Exam Support

The University of California, Santa Cruz campus utilizes a shared model for test accommodations and proctoring services. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) Exam Support Services, in partnership with faculty and students, strives to establish a fair and sustainable testing environment. Although academic departments and faculty members bear primary responsibility for providing testing accommodations to students with disabilities, there are several means of support for exam accommodations. Accommodated exams may be supported directly by course faculty, departmental or divisional staff or the DRC Testing Center. Upon approval for exam accommodations, course faculty should communicate with students on how their accommodated exams will take place.

The DRC Testing Center provides accommodated exam support for all academic divisions on a first-come, first-serve basis. All approved DRC exam accommodations are eligible to be supported by the Testing Center. Space is limited at the Testing Center, so it is highly advised that faculty and students coordinate any necessary Testing Center bookings as early as possible in the quarter. 

Testing Center Workflow

For faculty that opt to use the Testing Center, please review the Testing Center Workflow.

  • At the beginning of the quarter, faculty should decide how exam accommodations will be supported. We recognize that faculty members may utilize multiple different resources and/or spaces to support student exam accommodations. Faculty should clearly communicate with students where their accommodated exams will take place and any necessary steps that students should take as early as possible in the quarter. We recommend that faculty share this information with students in a written format, ensuring that students have ready access to information about how their accommodated exams will be supported.
  • If faculty would like to opt into utilizing the DRC Testing Center, they must submit an Exam Information Form in AIM. The Exam Information Form allows faculty to share comprehensive details about their quizzes, midterms, and final exams, including scheduling, testing conditions, permitted materials, and more. Students can only begin signing up for exam slots after the faculty member has submitted this form. Since the DRC Testing Center operates on a first-come, first-served basis, faculty are strongly encouraged to complete the form as early as possible. Faculty will need to notify their students with exam accommodations to log into their AIM Student Portal to request a test room booking for all of their exams for the course. Students will not be notified by the system. Early submission ensures students have ample time to secure their exam accommodations and maximizes the likelihood of receiving support at the DRC Testing Center.
    • Faculty who choose not to use the DRC Testing Center may still complete the brief Exam Management Methods section of the Exam Information Form to indicate that students’ exam accommodations will be provided elsewhere or to indicate that their course has no timed assessments. This process ensures clarity for students by either allowing them to book exams at the DRC Testing Center or notifying them that the Testing Center will not support this course’s exam accommodation delivery, directing them to consult their instructor for further details.
    • The Exam Information Form can be edited after its initial submission. If faculty are unsure of certain exam details but have confirmed the date, time, and duration, they are encouraged to complete the form promptly to allow students to sign up and reserve a testing space. Faculty can then return to update the form closer to the exam date with any additional information, such as format, permitted materials, and other important details.
  • Students must initiate a test room booking request at the DRC Testing Center at least 5 business days in advance of the exam date. Note that availability is on a first come, first served basis, and cannot be guaranteed. 
  • Once a booking request has been submitted, Exam Support Services staff will review and approve requests, so long as all requirements are met and space is available. Once approved, students and faculty will receive a confirmation email. Students and faculty will receive additional reminder emails as the exam date approaches. 
  • At least 2 business days prior to an exam booking, faculty must upload a blank copy of the exam in AIM.  If a student will require an alternative format exam (i.e. E-Text for Exams, Text-to-Speech for Exams, Enlarged Print for Exams), faculty must upload a blank copy of the exam at least 4 business days prior to the exam date to allow for remediation. 
  • On the exam day, students should plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled start time to allow ample time for check-in procedures and reviewing Testing Center guidelines. Once the exam has been completed, all testing materials are scanned and uploaded to AIM, where they are available to course faculty. Hard copies are kept until the next academic quarter and can be picked up upon request.

All students taking exams at the DRC Testing Center will be held to the same standard as all students as outlined in the UCSC Student Handbook and University Policies and the Academic Misconduct Policy for Undergraduates, which includes the following:

“The cornerstone of intellectual life at UC Santa Cruz is a commitment to integrity in all forms of teaching, learning, and research.”

Information on how to contact Exam Support Services or locate the DRC Testing Center can be found on the Contact Us page of our website. 

Last modified: Feb 18, 2025