New Law Aims to Validate Online Learning
The higher-education law signed by President Bush last month demands that colleges authenticate test takers in online courses through the use of sophisticated identification technology or with exam proctors. Some high-ed officials believe the law will help lend greater credibility to online learning.

To receive credit for distance learning courses delivered either synchronously or asynchronously, students may be required to take proctored or non-proctored examinations.

In the course of obtaining university credit, students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy described in the Oklahoma State University catalog. For more information regarding the academic policy, please contact the OSU Office of Academic Affairs.

Non-Proctored Examinations

Non-proctored or take-home exams are permitted at the discretion of the instructor. Non-proctored exams enable students to take the exam at a location and time of their convenience within the bounds of a specific postmark date or other specified time frame. Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Academic Integrity policy described in the University catalog.

Plan to take the exam during the time frame designated by the instructor. This time frame will be announced in the class materials.

The exam must be completed and submitted per instructor's instructions. Example: placed in drop box of Online Classrom, faxed, etc.

Proctored Examinations

A proctored exam is a supervised exam. Only testing centers can administer exams. Students are responsible for arranging a testing center within 30 miles of their current location to oversee the exam process. Students in courses that require proctored exams must submit a  Testing Center Proctor Agreement Form before the beginning of each semester. Prior to any testing, all proctors must be approved by the Distance Learning Office in Spears School of Business Center for Executive and Professional Development.

Students must also submit the online Student Information Form: Graduate / Undergraduate. In circumstances where a testing center cannot be located within 30 miles of the student’s current location, an individual may serve as a proctor. Students must contact the distance learning office to receive special permission to use an individual as a proctor and fill out an Individual Proctor Agreement Form. "A proctor may be an upper level manager, school administrator, human resources or training employee, counselor, certified librarian, teacher or a minister of an established church, synagogue or mosque. Relatives or friends, no matter what their position, may not serve as a proctor. Persons currently enrolled in OSU courses or seeking a degree from OSU may not proctor other OSU students."

All associated charges will be the responsibility of the student.

The  Testing Center Proctor Agreement Form, should include the testing center, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of the contact person.

The Center for Executive and Professional Development Distance Learning Office will e-mail exams to the testing center as soon as they are made available by the professor. The student and proctor must set up a time for the exam.

NOTE: regarding proctor e-mail accounts: The business Distance Learning Office will not accept e-mail accounts such as Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, or Hotmail. A proctor's e-mail must be a legitimate business e-mail account.

Students should plan to take exams within the time allowed per the directions of the instructor indicated on the cover sheet of the exam if applicable. The proctor will receive instructions as well.

Exams should be taken with a #2 pencil or black pen. If other instruments are used, the fax will not be legible and may cause a delay in deadline.

Upon a student’s completing the exam and returning it to the proctor, the proctor should make a photocopy of the completed exam and return the original to the Center for Executive and Professional Development Distance Learning Office. Upon notification from the student that the exam has reached the Distance Learning Office, the copy can be destroyed. Students can view the Homework/Exams Logs to see the date their exam was received. Postage costs are the responsibility of the student. The Distance Learning Office recommends mailing exams by UPS or FedEx for timely delivery to meet instructor deadlines. See the Exam Procedures page for return options and addresses.

NOTE: If a student is not able to take the exam at the designated time, special arrangements need to be approved by the instructor. The Center for Executive and Professional Development cannot approve any requests for examination procedures that do not coincide with those set by the instructor. The instructor reserves the right to refuse a make-up exam, assign an alternative exam, or not accept exams that are turned in late.

*Oklahoma State University and the Spears School of Business reserve the right to update and make appropriate changes to policies as needed.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity through the following actions:

• Understand and uphold the academic integrity guidelines established by the university and the instructor.
• Present their own work for evaluation by their instructors.
• Appropriately cite the words and ideas of others.
• Protect their work from misuse.
• Accept responsibility for their own actions.
• Treat instructors and members of the Academic Integrity Panel with respect when violations of academic integrity are examined or appealed.
• Trust instructors and members of the Academic Integrity Panel to enforce the academic integrity policy and procedures.

More details on OSU’s Academic Integrity policy.

For more information, e-mail us at cepd-dl@okstate.edu.