In anticipation of the upcoming Fall term and the return of students to our campus, we are making plans to reopen the FSU Testing Center in a limited capacity. Careful consideration has been given to operating procedures during COVID-19’s uncertainties, and the health and safety of students and staff has been the guiding factor. When we reopen, we will do so with some important modifications. Please read the information below carefully as we will be unable to accommodate our typical exam load in the Testing Center and have updated our operating procedures accordingly.

Limited Capacity Seating

To protect students and staff and maintain the recommended social distancing, the Testing Center will operate at 25% capacity for the Fall 2020 term. For FSU course exams, this means we are unable to accommodate entire classes. We will offer FSU course exams only to students needing special consideration, at the request of their instructor. Seats will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Exam Development

Because we cannot accommodate all students in a course, bear in mind that separate versions of each exam may need to be developed by the instructor: one for remote students testing in an off-campus testing facility, one for students testing in the main campus Testing Center, and one for students testing via the online proctoring service Honorlock.

Possible Closures

Please be prepared for possible Testing Center closures at any point during the semester. While we will make every effort to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, circumstances could arise where COVID-19 will impact our ability to adequately staff the Testing Center or would require temporary closure of the facility for deep-cleaning. In the event of a closure, we will be unable to offer extended hours or staffing to make up missed exams when we reopen. It will be up to the individual instructor to offer an alternative to in-person proctored testing for affected students.

Social Distancing

We will be following all guidelines for a healthy campus environment as detailed in the FSU Fall 2020 Plan. Students will be seated so that the minimum six feet of social distance is respected. For the safety of students and staff, Plexiglas barriers are being installed at all register stations, and signage and visual cues will be implemented to encourage appropriate distancing between students in waiting areas.

Sanitation

The Testing Center will be cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected according to CDC recommendations using EPA-registered cleaning agents. Hand sanitizer will also be available at check-in and checkout stations. Please note that our typical turn time for seating students will be longer than usual to allow our staff time to disinfect contact surfaces between exam seatings.

Face Coverings

Masks are required for all students, staff, visitors, and vendors in the Testing Center and any adjacent indoor area. Students should be reminded to bring a face covering to any scheduled exam.

Refusal of Services

We are committed to protecting the health and safety of our proctors. Please advise students that the Testing Center will not provide services to any student unwilling to abide by the safety procedures outlined above.

The university will continue to offer online proctoring through Honorlock for students through the 2020-2021 academic year. Because of the inherent limitations of online proctoring, we recommend the use of alternative assessment strategies and low-stakes assessment when possible. When the needs of your course necessitate the use of online proctoring, please consult the Online Proctoring Guide for Honorlock Exams for more information.

We are currently finalizing our opening date, operating hours, and procedures for requesting Fall testing services. That information will be available soon on the odl.fsu.edu/proctored-testing page. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at testing@campus.fsu.edu. We wish everyone a safe and healthy start to this new semester.