Assessment & Testing Background

After exploring many two and four year college websites, a few things become apparent.

Few schools find it important to provide access to placement testing information on the college homepage

Placement testing information is found on testing center sites, or linked from first year experience sites, online learning sites, and admissions pages

From an external college website, students are rarely able to fill out a form to register for a placement test

From an external college website, student can rarely find a reference to additional information about placement testing information about the test or the results that may be available behind a student portal. Would improve integration of both websites.

For obvious reasons, schools with open admissions policies have far more placement testing support information than do more selective schools.

The most selective schools seem to provide only minimal information about alternative means of earning credit such as CLEP, credit by exam or credit for life experience etc.

1. As a student I can find information about tests available at this institution

Institution	Penn State University
URL	http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/StudentServices_OnlinePlacementTesting.shtml
Rationale	Online Placement Testing or proctored exams available if student doesn’t have internet access
Contact	No contact information

Institution	Bucks Community College
URL	http://www.bucks.edu/testing/assessment.html
Rationale	Tight integration of placement testing, prior learning assessment, GED testing & online learning
Contact	testing@bucks.edu

2. As a student I can find descriptions of tests

Institution	University of Minnesota
URL	http://www.ofyp.umn.edu/fystudents/beforeor/pt.html
Rationale	Placement test requirements listed by major from Orientation & First Year Experience site
Contact	No information

Institution	Texas Southern University
URL	http://em.tsu.edu/testing/index.php
Rationale	From a single table, students can find out information about each test, get the testing schedule and register for the test online
Contact	eservices@em.tsu.edu

3. As a student I can find testing dates

Institution	Parkland Community College
URL	http://www.parkland.edu/assessment/testdates.htm#emt
Rationale	Well organized standardized testing calendar
Contact	webadmin@parkland.edu

Institution	Tidewater Community College
URL	http://www.tcc.edu/students/admissions/plactest/schedule.htm
Rationale	Visual pleasing, well organized testing calendar for three locations.
Contact	Web Services @ TCC

4. As a student I can find contact information for assessment and testing

Institution	University of North Carolina, Wilmington
URL	http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/staff_nationaltesting.htm
Rationale	Staff Directory includes pictures, primary responsibilities, and contact information
Contact	Maintained by Linda C. Miller (millerl@uncw.edu)

Institution	University of Arkansas
URL	http://www.uark.edu/ua/testing/
Rationale	Testing center website includes MapQuest for convenience
Contact	testsvc@uark.edu

5. As a student I can find registration procedures for tests

Institution	De Anza-Foothill Colleges
URL	http://www.foothill.edu/placement/testdates.html
Rationale	Students can schedule placement test online – Self Scheduler
Contact	Contact Us at customer.support@servicebuzz.com

6. As a student I can find information on test results, interpretation, and implementation

Institution	De Anza-Foothill Colleges
URL	https://registration.fhda.edu/prod/web/default.jsp
Rationale	Students can sign into a secure site to access placement test results
Contact	No contact information

Institution	Community College of Baltimore County
URL	http://www.ccbcmd.edu/deved/deved_policies.html
Rationale	Provides students comprehensive explanation of results including a placement appeals process
Contact	Links to directory rather than one person

Institution	University of Texas, Austin
URL	http://www.utexas.edu/academic/mec/cbe/petitionpage.html
Rationale	Students are provided a link on the external testing site to a sign-in page for student portal where they can find placement test results
Contact	d.tilson@mail.utexas.edu - webmaster

Institution	Cal Poly
URL	http://www.testoffice.calpoly.edu/testscoretranscripts.htm
Rationale	Site provides direct link so students can access test results for several standardized tests – test score transcript
Contact	testing@calpoly.edu

7. As a student I can find policies for test cancellation and no-shows

Institution	University of South Carolina
URL	http://orientation.sc.edu/pt.htm
Rationale	Provides information about how to take placement tests if student misses original testing date
Contact	Columbia, SC 29208 • 803-777-2780 • uscorientation@gwm.sc.edu \| usctesting@gwm.sc.edu

7. As a student I can find policies for retesting

Institution	Community College of Denver
URL	http://www.ccd.edu/main.aspx?CID=100
Rationale	Describe when a student can retest and the cost of taking a placement test for the second time
Contact	Community College of Denver : (303) 556-2600

8. As a student I can find general information about placement testing policies

Institution	University of Washington
URL	http://www.washington.edu/oea/services/testing_center/faq.html
Rationale	Effective use of FAQs to convey general placement testing information
Contact	No information

9. As a student I can find a comprehensive study guide for the placement tests

Institution	Montgomery Community College
URL	http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/AssessCtr/accuplacer.htm
Rationale	Study guides are provided by the testing center, the test producer and the math department
Contact	janet.merrick@montgomerycollege.edu

10. As a student with disabilities I can find out how to receive appropriate accommodations

Institution	Tennessee State University
URL	http://www.tnstate.edu/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=944
Rationale	Link to Disability Support Services with clear process of how to arrange accommodations
Contact	Testing Center Email Inquiry spadget@tnstate.edu

11. As an online student I can find out how to take a proctored test if I am taking a course from a geographically remote location.

Institution	Mesa Community College
URL	http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/students/testing/
Rationale	Posts information about and a link to the Consortium of College Testing Centers
Contact	reely@mail.mc.maricopa.edu

Institution	Virginia Polytechnic State University
URL	http://www.iddl.vt.edu/instructors/proctors/procagree_submit.php http://www.iddl.vt.edu/instructors/proctors/procguide.php http://www.iddl.vt.edu/instructors/proctors/procreq_submit.php
Rationale	Multiple proctoring forms can be filled out online. Site has comprehensive information for student, professor, and proctor.
Contact	iddl@vt.edu