As of 5:00p.m. on Tuesday, November 5, testing has returned to normal operations following a two-day power outage in Clements Hall.
Test takers with scheduled testing appointments should plan to test at the University Testing Center. They are also encouraged to confirm testing appointment dates and times in the UTC Portal.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the University Testing Center staff at universitytestingcenter@smu.edu.
On Monday, November 4, the university received notice from the Office of Facilities Planning & Management that Clements Hall experienced a power outage. Facilities updated the campus community at 6:41am on November 5 that the building will remain closed today.
All testing appointments on Monday, November 4, and Tuesday, November 5, have been rescheduled due to the Clements Hall electrical outage. Test takers and instructors were notified via their university email addresses and provided with individualized instructions from the University Testing Center staff.
Decisions related to November 6 testing appointments will be made by 4pm on November 5. Please check back for updates.
Classes scheduled in Clements Hall have also been relocated.
Please check the University Testing Center website for up-to-date information regarding testing operations as more information becomes available.
Join us today for a research talk on the Characteristics of U.S. College and University Testing Centers and Patterns of Testing Irregularities conducted by division members.
Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success employees Brittaney Wilson (Office of General Education), Jay Guillory (Office of Student Success and Retention), Melina Padron (Office of General Education), and Dr. Dustin Grabsch (Undergraduate Education and Academic Success) conducted the original, empirical research to benefit SMU’s University Testing Center.
Research Talk: U.S. College and University Testing Centers and Patterns of Testing Irregularities
Texana Room, Fondren Library
Monday, October 7 from 2:30 – 4:00pm
RSVPs encouraged. Walk-ins welcome.
We will share implications for practice and researcher reflections. We will also outline opportunities and discuss how these results and findings will be used at SMU.
Join us for a research talk on the Characteristics of U.S. College and University Testing Centers and Patterns of Testing Irregularities conducted by division members.
Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success employees Brittaney Wilson (Office of General Education), Jay Guillory (Office of Student Success and Retention), Melina Padron (Office of General Education), and Dr. Dustin Grabsch (Undergraduate Education and Academic Success) conducted the original, empirical research to benefit SMU’s University Testing Center.
Research Talk: U.S. College and University Testing Centers and Patterns of Testing Irregularities
Texana Room, Fondren Library
Monday, October 7 from 2:30 – 4:00pm
RSVPs encouraged. Walk-ins welcome.
We will share implications for practice and researcher reflections. We will also outline opportunities and discuss how these results and findings will be used at SMU.
The University Testing Center will end testing at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17th so that UTC staff may attend a Student Academic Engagement and Success division meeting.
We will reopen with standard operating hours on Wednesday, September 18th at 8:00 a.m.
Please visit the UTC website or email universitytestingcenter@smu.edu for questions and requests.
Due to the Friday, September 6th football game in Ford Stadium, the Loyd Center will require early security checks and lockdown. Therefore, all services offered in the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) will be offered as virtual options only. All staff will be remote that day. Tutoring is canceled for the day, but all other services will operate as scheduled. Please check with the individual staff member for the specific modality (ZOOM or TEAMS). Services include the Writing Center, DASS services, and academic counseling. Pony Up and beat BYU!
The Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) Office is inviting all DASS students, new and returning, to visit our office on the first Thursday afternoon of classes.
We’ll have great food, presentations on different topics like the benefits of coaching, a student’s perspective from our Graduate Assistant, answers to questions about how to share accommodation letters with faculty, and a demonstration for returning students on how to submit their Semester Requests.
Faculty and staff are also invited to see our physical space, ask questions about implementing accommodations, and just grab a bite to eat. All DASS staff will be available.
In addition, we need help naming our new DASS mascot. Add your suggestion on the voting board for the otter on our new “Accessibility For All” stickers.
Come see us and say hello!
Location: Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) Room 202R, which is located on the 2nd floor of the Loyd All-Sports Center
Call us with any questions: 214-768-1470
As we embark on our third year of operation, the UTC has news to share related to our phased opening, new policies and recertification.
Year three at the UTC means “phase three” of our opening that launched in August 2022. During phase one, the center began providing accommodated testing services previously proctored by Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS). During phase two in Fall 2023, the UTC expanded testing services to student-athletes during their sport’s competition season and migrated to a new test scheduling and test management software, branded as the UTC Portal.
This summer, the UTC expanded its credit-by-exam program with new CLEP tests (College Level Examination Program) available to 2024-2025 enrollees for credit in select SMU courses. We also partnered with Academic Advising in the delivery of non-credit placement tests in Canvas for enrollment in Chemistry, Math and Second Language courses.
This fall, our phase three services will include limited makeup testing for SMU students; revenue-based testing for non-SMU distance learners attending other institutions, professionals seeking certification and licensure; and new credit by exam testing for other institutions.
The UTC has updated policies for student and instructor users of the UTC Portal for test registration and test submission.
Professor exam submissions must be created at least 5 business days before the testing window. Test documents do not have to be uploaded when creating submissions but must be received at least 2 business days before the testing window.
Student test registrations must be done at least 3 business days before the testing window. Students cannot register for testing at the UTC until exam submissions are posted in the portal. For this reason, we encourage professors to create submissions for the entire semester upon finalization of their course syllabus. Test documents do not have to be uploaded for students to register.
User videos and step-by-step instructions for using the UTC Portal are available for both students and professors on the UTC website. UTC staff members are available for one-on-one consultations by appointment virtually or in person during UTC operating hours, 8:00 – 4:00 p.m. weekdays.
Finally, the UTC will apply for a 5-year recertification by the NCTA in recognition of adherence to the organization’s professional standards for exam integrity. The UTC, due for recertification in March 2025, is one of only three institutions in the D/FW metroplex currently certified by the NCTA.
If you have questions or concerns, we are here to help. Please email us at universitytestingcenter@smu.edu.
Undergraduate Education and Academic Success is an area within the Office of the Provost’s Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success, which oversees a wide range of academic support and engagement office units.
Our 2023 – 2024 offices and initiatives included:
A copy of the annual report is now available for download.
Questions, comments, and feedback can be directed to Dr. Dustin Grabsch (dgrabsch@smu.edu).
The Undergraduate Education and Academic Success area within the Division of Student Academic Engagement and Success will close on Monday, July 1, for a staff retreat.
We encourage our constituents to use our websites or office self-service portals during this time for answers to common questions and requests.
Units include:
We will reopen during standard operating hours on Tuesday, July 2.