Extended Studies, University of Nevada, Reno

Examinations

General information
Because of the nature of Independent Learning, examination grades are essential factors in determining the final course grade. All examinations are mandatory and must be taken in supervised/proctored situations. Students who fail to complete all course examinations will not receive credit.

If you live within a reasonable distance of the University of Nevada, Reno, you must take the examination under the direct supervision of the University’s independent learning staff. Contact our office one week in advance of your desired test date to schedule an appointment at the Independent Learning office at 1041 N. Virginia Street, on the University campus. If you are in a semester-based course, contact us at least two weeks in advance, as space is limited. The Independent Learning office is open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday for testing. Testing is also available on a limited basis with two weeks’ advance notice at the Redfield Campus in south Reno, 18600 Wedge Parkway. Please call Independent Learning at (775) 784-4652 for more information.

If you live outside the Reno, Nevada area, you may take the examinations under the supervision of an approved proctor. Approved proctors are: (1) principal or vice principal of a public or private school; (2) superintendent of schools of a public school district (or his or her designee); (3) counseling and testing office director at a university or community college; (4) head librarian of a public library; (5) for members of the armed forces, the education officer at a military base; (6) high school counselors, allowed for high school examinations only. Students are responsible for locating their own proctors.

Please note: Rigorous testing policies and procedures required of an accredited university make it mandatory that we accept only those proctors who fall within the categories previously listed. Family members and coworkers are never acceptable proctors, regardless of their positions, and the test must always be administered in an educational setting.

If you live outside the United States, you will need to include a memo on your proctor’s letterhead, indicating his/her title/position and willingness to proctor your exam when you submit your test request form. To speed the process, please include your proctor’s complete daytime/office phone and fax number (country code, city code and number) and an e-mail address whenever possible. We also ask that your proctor and anyone answering his/her office phone speak and understand English so that we may complete the proctoring approval process, and to ensure that he/she understands our procedures. Please allow three weeks for delivery of exams outside the continental United States.

If you are not going to take your test at the Independent Learning office, complete the special request form included in the course syllabus (or online) and mail, e-mail or fax it to the Independent Learning office two weeks prior to your exam date.

If you have not allowed ample time for your exam to be mailed, you may request that it be sent express mail (FedEx or UPS); an additional handling fee of $30 is assessed for each exam in addition to the cost of express mail, which can range from $21.50 to $50 or more, depending on current rates. Please note that even if you request and pay for your exam to be sent by priority mail, it will still be processed in the order in which it was received.

If your planning has not provided the instructor with 10 working days to correct your final exam and you are on a deadline that requires the test be graded more quickly, you will be charged a test fee of $25 to expedite the grading of the exam. Payment of the $25 fee does not guarantee that your exam results will meet your deadline.

Type of examination
You will find that the topics to be covered by examinations and the types of examinations to be given are described in the introductory material in each course syllabus.

Identification
When you arrive at your test site, you must present picture and signature identification before the test will be administered. A driver’s license or student body card with a picture are both acceptable.

"Incompletes" on previous lessons
Please note that an exam cannot be taken if a student has a grade of “incomplete (INC)” on any of the previous lessons. Students must resubmit INC lessons for a satisfactory grade before submitting another lesson or taking a test. A maximum of one resubmission is allowed, beyond which the grade automatically reverts to “F.” Blank lessons will not be accepted. Students failing to complete all required lessons will not receive credit for the course.

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