Proctoring Services
UNC Greensboro has several proctoring options for instructors to consider. Explore the most common options and review the requirements and best practices when using proctoring services for your class.
Considering Proctoring Options for Your Class
The chart below outlines the top three most-common proctoring options available at UNCG.
| Proctoring Option | Description | Cost to Student | How Exam is Reviewed | Preparation Required by Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Proctoring Lab (UPL) | In-person, close, and constant supervision for computer-based exams for up to 40 students per testing slot. | Free to UNCG students; $15 per 60-minute block for non-UNCG students. | Digital and visual observation in real-time using a trained test proctor and screen-viewing software. | Register your test preference with the UPL at least 2 weeks in advance of the test date. |
| Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor | Respondus Lockdown Browser: Automated program which prevents students from accessing other browser tabs or programs as they take their exam. Respondus Monitor: Must be used with Respondus Lockdown Browser. Records audio and video of students taking their exam and flags events for instructors to review later. | Free to UNCG students. | By Respondus’s automatic software. Recordings are reviewed by instructor. | Instructor activates Respondus in their Canvas course (or in another quiz administration tool, such as Pearson MyLab). |
| Microsoft Teams | Instructors observe students using Team’s video and audio conferencing at the time they take their exam. | Free to UNCG students. | By instructor, in real time. Recordings may be reviewed by instructor if session is recorded. | Set up the Teams session and share link with the class. If it’s a quiz, set availability times to only be during the Teams session. |
Testing Quick Start Guide
You know you want to use proctoring. Great! Here’s a quick to-do for you:
- Include a syllabus statement about proctored exams. The syllabus is intended to list the expectations of the course so students can make preparations to be successful. If a student is required to use a proctoring service, it’s vital to include this information in the syllabus at the start of the course, so that students have time to meet the requirements.
- The UPL has a Canvas page you may download or import into your own Canvas course to inform students of the requirement for proctored exams. From your UNCG Canvas account, select “Commons” in the left-hand navigation menu. In the “Search” field, type the keywords “University Proctoring Lab.” Search results will display a Canvas page titled “Using the University Proctoring Lab for Exams.” Click on the page to view the content, download, or import into your own Canvas course.
- Create the online quiz in Canvas. The test and its questions must be created in advance of proctoring.
- Set up the exam with the proctoring service you’ve chosen.
University Proctoring Lab
- Prior to the start of the term, notify the UPL via proctoring@uncg.edu of your desire to use the UPL as your testing location. Staff will be able to confirm availability.
- Complete the test instructions and details form at least two weeks prior to your testing window.
- Direct your students to schedule their test proctoring appointment using go.uncg.edu/trac (the UPL will provide you with student-facing instructions).
- Once your testing window has closed, you will be notified via email as to which students have taken their exam in the UPL.
Respondus LockDown Browser OR Monitor
- Review the LockDown Browser Knowledge Base.
- Set up LockDown Browser for your quizzes/tests in Canvas.
- Supply students with the UNCG-specific installation link for LockDown Browser.
- Note: if you activate Respondus LockDown Monitor, it is also possible to select the option for “allow for in-person proctoring”, to provide the option to send the student to the University Proctoring Lab instead of web-recording their test from home. Contact the UPL if you would like to use this setting.
Microsoft Teams
- Create a Teams session from within Canvas that is specific to the test.
- In the Canvas quiz, set an access code and quiz availability to match the Teams session you’ve created.
- Instruct your students to join the Teams meeting with camera enabled during testing time.
Preparing Your Students For Proctored Tests
These guidelines will help you prepare students for success:
- Share with students clear reasons why you have chosen proctoring for this exam and any ways this can benefit them.
- To help reduce their anxiety, proactively address their questions. Often students are concerned about intrusion on personal privacy, security of their data, how they can ask questions if they have technical or content-related questions during the exam, how the proctoring service will work, and accessibility.
- Inform students at the start of the semester that the proctoring service will be used on specific assessments so they have time to prepare (i.e., obtain a webcam, set up their home environment, etc.).
- Set up a repeatable, no-score, short practice test. This can help everyone, including you, feel comfortable and identify any potential issues with the proctoring service prior to a high-stakes exam.
- Ask students to log in to the proctoring service before the exam start time to allow for troubleshooting.
- Keep your camera turned on throughout the exam, so that students can see that you’re viewing them.
- Ask students to read the Preparing for your proctored test page, which contains valuable tips to aid their success.
- Inform students that these behaviors will be flagged:
- Anyone else in the room while the exam is in progress, due to the chance of unauthorized assistance (unless disability accommodations are in place).
- Students looking at books or other devices during the exam.
- Any student who appears completely still, as the proctor or service will verify that it is a live test taker and not just an image.
- If using Respondus Lockdown Browser, inform students that they will not be able to print, take screenshots or videos, or open any other tabs or applications when Respondus Lockdown Browser is open.
- If using Microsoft Teams, once cameras are on and mics are muted, give students directions, including the quiz access code. They can’t access the exam without the access code.
Finding Support
Instructor FAQs
The UPL is a clean and quiet testing environment that provides a consistent testing experience with low visual distractions. We also give students scheduling flexibility—they schedule their test appointment at a time that works best for their schedule.
The UPL removes technological barriers that might impede a student’s ability to take a computer-based exam since we provide the computer for students to use.
Many faculty also report that using the UPL for proctoring has given them more flexibility in how they cover course content since they don’t have to give up a class period for testing and can use the time for review.
We generally set up whole-class testing arrangements prior to the start of the term to ensure that the UPL has seating available to meet your testing need. Please email proctoring@uncg.edu with a basic overview of your course testing plan to check our availability.
The next step is to simply complete the UPL’s Proctoring Referral and Instruction form, wherein you’ll tell us your test dates and the rules you would like students to follow when taking exams for your class.
During the Fall and Spring semesters, the UPL is generally open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and one or two Saturdays per month. Specific availability may vary day-to-day based on staffing.
Summer session proctoring is arranged by request, and is generally more limited in nature.
If the University is closed, the UPL is closed. This includes holidays and weather emergencies.
Yes! The UPL has headphones available, which we lend out to students who need them for exams with listening components. You would just need to supply us with the audio files along with the test (.mp4, .mp3 formats supported).
When possible, the UPL team will attempt to resolve the issue through basic troubleshooting processes, including having the student switch machines, log off/back on, etc. We can also contact 6TECH on the student’s behalf to attempt to problem-solve.
If we are not able to resolve the issue, we will ask the student to reschedule and email the instructor for next steps.
Regardless of the outcome, we will document what happened, the time it took to resolve the issue, and steps taken, and supply that information to the instructor.
The UPL works closely with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) to support students with disabilities. In our primary proctoring space in Forney 114, we can typically accommodate the following:
- Extended time
- Distraction-reduced environment
- Wheelchair accessible building and room
- Use of screen magnification software
- Use of height-adjustable table
- Use of white noise / music or noise-cancelling headphones
- Fidget toys while testing
- Word processing for paper-based essay exams
- Breaks, and/or food/drink, when needed
For students who require specialized software, private room testing environments, and/or test times longer than we can accommodate, we will assist the student with scheduling at OARS directly.
Yes! We would gladly provide proctoring for students who need makeup exams! Please complete the UPL’s Proctoring Instructions and Referral form with the testing details and we’ll reach out to schedule the student’s appointment.
UNCG Policies Related to Testing
UNC Greensboro Academic Integrity Policy
Canvas Use Policy
Learning Management System Use Policy
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) at UNCG
Information Security
Distance & Online Learning Guide
Online Sections and Online Programs Policy
Statement on Final Course Examinations from University Registrar’s Office
Alternative Options Beyond Proctoring
Emerging research examines whether digital proctoring can result in added layers of anxiety for students, which can then affect their test-taking performance (Woldeab & Brothen, 2019; Kolski & Weible, 2018; Woldeab, Lindsay, & Brothen, 2017). Certain digital proctoring services and tools cost students per exam, which can become a financial burden. Some institutions are embroiled in lawsuits over potential privacy concerns related to online proctoring (McKenzie, 2021). Other institutions and professors are reconsidering whether the benefits of proctoring software are worth the unintended consequences to students (Flaherty, 2020). UNC Greensboro student perspectives express many of these same concerns, as reflected in student interviews in the News section of this site.
You can consider other rigorous assessment options that may not require proctoring and may even result in improved learning outcomes. Here are specific suggestions for reimagining traditional assessments.
For presentations, websites, and other digital projects, the UNCG Libraries’ Digital Media Commons (DMC) is available to help you brainstorm assessments and help students plan and create their multimedia assessments.
The University Teaching & Learning Commons (UTLC) and/or ITS-Learning Technology can review your syllabus and Canvas setup as well as provide feedback and suggestions.