
Testing Services Center
The ADS Testing Center serves both students and faculty by providing a welcoming environment for students to utilize their approved ADS testing accommodations when they cannot be implemented in the classroom. The center provides access to a variety of accommodations, such as extended test time, reduced distraction spaces, and access to assistive technologies, including reading and writing software.
ADS Testing Center staff are dedicated to supporting students and maintaining the academic integrity of the exams and quizzes provided by faculty. A team of trained proctors actively monitor the testing environment using camera systems and LanSchool software, to ensure exam security and address all student needs promptly.
The facility features 34 computer stations with privacy partitions and utilizes white noise machines, noise-canceling headphones, and earplugs to provide a reduced distraction testing environment.
Using the Testing Center
The collaboration and communication between students and faculty is essential for the effective and timely coordination of exams and quizzes. The Testing Center relies on student and faculty use of Accommodate to streamline the scheduling and coordination of exams and quizzes.
Student Responsibilities
Prior to Test Day
- Before scheduling their exams, students must share their letter of accommodation with their faculty and work with them to determine if their testing accommodations can be implemented in the classroom or if they will utilize the Testing Center.
- Students are expected to submit their Testing Center requests through Accommodate
at least three (3) business days in advance of the test date.
- Students may begin scheduling future quizzes and exams for the semester as early as the first day of class.
- Approval of requests made less than 3 business days in advance is not guaranteed and relies on the faculty’s ability to provide the exam and proctoring instructions in the time-frame provided.
- Students can review the Accommodate Tutorial for help with submitting Testing Center requests.
On Test Day
- Students should arrive at the Testing Services Center 10 minutes prior to their scheduled
appointment.
- If a student is going to be more than 15 minutes late for their appointment, students should contact the ADS Testing Center.
- Students should notify ADS Testing Center staff and their faculty if they are not able to attend their appointment.
- Students are responsible for bringing all necessary testing materials to their appointment.
- All personal belongings, aside from approved test materials, must be secured in the lockers outside of the Testing Center.
- It is recommended that students wear layers to their testing appointment as the temperature of the center varies depending on the season.
- Proctors and Testing Center staff are available to assist with technical difficulties and provide additional support as needed.
Expectations
- Students are responsible for scheduling their appointments for a time that does not overlap with other classes. ADS Staff cannot provide late notes or excused absences.
- All test sessions are proctored and recorded. If issues regarding test integrity are suspected, students will be informed and professors will be notified.
- Only materials approved by the professor will be permitted in the Testing Center.
- The following items are not permitted unless they are approved as an accommodation: cellphones, smart watches, other electronic devices, and food.
- Beverages are permitted if they are in a sealed container.
- Tobacco products such as cigarettes, vapes, and chewing tobacco are never permitted in the Testing Center.
Faculty Responsibilities
Prior to Test Day
- Faculty will receive an email notification with a student’s name and requested test date/time, prompting them to log in to Accommodate to approve or deny the request.
- If denying a request, faculty should select “No” in Accommodate and provide a reason (e.g., incorrect date/time, no exam scheduled). Students are expected to submit test requests at least three (3) business days in advance. Late requests may be accommodated if the professor can provide the exam and instructions in time. If not, please notify the ADS Testing Center and student as soon as possible.
- Faculty are expected to provide their contact information so they can be reached during a student's scheduled appointment to address any issues with the exam or student questions.
- Students are expected to take exams at the scheduled class time. Exceptions may be made if a student's testing accommodations conflict with another class or if the exam falls outside the ADS Testing Center's hours.
On Test Day
- Completed exams are typically returned within 2 business days via the faculty's selected return method. For department deliveries, a staff member must be present to accept the exam. If no one is available to sign for delivery, the exam will be returned to the Testing Center and delivered during the next scheduled shift.
Expectations
- Approvals and exam uploads are expected to be completed at least 24 hours before the test appointment.
- Faculty can approve requests in Accommodate by submitting approval details and uploading the exam. Exams may be uploaded later, but approval information should be submitted as soon as possible. Detailed instructions, can be found on the ADS Faculty Resources page.
- Faculty must answer all questions on the approval form, even for online exams in which there is no exam to upload. Passwords can be provided in the comment section within Accommodate. For support with providing extended time on Blackboard, please refer to .
Students and faculty can access the Accommodate Portal via the link below.
Final Exams at the Testing Center
Finals FAQs for Students
What are the Testing Center hours during finals?
During the final exam period, the ADS Testing Center is open 8 am–7 pm on Monday-Friday and on Saturday for specific common exams (schedule to be announced).
What times can I schedule my exam?
The ADS Testing Center follows Towson’s final exam schedule. Exams must be scheduled at one of the following times: 8 am, 10:15 am, 12:30 pm, or 3 pm.
When can I begin scheduling my final exams?
Students will receive an email approximately one month before the start of the final exam period with instructions for scheduling their exams through Accommodate. Exams must be scheduled at least 5 business days before the exam date.
Who do I contact for help scheduling?
Email adstesting AT_TOWSON or call 410-704-2304.
When can I check in for my exam?
Final exam check-in begins 15 minutes before the exam start time. Students are expected to arrive at their testing appointment early and to check in with staff before placing personal items in the lockers.
Where will I take my exam?
Final exams are taken in the ADS Testing Center (Cook 321) or a remote space in Cook Library. Remote spaces are other rooms in the library that emulate the Testing Center through the use of white noise machines, clocks, earplugs, privacy shields, and ADS proctors to monitor and assist testers throughout the exam. Due to the volume of testers during finals, seats in the ADS Testing Center are reserved for typed/online exams or technology-based accommodations that cannot be provided in a remote space.
What should I bring to my final exam?
Students are responsible for bringing all necessary exam materials to their testing appointment: pen/pencil, calculator, Scantron, and any other approved materials. Please communicate with your professor before your exam appointment to identify the materials provided and the materials you are required to bring. Students will be permitted to utilize their phones to log in to online exams that require Duo Multi-Factor Authentication before storing them in a designated location in the Testing Center.
When will my completed exam be returned to my professor?
Exams are typically returned within 24 hours of completion, depending on the method of return selected by the professor (deliver to department, scan/email, pick up at the Testing Center).
Finals FAQs for Faculty
When should I approve final exam requests?
Due to the large volume of individual exams the Testing Center coordinates during the final exam period, faculty are encouraged to provide the approval and exam details as soon as possible.
My exam is online, so I don’t have anything to upload. Do I still need to log into Accommodate and submit an approval?
Yes. Faculty must still log in to Accommodate to approve the requested date/time and provide important details about administering the exam, such as permitted materials, the exam platform, exam password, etc. As a reminder, if a student is approved for extended testing time, breaks during exams, or is permitted to take the exam at a different date/time than the rest of the class, faculty should make these adjustments in the online exam platform in advance of their testing appointment.
How do I deny the student's requested date and time?
On the Accommodate approval form, select “No” and provide a reason for the denial under the question: “Do you approve the day and time the student has provided for this test?” Testing Center staff will cancel the request and direct the student to contact you.
How do I make changes to an exam or approval that has already been submitted?
Please do not upload a new version of the exam without contacting the ADS Testing Center. Faculty may email the updated exam and any additional information directly to the Testing Center (adstesting AT_TOWSON).
When will the completed exams be returned?
Testing Center staff work diligently to return completed exams based on the faculty’s selected return method within 24 hours. Please note that the Testing Center completes multiple department delivery shifts each day of final exams. If there is no staff member available in the department to accept and sign off on the exam, it will be returned to the ADS Testing Center, and another delivery attempt will be made at the next shift.
Contact Information
Testing Services Center
Room 321 (Map)
Fall and Spring:
Mon to Thurs 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Fri 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Winter Minimester and Summer:
Mon to Thurs 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fri 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Final Exams Period Extended Hours:
8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Week Days)
Saturday Hours Vary for Common Exams