To take a World Campus exam, you must have it administered by a qualified proctor. Written proctor verification is required by Penn State to ensure the academic integrity and credibility of its programs and to maintain accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
For security reasons, we cannot e-mail or fax exams.
Students Living Near Penn State's University Park Campus
You have the option of scheduling exams through our office. Please contact us at least 2 weeks in advance to make an appointment. While we can't guarantee proctor availability, we will always provide alternate proctoring options. Occasionally, due to circumstances beyond our control, exams may be canceled with no prior notice.
Students Living Near Another Penn State Campus
Contact us for information about campus proctors. Your next step is to contact the proctor for exam times and locations. You also have the option of asking any Penn State faculty member or approved adjunct faculty member to proctor for you. If a Penn State faculty member or educational administrator designates another person in education as your proctor, the Penn State representative must submit the designation to us in writing.
Pennsylvania residents can also ask a high school superintendent, supervising principal, principal, or an Intermediate Unit administrator (whose name appears in the Education Directory of the Pennsylvania Department of Education) to proctor. Please note that only superintendents, principals, and Intermediate Unit administrators are listed in the directory.
Securing a Suitable Proctor
If you live outside Pennsylvania or live within the Commonwealth but not near a Penn State campus, you will need to arrange to have your exam(s) supervised by a qualified and approved proctor. A
Proctor Information Form must be completed and submitted for review for this purpose. Verification of your proctor's position must accompany the form. Concurrently, you are required to submit a Request for Examination form, which you will find in your course in
ANGEL. Please note that the approval for a proctor is valid for two years.
The World Campus is committed to maintaining academic integrity in all of the courses it offers, including the exams that are a common part of courses. The World Campus, the academic unit that is the home of each course, the course instructor, and the exam proctor take academic integrity matters seriously.
The proctor is responsible for maintaining the academic integrity of the exam process on behalf of Penn State. If the proctor believes the academic integrity of the exam process has been compromised, he/she has the right to stop the exam. Whether or not the proctor stops the exam, he/she will report the incident to the World Campus and will share the information with the instructor of the course, who will decide on the appropriate action, consistent with the University's policy on academic integrity.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity—scholarship free of fraud and deception—is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade or referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
- cheating
- plagiarism
- fabrication of information or citations
- facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others
- unauthorized prior possession of examinations
- submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval
- tampering with the academic work of other students
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, Penn State's policy on academic integrity requires that the instructor give the student notice of the charge as well as the recommended sanction. Procedures allow the student to accept or contest the charge through discussions with the instructor. If a student chooses to contest, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information students receive upon enrolling in a course. For that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us.
Additionally, students enrolled at Penn State through the World Campus are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for self and others, and a civil community.
For more information on academic integrity at Penn State, please see the Academic Integrity chart for specific college contact information, or visit one of the following URLs:
http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/G-9.html
http://www.sa.psu.edu/ja/
Requirement for Serving as a Proctor
NOTE: A student's friends or relatives are not permitted to proctor exams, as this would in principle not be consistent with academic integrity.
Acceptable persons to act as proctors are:
- A full-time member of the teaching faculty or an educational administrator at any regionally accredited institution of higher education. Submit a photocopy of the front cover of the institution's directory or catalog and the page that lists the proctor's name and title.
- A full-time, state-certified elementary or high school teacher, or school librarian. Submit a letter on official letterhead from the person's principal or superintendent verifying his or her position. A photocopy of a teacher's certification is not sufficient.
- Any educational administrator who holds a position similar to high school superintendent, supervising principal, principal, or Intermediate Unit administrator (whose name appears in the institution's directory or catalog). Submit a page from the directory or catalog showing the proctor's title as well as the institution's name. Important: A currently employed teacher may not request a fellow teacher as proctor. A superintendent or principal from the same school district is acceptable.
- A public librarian who holds a library science degree. Submit a letter written by this person's supervisor on official letterhead of the library system in which he/she is employed. The letter must include verification of the proctor's employment, highest degree earned, and job title.
- A corporate staff member who holds a higher rank than the student in the corporation where the student is employed. The proctor's supervisor must submit a letter on official corporate letterhead verifying that the individual is employed at the company and listing his/her title and position. A photocopy of the proctor's ID (including his/her signature) must be included.
- An individual who is an active member of the clergy. Submit a letter on official letterhead from the person's administrative governing unit verifying the individual's employment and listing his/her title and position. A photocopy of the proctor's ID (including his/her signature) must be included.
- A government employee of higher rank than the student. The proctor's supervisor must submit a letter on official government agency letterhead verifying the individual's employment/service and listing his/her title and position. A photocopy of the proctor's ID (including his/her signature) must be included.
- For personnel of the armed forces: any commissioned officer of higher rank than the student; a base commander; a noncommissioned officer in command of a military post; an education officer; or a base librarian. Submit a letter on official letterhead from the base commander (or an authorized representative) verifying the proctor's position.
- For incarcerated students: the education officer, librarian, or chaplain of the facility. Submit a letter written by this person's supervisor or the facility's superintendent on letterhead from the prison system in which he or she is employed.
- For a 5000-series unit level of a noncredit course for industrial training: the employee's immediate supervisor, foreman, manager, or company educational manager. Submit a letter on company letterhead from the company's president (or an authorized representative) verifying the proctor's position.
- Students enrolled at Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey can make arrangements through Thomas Edison State College by calling 609-984-1181 between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. EST.
Arranging for a Proctored Exam
You will need to secure a proctor in order to take exams. A proctor will not automatically be assigned to you; rather, you must make the necessary contacts to secure a professional who will serve in this capacity.
- Contact a person who meets the qualifications and ask him or her to proctor your exam.
- Student Services must approve your proctor before any exams can be taken. Please see instructions for securing a suitable proctor. While many proctors will serve on a voluntary basis, you are responsible for paying any expenses incurred in retaining a proctor.
- You must complete a Proctor Information Form and submit the completed form with the proctor verification documentation.
- If your proctor does not meet the required specifications, Student Services will notify you within 5 to 7 business days.
- You will need to complete an Exam Request Form for each exam. Contact your proctor to confirm the date, time, and location of your exam(s). Complete the form 3 weeks prior to your scheduled exam to allow for processing the request. If you are located outside the United States or you are a graduating senior, please plan to request your exam earlier than 3 weeks prior to the exam week.
- Contact Student Services if you cannot take a scheduled exam.
- If you have not taken your exam on the scheduled date, your proctor is required to contact Student Services.
