At Lakehead University the SAS office coordinates the majority of in person test/exam/quiz accommodations based on each individual student's specific approved and requested accommodations. Students are responsible for following SAS procedures and booking to write each test/exam/quiz with the SAS office. 

• Students can choose to write with their class and not book to write with SAS with the knowledge that instructors are not responsible for providing accommodated time or other accommodations. 

SAS Coordination of Tests/Exams/Quizzes

• SAS communicates by email with the instructor to confirm and obtain the specifics of the test/exam/quiz; Date, start time, duration, number of copies of the assessment required, specific instruction realted to the test/exam/quiz.

• SAS has specifically designed testing rooms to support the student’s specific room accommodations and/or equipment accommodations and coordinates assistive technology accommodations and provides or inspects aids.  

• SAS ensures all tests/exams/quizzes are kept in a secure, locked environment until retrieved by the instructor.

• SAS hires and trains invigilators to supervise, manage specific accommodations, and maintain the integrity of each individual test/exam/quiz based upon the approved academic accommodations requested by the student.

NOTE: Instructors from time to time may wish to provide academic accommodations themself to a student; Instructors are welcome to consult with SAS on this process. 

 At Lakehead University the SAS office coordinates the majority of in person test/exam/quiz accommodations based on each individual student's specific approved and requested accommodations. Students are responsible for following SAS procedures and booking to write each test/exam/quiz with the SAS office. 

• Students can choose to write with their class and not book to write with SAS with the knowledge that professors are not responsible for providing accommodated time or other accommodations. 

Instructor Involvement in Test/Exam/Quiz Coordination

When SAS has received a request from a student to write a test/exam/quiz with their academic accommodations then:

1. SAS communicates by email with the instructor to confirm and obtain the specifics of the test/exam/quiz; date, start time, duration, number of copies of the assessment required, specific instruction realted to the test/exam/quiz, contact information for SAS students who have questions during the test/exam/quiz and to negiatiate specifics related to a students individual accommodations

• Instructors should contact SAS if they are designing an assessment that does not have a scheduled date and time ex. "pop quizzes" to collaborate with SAS to ensure students will receive their accommodations.

2. The instructor will bring the required number of copies of the test/exam/quiz (including exam booklets, scantron sheets, etc.) to the SAS office, during SAS office hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, prior to the date of the assessment.

3. Instructors are responsible for conveying to a student writing with SAS any further information or clarification provided to the rest of the class. The instructor must contact the SAS office by phone or email to provide the information:

In Thunder Bay at 807-343-8047 or sas@lakeheadu.ca

In Orillia at 705-330-4010 ext. 2103 or oracess@lakeheadu.ca

• If corrections, clarification or information has not been passed on to SAS students this can affect the student's performance on an assessment; should a student approach SAS with a concern that this has occurred, SAS will contact the instructor regarding options for an equitable solution.

4. Once the test/exam/quiz has been completed by all students writing with SAS, SAS will email the instructor that the assessment is available to be picked up at the SAS office during office hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. This communication may be same day of the assessment or generally 1- 2 days after the assessment.

When the completed tests/exams/quizzes are picked up instructors will be requested to provide identification to ensure the integrity and security of the completed tests/exams/quizzes.

• If the instructor is designating a TA/GA to pick up the completed test/exam/quiz the TA/GA must provide identification and be able to show an email from the instructor’s Lakehead University email designating the TA/GA to pick up the assessment.
• When the completed assessment is picked up the individual picking up will be requested to to sign for the number of tests/exams/quizzes they are receiving and all unwritten test/exam/quiz papers will be returned.

Classes that are in person, zoom delivered or asynchronous web based can have assessments that are delivered in an online format. The assessment may have: 

• a set date and time scheduled

• a window of time (ex; 48 hrs) for the student to sign in and begin a timed assessment

• Be a “take home”;  the assessment is released and the student has (ex. 3 days) to complete and submit

Instructor Responsibilities for Online Tests/Exams/Quizzes

Instructors are responsible for providing online test/exam/quiz accommodations.

• The most common accommodation will be accommodated extra time.

Accommodation Wording: Extra Time (Online with Breaks): xx additional minutes per hour (including approved breaks) for all online tests/exams/quizzes: (Prof. to add time to student account)

• Students do not need to request their accommodation extra time from the instructor; the accommodation is to be applied by the professor to each and every online test/exam/quiz based on the accommodation letter.
• Please visit our webpage for more information about Extra Time Accommodations for Online Tests/Exams/Quizzes. 

Instructors are responsible to ensure that their test/exam/quiz is in an accessible format that enables students to enlarge the material and use built in computer features or adaptive software. Resources for how to make course materials accessible can be found on the SAS Webpage. If you require further assistance please contact the Teaching Commons.

If there are additional testing accommodations other than extra time or assistive technology listed on the accommodation letter that do not indicate that SAS will be providing them, the instructor is encouraged to reach out to the student's SAS Advisor.

• If a take-home assessment incorporates universal design principles - when additional time is provided to all students to complete the assessment - then a student who has accommodations related to extra time on an assessment will have had their accommodations met and there are no changes needed to the take home assessment duration.

• Instructors should contact the student’s SAS Advisor to discuss a take-home test if they are concerned that the student's accommodated extra time is not being met.

A bell ringer assessment is generally a lab test/exam which requires a student to move through stations with a signal (bell or visual signal) indicating that the student needs to move to the next station. 

Bell ringer assessment requires a specific lab to be set up, accommodations for this type of assessment are to be provided by the instructor.

• Students are responsible for reaching out to their professor and/or lab instructor by email (SAS encourages the student to email at minimum 2 weeks prior to the bell ringer assessment) requesting access to their accommodations.

• The most common accommodations would be accommodated extra time and distraction reduced environment.

Accommodation Wording: Extra time for Bellringer Assessments: xx additional minutes per hour for all bellringer tests/exams/quizzes 

*Not all students will have a specific bell ringer accommodation but may have extra time for tests/exams/quizzes. A bell ringer is a test and students should be accommodated with their extra time. Instructors are recommended to inform the class of the availability of accommodations for bell ringers and encourage students to contact them privately to access these accommodations. 

Reminder: The dignity and confidentiality of the student should always be a consideration, ensuring not to call attention to a student utilizing their accommodations. Communication regarding the scheduled time for the bell ringer is best handled by confidential, individual email to the student.

• Instructors should confirm that they have received an accommodation letter for the student with the bell ringer accommodation and/or an extra time accommodation on it. 

• Typically, the instructor organizes a separate time for students with accommodations to complete the bell ringer providing the appropriate accommodations and communicates this privately to students who have requested access to their accommodations for the bell ringer assessment via email.
• Instructors can calculate the extra time required for each SAS student using the Faculty Resource: Calculating Extra Time.

The process for accommodating Timetabled Formal Exams will be very similar to the processes above depending on delivery method. If instructors have any questions they are welcome to contact the SAS office.