Testing Accommodations

Students with disabilities may be eligible for accommodations related to the administration of examinations. Testing accommodations are provided for students whose disabilities impact their ability to complete exams under standard conditions in the classroom.

Students must register with Disability Services so staff can determine eligibility for this accommodation.

Courses that do not require professor signatures

Disability Services (DS) works closely with professors of courses that have multiple DS students enrolled to facilitate access to testing accommodations. For these courses:

  • Accommodation letters are not needed. 
  • For timed, virtual exams Disability Services will provide a list of DS registered students and their approved exam accommodations, and the Instructor will arrange for these accommodations to be applied to the online exams and quizzes. 
  • For in-person exams and quizzes, students should download the appropriate Master TARF/QARF below, complete the student section at the top, and return to: [email protected]. 
  • Students are encouraged to confirm the specific arrangements with their faculty at least one week prior to the exam date. 

Please see below for a full list of these courses, as well as the appropriate Master TARFs to submit for each.

Courses that DO require professor signatures

For any course not listed below, students may request accommodations by submitting a completed TARF (for exams) or QARF (for quizzes). All forms due 3 weeks prior to first test/exam date. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. Please note that professors must fill out and sign the Instructor Section.

The Testing Accommodation Request Form (TARF) is available for download.

The Quiz Accommodation Request Form (QARF) is available for download.

Take Home (1+ Day) Exams

Generally, extended time accommodations do not apply to take-home exams spanning 1+ days, but if you believe you need accommodations for a take-home, please email [email protected] immediately with information salient to your need for an extended deadline. Please provide at least 72 hours’ notice so we can work with your coordinator to make a determination and time to arrange with your professor.

General and Organic Chemistry (I and II) Exams and Quizzes

For quizzes in the above courses, rather than submitting a QARF students should email [email protected] to have their quizzes administered by DS. Requests should include the recitation section, and be submitted 3 business days before the first quiz to be taken at DS.

Physics Lecture Courses

Spanish Courses

For the Spanish courses below, DS provides lists of students and accommodations to each professor in advance of their chapter wrap-up exams so that the professor can accommodate students. If your professor plans to administer these quizzes in class and you would like to have them proctored by DS, please email [email protected] at least 3 business days in advance of the next quiz to schedule your proctoring session.

Summer Session A

Check back on Thursday 5/26 for an updated list of Summer Session A Master TARF courses.

Summer Session - Full

Check back on Thursday 5/26 for an updated list of Full Summer Session Master TARF courses.

  • Contact the appropriate graduate liaison at the start of the semester.
  • Disability Services graduate liaisons generally require at least one to two weeks of advance notice to coordinate testing accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Speak with professors to arrange alternate dates or times for exams. If a student is unable to reschedule a conflicting exam, the student should notify Disability Services at [email protected], and staff will make an effort to coordinate alternate exam times.

Students must inform Disability Services prior to an exam that they will be unable to take it due to illness; student must also contact professors to ask for permission to reschedule an exam. Students should be aware that the professor’s make up/missed exam policy may apply. If permission is granted, Disability Services will coordinate an alternate exam date and time per the professor’s instructions.

If a student informs Disability Services during an exam that they cannot continue due to illness, Disability Services will contact the professor to ask whether it is permissible to reschedule the exam. Disability Services may not be permitted to reschedule the exam, and students should consider the professor’s make up/missed exam policy when deciding if they are well enough to complete the exam.

Students taking classes at Barnard should follow the same instructions for scheduling an exam with Columbia by filling out and submitting a TARF with Disability Services at least two weeks in advance of the exam. Disability Services will coordinate administering the exam with the appropriate accommodations.