Proctor Criteria
Taken from the UNC Online Proctor Licensing Agreement.
Members of the University of North Carolina Online Proctoring Network must meet a set of qualifications and follow specified guidelines to be an approved participant in the network of proctors.
UNC Online is committed to ensuring that the administration and implementation of this agreement/application process is fair and equitable without unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age (40 or older), political affiliation, genetic information, or disability, except where age, sex, or physical requirements constitute bona fide occupational qualifications.
UNC Online strongly encourages proctors to proctor for more than one student. UNC Online reserve the right to deactivate a license in cases where the proctor is only proctoring one student once a year, for example.
UNC Online reviews the location of a proctor’s application to determine if additional proctors are needed in a given area.
The UNC Online proctor selection process includes an intentional bias based on cost of proctoring; free and low cost proctors are given preference..
Proctoring Address/Location Requirements. Proctors are responsible for understanding that the proctoring site cannot be a private residence. The proctor's exam proctoring license will be summarily revoked if UNC Online determines that a proctor is using a private residence or any location other than the one listed on their application as the "official place of business." Some examples of acceptable proctoring locations are: testing centers, proctoring centers, libraries, university offices. NOTE: Faith based organizations are not considered public locations. Coffee shops/restaurants/eating establishments of any type are not considered acceptable locations to proctor.
If the proctoring location is the proctor’s work office then the proctor is required to include a memo with the proctor application from the applicant’s senior manager/school principal/department head signifying that the applicant’s office may be used to proctor exams for UNC Online students. If the location is not the applicant’s work office (e.g., a public library) then the proctor applicant is required to include a memo with the proctor application from the manager of the location (on official letterhead) signifying that the proctor applicant is allowed to use the location to proctor exams for UNC Online students. NOTE: Some libraries do not allow independent proctors to utilize their space, especially if the library is already a proctoring site for UNC Online students. This is because students can become confused as to whether the library staff is proctoring their exam or an independent proctor.
Proctoring Equipment and Space. Proctors are responsible for understanding requirements as they related to equipment used to proctor exams. For example, students may take an exam on a personal laptop if close and constant supervision is provided by the proctor and if the test instructions specifically allow for such. In the absence of specific permission to use a personal laptop, the proctor cannot allow its use.
Proctoring space may be utilized by multiple examinees, either simultaneously or at different times, as desired by the proctor, provided that exam requirements meet basic standards for its use and the proctor complies with given instructions.
Proctoring Security. Proctors are responsible for maintaining security at the proctoring site. The student should feel safe in the proctoring site at all times. If, at any time, security becomes an issue the proctor should immediately dial 911.
The proctoring location must be one that allows for all testing materials to be kept secure and confidential at all times. Exam passwords must be stored in a location inaccessible to examinees (e.g., in a locked cabinet or password protected email account).
Proctor Qualifications
- Official testing centers at an accredited college/university or military post
- Librarians at a public library or at an accredited college/university
- College/professional testing center staff or administrators (NOTE: UNC System employees/instructors cannot charge a fee for proctoring.)
- Professional learning/tutoring center
- K-12 counselors/testing coordinators (must be primarily responsible for testing administration at the applicant’s school/school system)
- S. embassy education officer or military base/station education officer (Cannot charge a proctoring fee)
- S. military non-commissioned officer in charge or officer in charge of student’s military unit (Cannot charge a proctoring fee)
- Professor:
- Cannot charge a proctoring fee for students enrolled in your courses
- Cannot charge a fee if they are an instructor at a UNC System university
- Professors must conform to their campus’ conflict of interest policies with regards to using university space and resources
- Must be additionally approved by the designated UNC Online campus contact
The Following Disqualify a Candidate from Being a Proctor
- UNC System student
- Relative, spouse, or partner of the UNC System student or of the UNC System student’s family
- Co-worker, supervisor, or business associate of the UNC System student or of the UNC System student’s family
- Friend, roommate, or peer of the UNC System student or of the UNC System student’s family
- Current or previous athletic coach/trainer/administrator or any member of an athletic staff or personnel who support student athletes (Includes K-12, recreational and/or organized leagues, community college, and college/university athletics)
- UNC System advisors cannot proctor their assigned advisees
- K-12 employees who are not counselors/testing coordinators whose primary responsibility is testing administration at the school/school system
- Anyone who cannot provide a verifiable, professional email address (NOTE: gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc. are not acceptable)
- Anyone who cannot provide a computer with high speed internet access for up to three (3) hours
NOTE: This list is not intended to be exhaustive and is subject to change with or without notice. UNC Online reserves the right to deny any proctor license application.
In order to validate the proctor applicant’s information verification of job responsibilities is required. As part of the application process, proctor applicants are required to include a memo to UNC Online from their senior manager/school principal/department head (on official letterhead). The memo should detail the following:
- The memo should address the proctor applicant’s job responsibilities, as they relate to UNC Online proctoring qualifications. Specifically, the memo should address the proctor applicant’s role and should verify that this role is the proctor applicant’s primary responsibility (e.g., A K-12 testing coordinator must be primarily responsible for testing administration at the school/school system).
- The memo should state how long the proctor applicant has been in this role.
- The memo should verify that proctoring exams for UNC System students does not present a conflict of interest for the proctor applicant’s job, for the location where the proctor applicant works as well as the location where the proctor applicant will proctor.
- The memo should include contact information for the proctor applicant’s senior manager/school principal/department head.
- The memo should be signed by the proctor applicant’s senior manager/school principal/department head.