The University Testing Center (UTC) will be closed during Spring Break, March 17th through the 21st, and will reopen at at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24th.
For questions, please contact us at 214-768-6064 or at universitytestingcenter@smu.edu.
All the best for a wonderful break!
The University Testing Center (UTC) is excited to announce its recognition as a recertified testing center by the National College Testing Association (NCTA), valid through March 2030. The center received original certification in 2020 and is one amongst a growing number in the United States and around the world to have completed the process. The recertification will be in place for five years and can be renewed by demonstrating continued compliance to national standards.
SMU’s UTC is the only certified center in Dallas, and one of three in the greater D/FW area, recognized for dedication to test integrity and adherence to NCTA’s best practices in test administration.
The certification is a rigorous, one-year accreditation process granted to those centers whose test administration policies are compliant with testing industry standards developed by the NCTA. Centers are evaluated using criteria from the NCTA’s Professional Standards and Guidelines that focus on the evaluation of the test facility, test integrity methods, test security, confidentiality practices, staff training, and public relations.
The distinction is not only important for the SMU community, but also to others as UTC expands its service offerings that include professional testing for certification and licensure, proctoring for distance learners attending other universities, credit-by-exam, placement testing, and school admission exams.
The National College Testing Association is a non-profit organization of testing professionals working in post-secondary institutions, in companies with test-related products and services, and in other professional testing venues. NCTA was organized in 2000 and currently has more than 2,200 testing professionals from 650 colleges and universities as well as 50 test companies and organizations offering test-related products and services.
The University Testing Center will end testing at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11th so that UTC staff may attend a Student Academic Engagement and Success division meeting.
We will reopen with standard operating hours on Wednesday, February 12th at 8:00 a.m.
Please visit the UTC website or email universitytestingcenter@smu.edu for questions and requests.
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.
Welcome back to campus! It’s hard to believe that the University Testing Center (UTC) has completed its first operation phase since opening in August 2022. We look forward to continuing our specialized testing services for Disability Accommodations and Success Strategies (DASS) students needing accommodated testing and our student-athletes needing early or make-up testing due to travel during the competitive season. Beginning this summer, we’ll expand our services to include standard academic make-up testing, fee-based testing for non-SMU students in the local community, and credit-by-exam testing (CLEP) for some SMU courses.
Testing at the UTC is done by appointment weekdays between 8:30 and 3:30 p.m. with extended hours during final exams. Appointments must be made at least 48 business hours before classroom testing dates using the UTC Portal at www.smu.edu/utcportal.
The UTC Portal’s updated exam submission process allows professors to determine when eligible students can test at the UTC, automatically upload tests by course name and section number, and retrieve completed tests with proctoring documentation. Stop by the UTC in the basement of Clements Hall to tour the facility, meet the staff, and have a one-on-one consultation to make the testing experience easier for you and your students!
Scantron Exam processing at the University Testing Center ends May 10th
The University Testing Center (UTC) scanning and reporting service for exam Scantrons will end after AY 2023-24. A few faculty members use the service as the migration to Canvas continues, as directed by the Office of the Provost. This, along with increasing maintenance costs and staffing needs for new testing services at the UTC, was a deciding factor in ending the service. Official announcements will be sent periodically to faculty users through various channels so they may prepare for alternatives.
Good luck on finals, Mustangs, and congratulations to those graduating!
The University Testing Center will be open for the following hours during the summer.
Following University policy, the University Testing Center will be closed on Good Friday, April 7th. We will resume regular hours on Monday, April 10th. Visit smu.edu/testing for more details.
The University Testing Center welcomes to its team a new Testing Assistant: Yash Guptaa.
Yash will join returning Testing Assistant Matt Swigart in working alongside the Testing Manager and Coordinator to prepare testing rooms, materials, and equipment for test administrations according to individual requirements and accommodation guidelines. Testing Assistants will also proctor online and conventional pen/paper tests.
Yash says, “I enjoy working at the crossroads of travel and strategy. My interests include, but are not limited to, pen sketching, 8 ball, hiking, and stand-up comedy. I have experience as a business developer and budding entrepreneur. The previous few months at SMU have been nothing short of a delightful surprise in making valuable connections, and I eagerly await the next step in my path.”
We are glad to introduce you to the team as we jump into the new semester!
The University Testing Center (UTC) is back open for Spring 2023!
We will be hosting an open house from 2-4pm on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 in our office G15 in the basement of Clements Hall to welcome students and faculty back to campus. Catering will be provided as well as information regarding the policies and practices of the UTC.
Learn more about how the University Testing Center can support you and join us in celebrating the start of a new semester.
Happy 2023!
Following the undergraduate finals exam schedule for Fall 2022, the University Testing Center’s physical location in Clements Hall G15 will be closed for the remainder of December.
Questions and queries can still be sent to us via email or by phone and we will respond as promptly, within 1-3 business days.
Happy Winter Break and best wishes to all of our students!