Zachary Randall
1/5
TLDR: Testing center doesn’t care what your professor says. Its their way or the highway, adds aditional rules to exams. Parking patrol is aggressive and hostile.
Used testing center to proctor an exam for student at different University. All calculators were approved as long as they were not connected to the internet. Testing center didn't allow Ti-nspire CAS CX despite professor giving clear instruction that it was allowed. For the test the Nspire's computational power was necessary for graduate level stats course.
The Testing center stated, "we will not allow you to use it because it has a keyboard". They provided a Ti 84 for free but the Ti 84 also has a keyboard on it. It’s just not separate for ease of use. They briefly mentioned it could connect to the internet which while is true requires a large yellow antenna to be connected, even then its "internet" capabilities is very limited and mainly used for professors to monitor students use. I tried to explain the situation that the Nspire was approved by the professor and it has been used the entire semester but they did not care. Additionally, I tried to get information and understand what their reasoning was but they could only state “because it has a separate keyboard”, “it’s too much like a computer “ (From their website). Every computer is a calculator so I don’t see the merit in that. Additionally, if they are concerned about the ability to write notes on the nspire, the Ti 84 has the same ability. The nspire is also an approved calculator for many standardized state tests, ACT, SAT, AP exams just to name a few. Absolutely ridiculous to have this policy. I understand that calculators in the past have been used to cheat, but it is possible with majority of calculators out there. Including the calculators that are approved by the testing center. I spent majority of my day googling and trying to learn how to use their calculator instead of studying. During the test I also had to “play” with the functionality of the calculator as it had been over 7 years since I had to use an 84.
Last complaint is with parking police. Saw parking staff giving a ticket and I politely waited for him to finish. He asked how I was doing which I responded with “I’m doing well how are you? To which he responded very abruptly and aggressively “I don’t have a lot of time I have to do this all day”. I told him I am not a student and wanted to know how the parking policy was so I don’t get a ticket. He quickly spouted off some rules and once he realized I was genuinely looking to not get a ticket, he calmed down and advised me of a spot I can park and pay a meter. I’m assuming he thought I was going to complin or argue with him on his job as a parking cop.
The meter only allows 2 hours at most, the exam was 2 hours long, and the testing center was not ready and staff had to keep asking questions eating into the meter time. I had to rush the exam a bit to make sure I didn’t let the meter expire (it didn’t) but guess who was sitting right by my car when I came out. I defiantly felt targeted.
Overall, I am a huge fan and advocate for community colleges or smaller colleges than large universities, but I will never do business with any Weber State campus. Between the ignorant testing center policies, mentality of testing center staff, and aggressive parking patrol, I would much rather go to another university. I have a hard time seeing myself every advocating or supporting Weber again. I did later find out that there is a Utah State testing center in Kaysville that does not have as strict calculator policy and charges less then half of what Weber does to have an outside exam proctored. I wish I had a better experience.
