A proctor is a qualified and Wayland approved person that monitors a student during their exam. They will check your ID before testing and ensure that all instructions given to them for the exam are followed. They must be present during every part of the exam.

Students are responsible for securing the services of a suitable proctor according to the requirements listed below. Proctor approval should be obtained at least one week in advance of your test time. The proctor must be approved before exam information can be sent. Tests are not sent to proctors, instead they will receive a user name and password to access our proctor site on Blackboard.

Please make sure that your proctor is able to administer tests online, using a computer with reliable access to the internet. If he/she is not, you will need to find another proctor unless your instructor has provided a paper version of the test.

Once a proctor is approved, he or she may continue administering tests throughout the semester without re-approval. A Proctor Request must be submitted each new term the proctor is used so that they receive updated information. Using the same name and email address for the proctor on the request will help ensure that it is auto-approved.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the WBUonline office at (806) 291-3740.

Some online courses require a proctor for exams such as midterms and finals. A few courses that may require a proctor are Religion, Math, Biology, Geology and Comprehensive Exams. To see if your class will require a proctored exam please check your syllabus or the Virtual Campus Term Schedule page:

http://www.wbu.edu/academics/online_programs/schedules/schedule.asp

Proctors are:

1. qualified people who meet specific criteria
2. the Remote Proctor Now (RPNow) testing service (if you choose this please skip down to the RPNow information)

The criteria established for proctor approval are:

1. knowledge of and experience in the administration of examinations
2. current employment on a full-time basis with professional reputation that would be severely tarnished if improprieties were discovered

Based on the criteria above, acceptable proctors are:

1. Wayland Staff, Faculty, and Directors (no request form needed)
2. librarians holding the Master of Library Sciences distinction
3. authorized employees at U.S. Military Education centers
4. authorized employees at university/college testing facilities
5. faculty member of a university or college

Exceptions to the above will not be favorably considered.

In no case will relatives, friends, neighbors, or other students be approved. Persons who are employed by the same company/organization as the student will also not be approved. Anyone lacking a suitable testing environment will not be approved. Persons without a valid work affiliated email address and telephone number will also not be approved.

You may not be your own proctor.

Finding a proctor is easier than you think. Wayland has options for students all over the world. In most cases a Proctor Request will need to be submitted. For more information on finding a proctor, click on the statement below that best describes you:

Once a proctor is approved, he or she may continue administering tests throughout the semester without re-approval. A Proctor Request must be submitted each new term the proctor is used to ensure they receive updated information. Using the same name and email address on the request will ensure that it is auto-approved.

A Proctor Request allows our staff to ensure that the person you chose as proctor meets the qualifications required to perform the service. It also sets up a line of communication with the proctor so that we may send them the information needed to proctor your exam.

How the process works:

1. The student finds a suitable proctor using the guidelines and qualifications on this page.
2. The student submits a Proctor Approval Request Form (bottom of the page). An email with a link to the request is sent to the proctor in question.
3. The proctor fills out their portion and submits the request for approval. An email is sent to the Virtual Campus for review.

Approved – The student and proctor receive a notification of approval by email. The proctor is then sent instructions by email to retrieve exam information.

Denied – The student and proctor receive a notification of denial and the reason for the decision by email. The student must then submit a new request for a qualified proctor.

Once you submit your Proctor Request, an email with a link to the request is sent to the proctor in question. The proctor fills out their portion and submits the request for approval. An email is then sent to the Virtual Campus for review.

If you have not received a response from the Virtual Campus regarding your request within two days of submitting it, please contact your proctor to verify they have received the request, filled in their portion, and submitted it for approval. If they have not received the request, please call the Virtual Campus office at (806) 291-3740 and ask to have the request resent.

Upon approval, your proctor will receive instructions to retrieve your exam password by email. You will need to contact your proctor to set up a time to test. When scheduling your exam, please inform your proctor of the following: course name (ex. RLGN1302, MATH1304, etc.), instructor name, and exam name (ex. midterm, final, exam 3, etc.).

On the day of your test you will need to bring a photo ID with you to the testing site. You may also need to bring lecture notes, pens/pencils, an approved calculator (cell phone/tablet calculators are never approved), and scratch paper if instructed to do so by your professor.

You may not bring a cell phone, purse/bag/backpack, unauthorized paper, notes, or books with you into the testing room. Any unauthorized items may be left in a secure area the proctor designates.

When you arrive to the testing site your proctor will check your ID and have you sit at a computer (for paper exams, see below). You will log into your account on Blackboard, navigate to your exam, and read the instructions. When you are ready to begin, your proctor will then enter the password for the exam. When done testing, alert the proctor and log out of Blackboard. You may view test results before you log out if they are available.

If you are taking a paper exam you may need to have lecture notes verified prior to taking the exam. These notes must stay with the proctor while you take your test. Please write legibly and with a heavy hand so that your writing will be readable by your instructor after it has been scanned into the computer.

If your proctor was denied, please review the reason given in the denial email and then the qualifications for proctor on this page. Choose another proctor and submit a new request. If you wish, you may contact the Virtual Campus and provide more detailed information that could clarify your request and change the outcome. The Virtual Campus reserves the right to uphold the denial if we feel the proctor is not suitable.

RPNow (Remote Proctor Now) from Software Secure is an on-demand, easy to use, low cost alternative to testing centers, personal proctors, and other inconvenient methods of securing the online testing environment. Students can take tests at their convenience, in the comfort of their own homes, using their computer and a webcam. No student set-up required, no scheduling, no pre-purchase, no new hardware or software. Simply log in and test with integrity in 4 easy steps and in 3 minutes or less!

RPNow costs $15 per two hour test.

It’s an easy 4 step process:

1. Access RPNow through Blackboard from the My WBU page (Blackboard's homepage) by clicking the Remote Procotor Now link under Tools.
2. Click Play Video for a short tutorial of how the RPNow services works.
   
3. Click Download Software to get started.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Watch the video here.

All you need to get up and running with RPNow is the equipment you would normally need to take your online classes:

• a PC or a Mac
• a webcam, either external or the one built into your computer
• an internet connection
• See more here.
  

Students are responsible for any fees associated with proctoring services.

Email your instructor to request to have your exam proctored with RPNow.

RPNow costs $15 per two hour test.