Proctoring Options

Proctored Exams Are Not Always Appropriate

There has long been a debate about the efficacy of administering proctored exams. Some parties heavily favor the use of proctored exams, and others do not. No matter your position, there are times when proctored exams are not the optimal solution. This is particularly true during times of emergencies. Not all students have access to internet, computers, or webcams, which make proctored exams impossible when teaching in a remote environment, such as the one created by the global COVID-19 pandemic. On the linked webpage, some possible alternatives to proctored exams are discussed.

If you determine that proctored testing is appropriate for your course, three alternatives are available.

For online courses, if you determine that in-person testing is required, faculty MUST permit students to utilize non-Pellissippi testing centers. Faculty should communicate the testing center requirements outlined in these documents.

Pellissippi State Testing Centers

A Testing Center is located at each of the four Pellissippi campuses. Visit the Testing Center’s webpage for room locations and hours. Instructors need to submit the Standard Exam Authorization Form to allow student to use the centers (link within myPellissippi). You can contact the testing center at testing-L@pstcc.edu

External Testing Centers

In online courses, students not using the Pellissippi Testing Centers may elect to take proctored exams with an instructor-approved proctor. In this case, the student is responsible for obtaining approval of a proctor a minimum of three weeks prior to the first proctored exam. Proctor definitions are specified below. It is the responsibility of the student to make and confirm arrangements for, and administration of, the exam(s) directly with the proctor. The student is also responsible for any fees incurred in the use of a proctoring site.

Approved alternative proctors are limited the following:

Dean, academic department head, professor, extension or correspondence administrator, registrar, or official testing service of an accredited university or college
Employee of a commercial testing center
Corporate education director
Military Education Officers or Commanding Officers (Armed Service personnel only)
Librarian of an academic or public library
Proctors for high school students may be the high school principal, full-time teacher, librarian, or guidance counselor. Students living outside the United States may select a proctor whose position is equivalent to one of those listed above or an administrative official of a U.S. embassy or consulate.
For an incarcerated student, the institution’s education officer, librarian, or chaplain
None of the above can be an immediate relative or significant other of the student

Online Proctoring with Proctorio

The college has contracted with a vendor called Proctorio to provide online proctoring within the Brightspace environment. Online proctoring with Proctorio is available to all faculty. Proctorio is an automated online proctoring service which helps to secure the test-taking environment and allows instructors to enable video proctoring for their online quizzes. This tool is highly configurable and allows any combination of audio recording, video recording, screen recording, and many other features.

Proctorio must be enabled on a per course and a per exam basis – in other words, each time you begin using this tool in a course you’ll need to turn it on in that specific course. Once you’ve done so, you’ll be able to turn it on for each exam within that course as you see fit. We encourage all instructors using Proctorio to set up a practice test in advance of the official exam to ensure test day is smooth and anxiety-free.

Please note: Proctorio only works in Google Chrome

Faculty Support