EXAMINATION POLICY
The Honor Code is in effect for all examinations.
Procedures:
All students are expected to take exams when scheduled. Any unavoidable absences must be reported to the PA Studies Registrar or the designee prior to examination time or, if in the event of an emergency, as soon as possible. (Please review the Attendance Policy). Any unexcused absence results in a "Failure" for that exam. Arrangements to make up examinations that are missed due to excused absences must be registered in the Office of the PA Studies Registrar on the first day back in class. All examinations must be completed during the specified time limit unless otherwise arranged ahead of time.
An Examination Session is defined as the time period between the start time of a particular exam or set of exams and the time at which all students have completed that exam or set of exams.
Staff and/or faculty may monitor the testing. This monitoring might take the form of electronic monitoring or by physical presence in the examination room. Students observed engaging in possible violation of test administration rules or other forms of irregular behavior will not necessarily be told of the observation at the time of the exam. The student will be notified of any irregularities noted and/or the need for an Honor Council investigation within 3 school days of the incident.
No student may make written notes of or record in any way the contents of the examination.
No personal belongings (including but not limited to: brimmed hats, book bags, handbags, books, notes, study materials, calculators, PDAs, , electronic paging devices, recording or filming devices, radios, iPods/MP3s, headphones, portable storage devices, cellular phones, and food are allowed in the testing room. These items may be placed in your assigned locker for their storage during the examination. Any materials that are, or reasonably appear to be, a reproduction of any examination materials, notes or inappropriate belongings (see above) will be confiscated. Laptop computers will be permitted only when they are to be utilized for the exam itself.
Any student wishing a break during the examination must ask for permission and the break is limited to 5 minutes. Only one student may be out of the examination room at any one time.
Pre-Clinical year examination sessions may include Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Tests, Essay or Short Answer Exams, Practical Exams, Simulated Patient Encounters, Oral Exams and other formats.
Clinical Year Examination Sessions include MCQ Tests, Simulated Patient Encounters and other formats. An Examination Session for MCQ testing is defined as the time period between which the first set of exams is offered and the completion of all rotations. Other Examination Sessions are defined as the time period between the start time of a particular exam and the time at which all students have completed that exam.
Irregular Behavior:
Irregular behavior is any behavior that undermines or threatens the integrity of the examination, whether it occurs before, during or after an exam.
Irregular behavior includes, but is not limited to, having or seeking access to exam materials before the exam, copying answers from someone else or allowing one’s answers to be copied, having study guides or notes present in the exam area, making notes during a computer-based exam administration, copying or reproducing test items, altering or misrepresenting scores, stealing exam materials, possessing unauthorized materials during a computer-based exam (e.g., including, but not limited to, recording devices, photographic materials, reference material, etc.) or other such behavior, overt or perceived, which may cast doubt on the exam results of that or another person. Disruptive behavior is also considered irregular behavior.
The content of the examination and each of its items, is strictly confidential, and any unauthorized retention, possession, copying, distribution, disclosure, , or receipt of any examination question, in whole or in part, by written, electronic, oral or other form of communication, including but not limited to e-mailing, copying or printing of electronic files, and reconstruction through memorization and/or dictation, before, during, or after an examination, is strictly prohibited.
Anyone who has information or evidence that irregular behavior has occurred should submit a written, signed statement to the Chair of the Honor Council detailing the incident, along with copies of any supporting evidence or documentation. Effort should be made to present this material only to the Honor Council to protect the rights of the accused and to allow for a proper investigation of the complaint.
Special Testing Accommodations:
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations that do not jeopardize exam integrity or security for examinees with documented disabilities.
If a student requires special testing accommodations for a documented disability covered under the ADA, the student must indicate that accommodations are needed within a reasonable amount of time prior to the examination.
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies will determine the place for separate testing if this accommodation is necessary to comply with ADA. If a separate room is required, and the room has a window in or around the doorway, the student must sit facing away from the window. At no time can the window be obscured so a proctor cannot see inside the room. Room assignment will be provided to the student just prior to each examination and efforts will be made that it not be the same room for each exam.
Updated 5/08*