The Disability Access Office and FAS Registrar’s Office are piloting a testing center for students who are approved for exam accommodations. FAS Faculty have the option of proctoring their own midterms, or using the testing center which is located at the Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH), 59 Shepard Street.
Final exams will continue to be managed by the Exams Office in the FAS Registrar’s Office and are not part of this pilot.
FAS Testing Center Office Hours
Do you have questions about how to schedule your exams? The FAS Testing Center’s virtual drop-in hours take place on Wednesdays from 10AM EST-11AM EST on Zoom.
Student Responsibilities
- Initiate the process by submitting your Accommodation Action Plan at the start of the semester.
- Check with your faculty at the start of the semester whether they plan on using the testing center.
- The FAS Testing Center will provide you with instructions and reminders throughout the semester. You should contact testingcenter@fas.harvard.edu with questions.
- You are responsible for scheduling your exams no less than 3 days before the main exam is scheduled to take place.
How to Schedule Your Exams at the Testing Center
STEP 1: Submit your Accommodation Action Plan
Initiate the process by submitting your Accommodation Action Plan via AIM at the start of the semester. Instructions on how to submit your plan can be found here.
STEP 2: Schedule your exam(s) in AIM
You are responsible for scheduling your exams at the FAS Testing Center at least 3 business days before the main exam. If you do not schedule your exam at least 3 business days before the main exam is scheduled, you may be required to take the exam with the rest of the class and forgo using your accommodations.
IMPORTANT: Every effort is made to ensure students take accommodated exams on the day of the main exam. However, we cannot guarantee that accommodated exams will always happen on the same day as the main exam, and we will work closely with faculty on these details.
IMPORTANT: If you request to take your exam on a different day or time than the classroom exam, the testing center will consult with the course instructor(s) and contact you with any questions or updates. If your request is approved, you will receive a confirmation email.
Instructions for scheduling your timed assessments
STEP 1: Log into AIM
STEP 2: To the left of the page under My Accommodations, click on Alternative Testing.
STEP 3: From the drop-down menu, select the class you want to request an exam for and click Schedule an Exam.
IMPORTANT: If you see an alert instead of a drop down menu that says there are no Testing Agreements, check with your faculty if they plan to use the Testing Center.
STEP 4: Under Request Type, select Quiz or Midterm, then choose the date and time. Choose the exam accommodations you would like to use then click on “Add Exam Request”.
IMPORTANT: You must sit for the exam at the same time the class is taking the exam, unless you have a scheduling conflict due to another class.
STEP 3: FAS Testing Center will review your exam request
If you request to take your exam on a different day or time than the classroom exam, the testing center will consult with the course instructor(s) and contact you with any questions or updates. If your request is approved, you will receive a confirmation email.
Getting to the FAS Testing Center
The testing center is located at the Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH), 59 Shepard Street, lower level. There are several ways to get to the SOCH:
- The SOCH is less than a mile from Harvard Yard and is accessible on foot via Garden Street
- The Harvard Shuttle Services are ADA Accessible and several routes go to the Quad. For real-time Shuttle information, visit the Shuttle Tracker website.
- Bluebikes are available to rent around campus. There are 12 Harvard supported local blue bike stations, and Harvard affiliates are eligible for a discounted Bluebikes Annual Membership.