- Go to https://bu-accommodate.symplicity.com/
- Click “faculty”
- Log in with your BU Kerberos password.
- Click on the three lines in the corner to open the side menu, if necessary, and click on “courses and exams”.
- Scroll down and select the relevant course.
- Click the “Alternative Test Room Bookings” tab and then the “Approved” tab.
- Click on the file next to the “completed exams” heading and the exam will download.
More detailed instructions on how to upload or access exams, including photos, can be viewed here.
You can contact the Academic Testing Center at 617-358-8378 or testing@bu.edu. Please read the following FAQs before contacting us:
FAQ
When will the Academic Testing Center pilot begin?
The pilot phase of the ATC will begin on Monday, April 1, 2024, and will be available until further notice.
Where is the Academic Testing Center located?
The Academic Testing Center is located at 930 Commonwealth Avenue, West, Room 250.
Note: the building entrance is on Pleasant Street, and is labeled “930 Commonwealth Avenue, West”.
Take the elevator on the right side of the lobby to the second floor or the staircase directly in front of you as you enter the lobby.
What are the Academic Testing Center's hours of operation?
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. The first exam will begin at 8:30 am and the last exam needs to be completed no later than 4:30 pm. Note that the Academic Testing Center is closed weekends and most University holidays.
What happens if the test is scheduled for outside those hours?
As you may have done in the past, you can identify a distraction-reduced testing environment for your student(s) on your own.
How will I know that a student is approved to use the Academic Testing Center?
Students registered and approved by Disability & Access Services will give you a Faculty Accommodation Letter (FAL). The Faculty Accommodation Letter must state “
exam accommodations” for a student to be eligible to take their tests in the Academic Testing Center.
Note: Students with only “Classroom accommodations” are not eligible and should be directed to contact Disability & Access Services if they believe that their disability documentation should be reviewed to request exam accommodations.
How far in advance do my students with an approved exam accommodation need to request to take an exam in the Academic Testing Center?
Students must make a request at least three (3) business days in advance of the exam date. For final exams, students must submit their exam requests at least five (5) business days in advance due to increase in volume of tests.
How do students request to take an exam in the Academic Testing Center and how will I know if they have been approved?
Students will make a test booking through the Accommodate system.
Instructions can be found here for your reference. You will be sent an email confirmation of the test booking. We ask that you contact the student to clarify any issues. Please reach out to us at the ATC for any assistance at 617-358-8378.
What is the capacity of the Academic Testing Center?
The Academic Testing Center in this pilot program has a MAXIMUM capacity of 25 test takers at any given time. There are 25 spaces available to reserve and they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Are students with testing accommodations required to utilize the new center?
No. You are still welcome to find a distraction-reduced testing environment and a proctor yourself as you may have done in the past. Please check with Disability & Access Services to make sure the space you find fulfills the student’s approved exam accommodations.
Can students with disabilities take make-up exams in the Academic Testing Center?
Yes. If the make-up exam has been approved and scheduled in Accommodate by the faculty member. The student will still need to confirm that space is available.
How do I as a faculty member submit an exam for my student to take at the Academic Testing Center?
Log in to the Accommodate system through Disability & Access Services website. A faculty profile has been automatically created for you! Upload the exam to the relevant source (see instructions for exam upload). You will have a chance to specify parameters and provide special instructions.
.docx format is preferred for all exams, but PDF will be accepted. These formats are best for working with assistive technology.
How will the exam be returned to me?
Completed exams will be scanned and uploaded to your Accommodate profile for you to download.
The original paper copies will be held securely in the Academic Testing Center for maximum of one month. It will be delivered through campus mail after the hold period should there be any access issues.
What if either the student or testing center staff have questions during the exam? What if I have clarifying information that needs to be communicated to the student while they are on site?
On the exam submission form, you can indicate how you would like to be contacted during the exam. We also have space in the Academic Testing Center for you or a designee to wait if you’d prefer to have a designee on site during administration.
If you need to contact the testing center during the exam, call us at 617-358-8378.
What happens if a student is caught cheating while taking an exam at the Academic Testing Center?
What will the Academic Testing Center staff do if the student brings exam materials that I (the professor) have not allowed?
We will attempt to contact you to ask for confirmation. If we do not hear back from you immediately, the student will be allowed to take the exam with the use of the extra materials.
Can students who are not approved for exam accommodations through Disability & Access Services take exams at the testing center?
No. Only students that have received approval for a disability exam accommodation from Disability & Access Services are eligible to take exams at the Academic Testing Center.
I can find a less-distracting exam location on my own, but I need someone to proctor it. Can you send proctors to me?
Our Academic Testing Center proctors are scheduled to assist students in the testing center only. Disability & Access Services can help you find proctors at the site you have booked. We ask for three weeks; notice to properly assist you in staffing off-site exams.
Can my students record their answers in a blue book?
No. Blue books tend not to scan properly. We can only administer exams on letter-size (8.5 x 11″) loose-leaf paper. Loose-leaf paper will be provided by the ATC. Instructor should indicate number of sheets to be provided to the student.
What if the exam is on Blackboard, Examplify, or ExamSoft?
Please fill out the exam upload form on Accommodate. On it, please indicate that the exam is on one of these platforms and whether or not a student is allowed to use their own device.
Last updated – January 16, 2025