Purpose

These policies explain how students reserve and use the ODS Testing Center. Students must follow these policies and staff instructions so ODS can provide approved accommodations in a secure, accessible, and reduced-distraction environment.

1. Plan Before Reserving a Testing Space 

1.A. Confirm How Testing Accommodations Will Be Provided 

Discuss each exam with your instructor and confirm how your ODS-approved testing accommodations will be provided.

Instructors will tell students whether they will be providing testing accommodations within the department or whether you should schedule your exam with the ODS Testing Center.

Notify ODS promptly if you have difficulty arranging your approved testing accommodations with an instructor. 

1.B. When Students May Use the ODS Testing Center 

The ODS Testing Center serves only students with ODS-approved testing accommodations. Testing reservations depend on available space, staffing, and operating hours. Spaces are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

2. Reserve Each Exam Through Accommodate 

2.A. Submit a Reservation for Each Exam 

Students are responsible for submitting a testing reservation through the Accommodate Student Portal for each exam they will be taking in the ODS Testing Center by the reservation deadline.

Testing is available by reservation only. ODS does not offer walk-in or same-day testing.

Students are strongly encouraged to submit their reservation requests for the entire semester as early as possible.

For detailed instructions on how to schedule exams, please see the Student Guide to Schedule Exams in Accommodate.

2.B. Meet the Reservation Deadline 

Students are responsible for submitting each testing reservation at least three business days before the requested testing date. The testing date does not count as one of the three business days. Business days do not include weekends, university holidays, or days when the university is closed. 

*The Submission Deadline would be altered if the university were closed on an intervening business day 

Accommodate uses a 72-hour system cutoff and may allow a request that does not meet the ODS three-business-day deadline. The ability to submit a request in Accommodate does not mean the request was submitted on time or will be approved. 

For example, a reservation for Monday must be submitted on the preceding Wednesday. A reservation submitted on Thursday may still be accepted by Accommodate’s 72-hour system, but it does not meet the ODS deadline. 

ODS may be unable to accept a reservation request submitted fewer than three business days before the requested testing date. Any exception depends on Testing Center space, staffing, and the time needed to prepare the exam. 

Final exams have an earlier deadline, usually about one week before finals begin. ODS will publish the official deadline in Accommodate and on the ODS website when final exam reservations open.

2.C. Accessible Format Exams and Materials 

Students who require exams in an accessible format, such as text-to-speech, speech-to-text, Braille, large print, paper copy of online exams, or other alternate formats, should submit testing reservations as early as possible.

ODS may need additional time to obtain, convert, and/or review accessible exam materials before the scheduled testing date. Reservations submitted too close to the testing date may not allow sufficient time for these preparations, and ODS may be unable to administer the exam at the requested reservation time.

2.D. Choose an Available Time 

Work with your instructor to select a date and time that meet their requirements and allow your full ODS-approved testing time within ODS Testing Center hours.

The instructor must approve the requested date and time. If no suitable ODS Testing Center reservation is available, the instructor must provide the approved accommodations through another arrangement.

2.E. Monitor the Reservation Status 

Monitor your JMU email and Accommodate account for approval, denial, changes, or messages about the reservation.

Submitting a request reserves your seat immediately. A pending status does not mean you will lose your seat. 

ODS generally approves requests one to three business days before the testing reservation. The exam cannot be administered unless the instructor approves the date and time and provides the required information and materials by the deadline. 

2.F. Your Reservation is One Fixed Block of Time 

Your testing reservation begins and ends at the scheduled times. You have that fixed block in which to complete the exam, regardless of how you use that time. Time spent checking in after the scheduled start time, arriving late, studying, taking restroom breaks, or engaging in other personal activities does not extend the scheduled end time unless an ODS-approved accommodation or an authorized change applies. 

3. Arrive and Check In 

3.A. Arrive Before the Reservation Begins 

Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early so you can check in, store belongings, receive instructions, and be ready when the reservation begins.

3.B. Store Personal Belongings 

Check in with staff and store personal belongings in the designated location before entering the testing area. Unless specifically authorized by the instructor or approved as an accommodation, stored items include phones, smartwatches, wearable technology, earbuds, headphones, tablets, laptops, bags, coats, jackets, notes, books, and other personal or unauthorized materials.

Bring only materials explicitly authorized by your instructor into the testing area. ODS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.

3.C. Thirty Minutes Late Is a “No Show” 

If you arrive 30 or more minutes after the scheduled start time without prior arrangements approved by ODS, you will be marked as a no-show. ODS will notify your instructor, and you will not be permitted to begin the exam without instructor permission. 

If you arrive after the scheduled start time but fewer than 30minutes late, you may test using the time remaining in your reservation. Your scheduled end time will not change. 

4. Changes, Illness, and Closures 

4.A. Cancelling or Rescheduling a Testing Reservation 

Notify both the instructor and ODS as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule.

To reschedule, obtain instructor approval and notify ODS. ODS will reschedule your existing testing reservation based on Testing Center availability and instructor approval.

4.B. Do Not Test While Ill 

Our office provides accommodations to students with a diverse array of disabilities, including compromised immune systems. We strive to provide a safe environment for all students, faculty, and staff who visit our office. 

Do not come to the ODS Testing Center if you are ill. ODS will require a student who appears ill, reports being ill, or becomes ill during testing to leave and contact their instructor to reschedule.

4.C University or ODS Closures 

ODS is closed when the university is closed. A university or ODS closure cancels affected testing reservations. Students are responsible for working with their instructor and ODS to arrange another available reservation or another way to receive the approved accommodations.

5. Follow ODS Testing Center Policies During the Exam 

5.A. Follow Staff Instructions 

Students are responsible for following instructions from ODS staff and avoiding behavior that disrupts or distracts other students.

Keep conversations brief and quiet. Do not wear heavily scented products that may interfere with another student’s testing environment.

Disruptive, abusive, or threatening behavior toward staff or other students is prohibited. 

5.B. Use Only Authorized Materials 

Use only materials authorized by the instructor or approved as an ODS accommodation. Do not access stored belongings during the testing reservation unless staff authorize you to do so.

5.C. Remain in the Assigned Testing Area 

Remain in your assigned testing area unless staff authorize you to leave. You may not study during the testing reservation, including while waiting to begin the exam.

5.D. Take Brief Restroom Breaks 

Unless another approved accommodation applies, you may leave the testing area only to use the restroom. Notify staff, leave all testing materials at your workstation, sign out, and sign back in when you return.

Repeated or prolonged restroom breaks that are not authorized by an approved accommodation may be documented and reported to the instructor. 

5.E. Stop Working at the Scheduled End Time 

Students are responsible for monitoring their own testing time and submitting their exam by the end time listed on their coversheet. 

Continuing to work or refusing to surrender materials may be reported to the instructor.

5.F. Report Testing Issues Immediately 

Students are responsible for informing a proctor immediately if they receive the wrong exam or discover a missing page, missing bubble sheet or other required material, access problem, incorrect testing setting, missing accommodation, or any other testing concern. 

Reporting a problem at the end of or after the testing reservation may leave ODS no opportunity to correct it. If you do not report a problem promptly, ODS may be unable to correct the issue.

6. Exam Security and Student Conduct 

6.A. Prohibited Conduct 

Complete every exam independently and follow the JMU Honor Code, the instructor's instructions, and these policies. Unless specifically authorized by the instructor, students may not use electronic devices, notes, books, websites, AI tools, search engines, software, or other materials; communicate with another person; access stored belongings; photograph, record, copy, or reproduce exam content; or remove or attempt to remove testing materials. 

6.B. ODS Monitors and Reports Concerns 

ODS staff monitor testing spaces. Staff may intervene, document conduct prohibited by Policy 6A or inconsistent with exam instructions, and report the concern to the instructor. ODS does not determine whether an Honor Code violation occurred. The instructor reviews the report and handles any suspected violation in accordance with JMU Honor Code procedures. 

6.C. Staff May Interrupt or End Testing 

Staff may delay, interrupt, or end testing when necessary to resolve noncompliance or protect safety, exam security, or the testing environment. Staff may require unauthorized materials to be stored, involve a supervisor, notify the instructor, and/or refer the matter through an applicable university process. 

Follow staff instructions during any reported testing irregularity. Failure to follow these policies may affect ODS's ability to administer the exam as scheduled. 

6.D. Questions and Concerns 

Contact ODS as soon as possible with questions about these policies, your accommodations, or a testing reservation. Concerns about Testing Center staff or policies may be sent to odsexam@jmu.edu.