Frequently Asked Questions

Here you will find commonly asked questions regarding the DRC, determining accommodations, testing, and more. If you do not see your specific question, please feel free to reach out to us at drc@purdue.edu

Accommodations Questions

Determination of academic adjustments and accommodation is the responsibility of the DRC through the interactive process. The DRC is a resource to both instructors and students. When instructors have a question about the appropriateness of an accommodation, they should feel free to contact the DRC. If students feel their accommodations are not being properly implemented or are ineffective, they should contact the DRC.

No. The DRC legally and ethically needs to consider all accommodation requests. The DRC follows best practices and legal guidelines to determine whether accommodations are appropriate and necessary. The DRC informs students of the final decision made about their request. In the case of a denial of a request, the DRC informs the student of what additional information would be needed to reconsider a request.

Students will hear various guidance regarding what “qualifies” as documentation of a disability. The DRC views all forms of documentation as providing useful information. During the interactive process, a DRC access consultant will review any submitted documentation and provide guidance on the need for further documentation. The access consultant is in a position to best guide students on sources and nature of documentation that meets our needs. Documentation is used throughout our decision making process.

As a result of the interactive process that leads to the determination of reasonable accommodations being identified, the Access Consultant issues a Course Accessibility Letter (CAL). The CAL is electronically sent to the Student’s myPurdue tab. The student will open their myPurdue tab, and place a check in the box next to each instructor they want to inform they are going to use accommodations in their course. They then click send, and the system will send an e-mail to that instructor informing them they have a new CAL waiting for their review.

Students can expect their personal information to be kept confidential. Your receiving accommodations does not show-up on your transcript or any place else on campus unless you disclose that information to others, or there is a legitimate need-to-know for someone to do their job. The CAL is the information instructors get and it simply lists your accommodations. The DRC has designed their work, so that it is about your accommodations, not your diagnosis or impairment.

Nothing! Confidentiality is of extreme importance, so you should refrain from discussing any information regarding a student's disability in the presence of other students and/or faculty without the student’s consent. This question usually comes from a sense of “unfair advantage.” Disabled students do not gain an unfair advantage by using accommodations in an exam setting. They are being provided equal access.

Providing equal access is a campus responsibility. The DRC is a resource to the campus community. The accommodated testing space is a service to faculty as the university recognizes faculty have time and space limitations, or some approaches to accommodated testing require technology that faculty do not have readily available to them. As long as the student's required accommodations are met, it is not necessary for the student to take the exam at DRC Testing. There may also be times when the DRC Testing Center is at capacity and may no longer accept exams for a particular date or time. In those cases, faculty are encouraged to allow the student a different testing time and/or date, or to administer the accommodated exam directly with the student. Ultimately, faculty are responsible for administering the exam with the identified accommodations.

What is the faculty's responsibility in providing accommodations to a student who approaches the professor immediately before an exam? +

DRC-registered students are aware of the appropriate procedures for obtaining classroom accommodations. It would be rare for a faculty member to be able to make a modification on the spot. The most common exam accommodations "extra time" or a "reduced distraction testing" typically need to be arranged in advance. Faculty are responsible for implementing accommodations to the best of their ability. Please consult with DRC in any situation where you think you cannot implement an accommodation.

Nothing! Confidentiality is of extreme importance, so you should refrain from discussing any information regarding a student's disability in the presence of other students and/or faculty without the student’s consent. This question usually comes from a sense of “unfair advantage.” Disabled students do not gain an unfair advantage by using accommodations in an exam setting. They are being provided equal access.

If a student with a disability fails to request accommodations in advance of an exam or assignment, do they get another chance? +

No. Accommodations are not retroactive. For example, students who choose to take a test without accommodations do not have a right under the ADA or Section 504 to retake an exam on the premise they did not have accommodations.

No. The DRC legally and ethically needs to consider all accommodation requests. The DRC follows best practices and legal guidelines to determine whether accommodations are appropriate and necessary. The DRC informs the student of the final decision. In the case of a denial of a request, the DRC informs the student of what additional information would be needed to reconsider a request.

Testing Questions

Students are encouraged to contact DRC Testing at 765-496-6168 as soon as possible. Depending on the reason, DRC Testing may be able to reschedule the exam appointment. Rescheduled exams will be done on a case-by-case basis and with approval from the instructor.

You will schedule your final exams the same way you schedule all other exams. The exception will be that only certain start times will be accepted. Communication will be sent to students once final exam scheduling is live as to what those start times are. Note: If you do not select one of the approved start times, DRC Testing will automatically update your start time to the closest approved start time. You will need to check the Online Scheduling System prior to finals week to make sure you have the correct dates and times for all of your exams.

Pending Instructor Approval – The instructor/proxy has received the exam request, but they have not yet approved or rejected it. Students are encouraged to follow up with their instructor to discuss request.

Instructor Approved – The instructor/proxy has approved the exam request, but DRC Testing staff have not yet processed the approval on their end. While the instructor has approved the request, there may be times in which DRC Testing will reject the request (i.e. when at full capacity, wrong start time selected during finals week, etc.).

Instructor Rejected – Instructors/proxies have the ability to reject the date and/or start time of requests. Students will receive an email with the reason for rejection. Students will need to cancel out the rejected request and follow whatever guidance the instructor/proxy provided in said email.

Scheduled – The exam request has officially been approved by all parties and the student is good to go for their requested date and time.

No Show – If a student did not show up for their scheduled exam date/time, they will be marked as a No Show. An email will be sent to the instructor/proxy as well as the student when this occurs.

Cancelled – A request is marked as cancelled whenever a student or DRC Testing Staff cancel out the request. DRC Testing Staff will only cancel a request if they receive permission via email from the student to cancel the request.

Completed – Once the student has completed their exam and it is ready for grading, DRC Testing will mark it as complete. This will generate an email to the instructor/proxy.

Note: It is very important that students DO NOT cancel out any requests that have been marked as complete. By doing so, students put themselves in jeopardy of not receiving a grade for that exam since it will look like they did not take it.

Students are encouraged to submit all of their exam requests using the Online Scheduling System. Only call DRC Testing to schedule an exam request if you are experiencing issues with the Online Scheduling System.

Students are encouraged to schedule their exams for the same date and time as their class as their accommodations allow unless told otherwise by their instructor.

DRC Testing will allow a 15 minute grace period. This means that a student may show up no more than 15 minutes late and still start their exam; however, the student will not receive that time back at the end of their exam.

This would be an accommodation that the student would need to discuss with their access consultant prior to the exam date.

What happens when the University closes for unscheduled reasons (inclement weather, power outage, etc.) and I have a scheduled exam during this closure? +

In the event of a campus closure, DRC Testing will work with the student and instructor to reschedule the exam.

DRC Testing has a distraction-reduced room with 22 seats (8 with computers). There is an additional distraction-reduced room with 6 seats (1 with computer and 1 height adjustable desk). In addition, there are 2 private rooms (both with computers).

A. There are times when DRC Testing will reach full capacity. In the event that this occurs, DRC Testing will work with the student and instructor to find an alternate time that may work. DRC Testing will open overflow rooms (as it is able) throughout the semester. Overflow rooms are primarily used for a 6:30 PM start time and are most often located in Krannert. Students will be notified by DRC Testing if they will be testing in the overflow rooms.

Log in to the DRC Testing Online Scheduling System with BoilerKey. (link to OSS). On the heading Exam Submissions, click “Designate, Edit, Activate, or Permanently Remove a Proxy for a Course (i.e. T.A., Graduate Assistant, etc.)”. Select “Add Proxy” in the drop-down list.Fill out the proxy information.

Instructors do have the ability to reject an exam request. To do so, you will still need to fill out the exam request form in the Online Scheduling System in its entirety. When the form asks “Do you accept this day?” and “Do you accept this time?” select “No” for either question. This will give you the option to type a reason for rejection.

Please note there are some accommodations in which a student may need to take the exam at a different date and/or time as the rest of the class. Before rejecting an exam request, we encourage the instructor to have a conversation with the student about why they requested the date and/or time that they did.

DRC Testing aligns their exam start times with the pre-set University start times. This also allows for a more distraction-reduced check-in experience for the students

Follow the below link for information about editing time allotment for Blackboard exams/quizzes:

You may either hand deliver a hard copy of the exam to YONG 853 or email an attachment of the exam to drctesting@purdue.edu, or via Filelocker to drctesting. If you are hand delivering the exam, please be sure to bring enough copies of the exam for each student who will be taking it.

Call (765) 49-66168 or send an email to drctesting@purdue.edu with the updated information. If you make the updates through the system, there is a chance that DRC Testing Staff will not receive the updates in time.

We have worked closely with the Office of Dean of Students to develop an internal protocol when a student is caught cheating. At the time of the incident, the student’s exam will be terminated and the instructor will be notified as soon as possible of the incident and next steps.

Students have the option of submitting a course accessibility letter (CAL) to their instructor in person or distributing the letter electronically via myPurdue. After instructors receive a notice via their official Purdue email stating when an accessibility letter is ready to be viewed, they can retrieve the letter by following these instructions

The DRC Testing Online Scheduling System allows you to approve multiple exam requests at one time using the Batch Update feature. For more information, watch this instructional video on this feature.

DRC Questions

Students have to self-identify to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and complete the interactive process. Students begin this process by completing the Accommodation Request Form and submitting any appropriate documentation of their disability. DRC staff evaluate all requests on an individual basis and keep the student informed. Lack of documentation should not prevent a student from contacting the DRC for more information.

DRC works with disabled students on an individual basis to ensure they receive their reasonable accommodations. Students determine the frequency of contact they have with the DRC. In an environment that is accessible by design, students may have limited ongoing contact with the DRC. Some common services provided by the DRC include: DRC Testing, Auxiliary Services (e.g., Sign Language coordination, captioning coordination), Alternative Formats (e.g., digital texts, Braille materials), and support for some assistive technology. The DRC also provides strategies, coaching, and referrals to students as appropriate. The DRC provides consultation regarding disability accessibility to faculty and staff. The DRC also provides ongoing educational programming across campus to improve the campus climate.

No. DRC Testing is a resource intended to support faculty in implementing exam accommodations. Faculty are encouraged to accommodate the student within their facility and DRC Testing is available to consult on how to administer accommodated exams. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the faculty member prior to the exam date. As long as the student’s required accommodations are met, it is not necessary for the student to take the exam at DRC Testing. There may also be times when the DRC Testing Center is at capacity and may no longer accept exams for a particular date or time. In those cases, faculty are encouraged to allow the student a different testing time and/or date, or to administer the accommodated exam directly with the student.

Ethics Questions

Why are University instructors required to either allow or provide accommodations to students with disabilities? +

The institution has a legal and ethical obligation to ensure access for students with disabilities. The civil rights laws that pertain to this are: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These laws apply to the school, department, programs and individual faculty, just as they apply to other University programs. These are civil rights laws protecting the rights of students with disabilities, and are interpreted in a manner similar to laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin or other protected characteristics. A refusal to provide appropriate accommodations is considered intentional discrimination.

Yes. The purpose of all accommodations or modifications are to "level the playing field" and provide an equal opportunity. Accommodations on exams are provided so that the examination results accurately reflect the individual's mastery of course instruction rather than reflecting the impact of an individual's impairment.

Contact Us

YONG Room 830
155 S. Grant St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907