If your professor is unable to provide your accommodations on your Fall 2026 final exam and you need to use the ODS Testing Center, please review the guidance below carefully, as it contains essential details for scheduling and seating arrangements. For questions about JMU policies around providing reasonable accommodations, please reference Policy 1331 and the ODS Testing Center Student Policies & Procedures.
For more detailed guidance on Accommodate, please review the Student Guide for Scheduling Exams in the Accommodate Portal. If you need additional assistance navigating Accommodate, feel free to reach out to us at odsexam@jmu.edu to set up a phone or Zoom consultation.
1. Determine Whether You Will Use ODS for Your Final Exams
Discuss with each of your instructors how your accommodations will be provided on the final exam. If you and your instructor have determined that your final exam accommodations will be provided through ODS, you must submit a reservation request in Accommodate by the reservation deadline (Friday, December 4 at 5:00 p.m. EST) for each final exam you plan to take with ODS.
1.A. Verify Final Exam Detailes with Your Instructor
Confirm with your instructor(s) the date of each of your final exams and which ODS testing block you should select. Review your finals schedule for conflicts and contact your instructors if you have overlapping final exams to discuss appropriate reservation times.
1.B. ODS Finals Testing Schedule
To support accommodations during Finals Week (12/14-12/18), ODS offers the following testing blocks:
Morning Testing Block: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Afternoon Testing Block: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
It is recommended that you select the block that overlaps with the standard class exam time, unless you and your professor have agreed on another testing block.
2. Submit Your Requests through Accommodate Before the Deadline
Final Exam reservation request open: Thursday, Novemer 12 at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Final Exam reservation deadline: Friday, Deember 4 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
The last day to submit a reservation request in Accommodate to take your final exams with ODS is Friday, December 4 at 5:00 p.m. EST. This deadline is in place to allow ODS necessary preparation time for proctoring the high volume of final exams.
Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Because some exam blocks fill up before the deadline, we strongly encourage students to submit requests as early as possible rather than waiting until the deadline. Reservation requests must be submitted through the Accommodate Portal by Friday, December 4 at 5:00 p.m. EST for a seat with ODS.
For help submitting your exam reservation request, please see the Guide to Scheduling Exams in the Accommodate Portal and/or contact ODS at (540) 568-6705 or odsexam@jmu.edu.
2.A. Important Information About Seating
ODS has limited seating during Finals Week.
If no seats are available during the appropriate testing block, you may need to work with your instructor to identify an alternative appropriate testing time that aligns with available seating.
Once you reserve an available seat in Accommodate, that seat is held while approvals are processed. Approval timelines may vary because the process requires action from both instructors and ODS staff. Your reservation will remain in place unless your instructor denies the request.
3. Prepare for Exam Day
3.A. Know Your Testing Location
Due to the high volume of final exams administered during Finals Week, ODS will utilize additional testing spaces beyond our regular testing center locations.
ODS cannot guarantee placement in a specific room or testing location.
All testing locations will follow reduced-distraction testing environment practices.
3.B. If Your Exam Is Online
For online exams, students should bring a fully charged laptop unless other arrangements have been made in advance. ODS cannot guarantee access to a computer, power outlet, or other technology required for the exam.
3.C. Bring Any Required Materials
Students are responsible for bringing all materials necessary to complete their exam.
If required materials are not available, ODS may be unable to administer the exam as scheduled and may need to reschedule the exam or refer the student to the faculty member to receive their approved accommodations.
3.D. What to Expect in a Reduced-Distraction Testing Environment
ODS strives to provide a reduced-distraction testing environment for all students.
Supports available upon request:
- Sound machines
- Ear plugs
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Visual dividers
While ODS takes reasonable steps to reduce distractions, we cannot provide a distraction-free environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finals Week exam reservations for ODS will open on Thursday, November 12th at 12:00 p.m. EST and will close on Friday, December 4th at 5:00 p.m. EST. Due to the high volume of exams during Finals Week, all requests to test with ODS must be submitted in Accommodate within the reservation window.
Scheduling for all exams happens through Accommodate, which is located in MyMadison. If this is your first time testing with us and you need help navigating Accommodate, please see the Student Guide to Scheduling Exams in the Accommodate Portal or contact our office for assistance at (540) 568-6705 or email odsexam@jmu.edu.
When you submit an exam reservation in Accommodate, your professor is automatically notified to approve the requested date and time. If the time you selected does not align with the course exam schedule, your professor may decline the request. To avoid this, students are encouraged to discuss their exam time with their professor in advance and schedule the exam as close as possible to the standard class exam time.
Having exam accommodations does not require a student to test in ODS testing spaces. If your professor is able to meet your accommodations, they can require you to test with them. Some professors are able to secure additional space for students with accommodations and provide ODS-approved accommodations. Some professors may arrange for you take an exam in their office. If they are not able to meet all of the accommodations listed on your Accommodation Letter for the course, you would need to schedule an exam with ODS through Accommodate.
To maintain a reduced‑distraction testing environment and provide extended time, ODS uses two exam blocks: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. We recommend talking with your professor to determine which time block is appropriate for your exam. In most cases, you should choose the block that overlaps as closely as possible with the standard class exam time.
You will need to speak with your professors to determine which exam is able to be moved to a different day. ODS only has two exam blocks per day during finals week.
Finals Week seating with ODS is limited, so it’s important to schedule your exam as early as possible to secure a seat in the correct time block. If no seats are available at the time you need, please contact your professor to discuss an alternative time to reserve your exam with ODS. In some cases, your professor may choose to provide the exam accommodations listed on your Accommodation Letter directly.
We fill the classrooms at reduced capacity to allow for more space between students. Sound machines will be in use, and we can provide ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones, and visual dividers upon request.
YES. Please speak with your professor to determine what materials will be needed for your final exam. ODS does not have enough computers for every student, so if your exam will be online, you will need to bring your own fully charged laptop. We cannot guarantee that you will have access to an outlet.
Additionally, make sure you have any supplies needed for your exam: calculators, rulers, pencils, headphones for any listening components of exams, etc. Do not assume ODS will be able to provide laptops, chargers, headphones, calculators, blue books, or other course-specific materials.
Please note that if you do not bring the necessary materials to take your exam, ODS may need to reschedule your exam reservation or refer you to your faculty member to receive your approved exam accommodations.
The last day to submit a request in Accommodate to take your final exams with ODS is Friday, December 4th at 5:00 p.m. EST. This deadline is in place to allow ODS necessary preparation time for proctoring the high volume of exams. Once the deadline has passed, ODS reservations are no longer available for Fall 2026 final exams and we encourage you to work with your faculty member to receive your approved exam accommodations. If there are extenuating circumstances that have caused the request to be submitted late, please email odsexam@jmu.edu with a detailed statement regarding these circumstances.
You will receive an email once both your professor and ODS have approved your exam reservation request. It’s common for professors to approve exams close to the exam date, and ODS does not control this timing. After your professor approves the request, an ODS Exams Team member will process the reservation as "approved". During Finals Week, our team processes a high volume of requests and reviews reservations in order of testing date and time. Please be assured that a seat is secured as soon as you submit your reservation request.
If an issue arises during your exam, notify a proctor immediately. This includes missing materials (such as a Gradescope), extended time not appearing in Canvas, or any other concern. Do not wait to report a problem, concern, or question with your exam. ODS can only address issues that are brought to our attention. Because of the high volume of exams, ODS may not be able to reschedule an exam. If rescheduling is not possible, you will need to contact your professor to discuss alternative arrangements to receive your approved accommodations. If you have travel plans or must leave campus shortly after your exam, it is especially important to communicate any issues as early as possible.
