materials or technical issues, they can email the DAS Testing Center at dastest@whitman.edu or stop by for support. 

Exam Scheduling & Expectations

• Exams should generally be scheduled at the same time as the in-class exam.
• If scheduling conflicts exist, students should work with DAS and their instructor to identify an alternative time.
• Alternative scheduling may be necessary due to space or staffing limitations.
• Final decisions are made collaboratively to ensure both access and academic requirements are met.

Arrival

• Students are expected to arrive on time for scheduled exams.
• A 15-minute grace period is provided for late arrival.
  • Students arriving beyond the grace period may be referred back to their instructor.
  • Exams not started within the grace period may need to be rescheduled.

Testing Hours

• All exams must be completed by 5 p.m.
• Exams may not extend beyond Testing Center operating hours.
• If an exam cannot be completed within the available time, DAS will coordinate with the instructor to determine appropriate next steps.

Breaks

• Short breaks may be permitted as part of approved accommodations.
• Breaks are expected to be brief and should not disrupt testing conditions.
• Testing time continues unless accommodations specify otherwise.

Materials

• Only instructor-approved materials are permitted during testing.
• Students are responsible for bringing required materials such as writing instruments and calculators (if permitted) unless otherwise arranged.
• The Testing Center does not provide blue books unless supplied by faculty in advance.

Personal Items

• All personal belongings must be stored in designated areas before testing begins.
• The Testing Center is not responsible for personal items.
• Cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off and stored unless approved as an accommodation.

Leaving the Testing Area

To maintain a secure, fair, and consistent testing environment, the following procedures apply when a student leaves the Testing Center during an exam.

• Students must notify Testing Center staff before leaving the testing area and must check out and check back in upon return.
• Exam materials, notes, scratch paper and all testing content must remain in the Testing Center at all times.
• Unless an approved accommodation states otherwise, testing time will continue to run during all breaks, including restroom, water or personal breaks.
• Breaks should generally be brief and are typically expected to last no more than approximately 10 minutes per occurrence, unless otherwise approved through the accommodation process.

Disability Access Services recognizes that some students may have disability-related, medical, or other approved accommodation needs that require additional flexibility, including extended or more frequent breaks. These needs are considered on an individualized basis through the interactive accommodation process.

Students who anticipate needing extended or repeated breaks are encouraged to discuss this with Disability Access Services in advance so that appropriate accommodations can be reviewed and approved.

Extended, frequent or unexplained absences from the Testing Center may require staff to pause the exam and consult with the instructor to determine appropriate next steps. Any action taken will balance the need to maintain exam security and academic integrity with the student’s approved accommodations and access needs.

Cancellations and Changes

• Students must cancel or reschedule exams as soon as possible through the DAS system or by contacting DAS at dastest@whitman.edu.
• Late cancellations may impact future scheduling availability.
• Changes outside standard deadlines require coordination with DAS and faculty approval.

Academic Integrity

Whitman College is committed to maintaining the integrity, fairness and security of all academic assessments. Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic honesty during all examinations.

If concerns about academic integrity arise during or after an exam, the following procedures may occur:

• The exam session may be paused or concluded by Testing Center staff to ensure the security of the testing environment.
• The exam and any relevant materials may be forwarded to the instructor for review in accordance with college policies.
• The matter may be referred to the appropriate campus office for further review, if applicable.
• When applicable, video recordings may be reviewed as part of the review process.
• Video recordings are retained for up to 30 days, unless otherwise required by institutional policy or law.

These procedures are designed to ensure fairness, consistency and the integrity of the academic assessment process for all students.

Confidentiality

All disability-related information is protected under FERPA and applicable federal law.

• Accommodation information is shared only as necessary for implementation.
• Disability diagnoses and medical documentation are not disclosed to faculty.
• DAS staff maintain strict confidentiality in all services.

Accommodation Implementation

Approved accommodations are implemented as outlined in the student’s official Letter of Accommodation.

DAS works collaboratively with students and faculty through an interactive process to ensure:

• Appropriate implementation of accommodations
• Compliance with ADA and Section 504 requirements
• Resolution of questions related to accessibility or course design

This process ensures equitable access while maintaining academic standards and essential course requirements.