Online Exam Proctoring Policy

Policy Statement

NJIT requires that all midterms and final exams be proctored (e.g., monitored by an approved person), regardless of delivery mode. Where possible, the Provost’s Office encourages faculty to use authentic assessment (e.g., projects, presentations, case studies). However, when authentic assessment is not an option during online delivery, NJIT approved proctoring solutions should be used for these online assessments to ensure the academic integrity of the testing process.

Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines for NJIT community members, such as instructors and students, regarding proctoring of online exams. It outlines the parameters for online proctoring, such as when and how it can be used, and by which means it can be applied. The policy provides transparency about the proctoring experience while protecting students' privacy.

Applicability

This policy provides standards for online proctoring implementation that affect both instructors and students. By providing minimum standards for how to apply proctoring solutions for online assessments and listing approved materials students can use during exams (e.g., calculators), instructors will set online exam expectations that foster an environment conducive to maintaining academic integrity. In turn, students will possess the required information for their own preparation and awareness of how the proctoring solution impacts their exam process.

Policy

All courses that require online proctoring for exams must adhere to the following requirements:

Online exams may only be proctored via NJIT sanctioned third-party proctoring solutions/tools, such as Respondus Monitor and LockDown Browser. A full list of NJIT sanctioned proctoring solutions can be found on the IST website.

Video conferencing tools (such as Webex or Zoom) may be used to proctor exams only in the following circumstances: i) via the Respondus Monitor integration; ii) when only the host/cohost (e.g., instructor or teaching assistant) has the ability to view attendee (i.e., student) video (such as using Zoom’s Focus Mode); iii) when conducting a make-up exam in which only one student is present.

Video conferencing tools (such as Webex or Zoom) may not be used to conduct an environment scan when proctoring multiple students at the same time unless environment scan is used as part of the integration with Respondus Monitor or only the host/cohost has the ability to see attendee video.

Any video conferencing tool used must ensure that students are unable to see into each other’s work spaces while conducting the exam.

The course syllabus must include a statement informing students that online proctoring will be used for exams, and which proctoring solution will be administered. This must be present in the course syllabus from the first day of class.

1. Sample syllabus language is provided here.
2. Online proctoring may be used without notice in the course syllabus only in the event of extraordinary circumstances, such as a university transition to remote instruction.

If using online proctoring, the course syllabus must also:
1. State if the proctoring solution will include environment scans and provide information regarding what that entails.
2. Include a statement about any possible fees and costs which are the responsibility of the student.

The NJIT Academic Integrity policy applies equally for all courses, regardless of the mode of instruction. If an instructor suspects a violation, they should follow the same reporting procedures for online exams and face-to-face exams.

Process

Responsible parties for this policy include all instructors administering an online assessment, as well as students taking the online assessment.

Instructors administering an online assessment must provide students with information on the proctoring solution and process in the syllabus on or before the first day of class. In the event of an emergency transition to online instruction for courses that are not normally online, instructors must make students aware of the needed proctoring solution and process.

Students enrolled in a course, regardless of course modality, signifies their agreement to the written proctoring requirements found in the syllabus. If a student with a disability requires an accommodation, then they must send the accommodation request to the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARs).

In the event that a student does not agree to the written proctoring requirements in the syllabus, students may follow the process to file a complaint as written in the Dean of Students Student Complaint policy. In such cases, an alternative solution for proctoring or assessment may be given by the instructor.

Definitions

Authentic Assessment: evaluates if the student can successfully transfer the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to various contexts, scenarios, and situations beyond the classroom. Authentic assessments can include a myriad of assessment techniques including skill labs, experiments, presentations, simulations, role-plays, class/term projects, debates, discussions, etc. (KNILT, 2008).

Automated Proctoring: Proctoring solutions that are not proctored live and in real-time.

With automated proctoring solutions, the students are recorded via their webcams while they take their online exam. After the exam is completed, the proctoring software's Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) will flag any suspicious student behaviors such as, but not limited to: (i) the student moving out of frame, (ii) someone else walking into frame, (iii) the student accessing other resources, (iv) the student talking out loud (or someone speaking off camera). Recordings of flagged students are made available to the instructor for further review. "Automated" proctoring solutions do not require any additional preparation with regard to students having to be scheduled to take the exam.

Environment Scan: A scan of the workspace environment via a device’s camera. Environment scans may vary depending on the proctoring solution used.

Live Proctoring: Proctoring solutions where students are proctored live and in real-time. With live proctoring solutions, the students are proctored under the direct supervision of a live proctor and recorded via the student’s own webcams while they take their online exam. The proctor is capable of making interventions if they notice suspicious behavior during the exam. "Live" proctoring solutions require additional preparation with regard to scheduling students.

Online course: Delivery of instruction in which all course activity can be completed online through the learning management system. There are no required face-to-face sessions but students are expected to follow a week-by-week schedule as outlined in the syllabus. Work is typically done in an asynchronous mode and students can complete the coursework without coming to campus. Note: NJIT policy requires online students registered for a fully online course section must be given the option to take their exam in a completely online format, with appropriate proctoring.

Online proctoring: Proctoring may either be “automated” or “live”. See “Automated Proctoring” and “Live Proctoring” for further details.

Remote instruction: A temporary shift to an alternate instructional delivery mode due to emergency circumstances for instruction that would otherwise be delivered blended, hybrid, or face-to-face (Hodges et al., 2020).

Cross Reference/Links