Center for Educational Access Opens Testing Center to Accommodate More Students

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – If you build it they will come. This is true of baseball fields and testing centers. 

College should be for everyone, including students who qualify for special accommodations in school under the Americans with Disabilities Act. On the University of Arkansas campus about 1,500 students with some form of disability are registered with the Center for Educational Access, , and roughly 75 percent of those students require exam accommodations.

 “We are seeing a disproportionate increase in the number of students registering with our office,” said Anne Jannarone, director of the Center for Educational Access. “As university enrollment increases our numbers increase more.”

Traditionally it has been difficult for faculty to make the required accommodations based on class sizes, space and staff members needed to help with proctoring tests.

A new space has been created that gives students, faculty and staff the kind of place they need for proctoring exams taken by students who need special physical accommodations. The Center for Educational Access testing center is located on the third level of the Stadium Drive Parking Garage, adjacent to the second level of the Arkansas Union.

“This is a peaceful place, a tranquil place,” Jannarone said. “And it is a consistent place.”

The testing center has room for testing 25-30 students at one time. This is especially helpful for those typically large introductory courses that may have more than 250 students.

 “Accommodating students in the ways they need has long been a struggle, especially with respect to the large, introductory classes in which multiple students might need to be tested outside the standard classroom environment,” said Janine Parry, chair of campus faculty. “Without designated, adequate space, the resulting situation was often less-than-ideal from the perspective of the student, the instructor, or both. This is an enormously important step for all parties in creating a less stressful, fairer, and more secure testing environment.”

In 2009, Perry was a member of the Faculty Senate who saw the need for this center and worked with Jannarone to get some movement toward creating a central location for exam accommodations. Jannarone agrees that having the new center is better for everyone involved.

“We are taking care of students more efficiently with this space,” Jannarone said. “This is creating such a positive rapport with faculty and our office.”

Last school year the Center for Educational Access proctored 800 exams, and this year they are on track to proctor about 2,500. They are accomplishing this in the new space with expanded hourly staff.

Some of the accommodations a student might need include extended time to test or a distraction-reduced environment; some might need a reader, a scribe, or use of assistive software. All of this is available in the new facility.

“We are very excited about bringing an enhanced level of services to our students and support to our faculty,” said Danny Pugh, vice provost for student affairs and dean of students. “The Division of Student Affairs prides itself on the exceptional services we provide the campus. “I am very proud of our resourcefulness in bringing this expansion of services to campus while making best use of existing divisional resources.”

Future enhancements to the center will include a closed-circuit monitoring system, more testing carrels, more computers, and more staff to help proctor exams.

The Center for Educational Access testing center will hold an open house on Monday, Oct. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. Anyone who is interested in learning more and wants to see the space is invited. Refreshments will be served. Call 575-2695, or email ceatest@uark.edu.