General Instructions for Paperless Exams

NOTE: Please review these instructions and practice the procedures before your exam. Detailed procedures for diskette users can be found at Technical Instructions for Paperless Exams -- Diskette Users. Procedures for CD users can be found at Technical Instructions for Paperless Exams -- CD Users

General Rules

1. If computers are allowed for an examination, students may opt to submit the exam answers by the approved electronic medium. All electronic medium used must be blank and contain only the exam answers.  Any other files or documents found on the electronic medium may be considered grounds for an honor code violation

DISKETTE (FLOPPY) USERS: See Technical Instructions for Paperless Exams for Diskette Users for necessary information to properly complete the exam process.

CD Users: See Technical Instructions for Paperless Exams – CD Users for necessary information to properly complete the exam process.

If you must use a memory stick (thumb drive) as your electronic medium, you will have to supply your own. It must be blank with only the exam answers on the file. It will not be returned to you. When turning in the stick, you should use put it in a CD sleeve with the course information and exam number listed and put it in the manila envelope.

2. CREATE A HEADER TEMPLATE: You must indicate professor's name, class title, and your exam number and page number on each of your exam pages as a header. Create a header template for each exam prior to the exam period, using instructions for diskette users found at Technical Instructions for Paperless Exams -- Diskette Users or for CD users found at Technical Instructions for Paperless Exams -- CD Users.

3. SOFTWARE REGULATIONS: PC users must use any version of Word or WordPerfect. Macintosh users must use Word. Macintosh users should not reformat the PC formatted diskette as we will not be able to read the diskette. Microsoft Works is not an approved word processing software program. Exams must be saved in either a ".doc , .docx" (Word), or ".wpd" (WordPerfect), or a "pdf" format. To assure the exam may be opened, no other format may be used.

4. SAVING EXAMS DURING THE EXAM AND RETENTION OF EXAMS: Exams may be saved to the hard drive while taking the exam. If your professor specifies that you cannot retain the exam answers on any storage medium other than the exam diskette, you must delete the answers from your hard drive when you finish the exam. If you cannot retain your answers on your hard drive, take the time to reopen your disk and review all the pages of your exam to be sure that it is completely saved before deleting the exam from the hard drive.

5. HONOR CODE VIOLATION: Failure to follow these instructions for the paperless exam program and the rules for your individual exam, including whether exams can be retained to any storage medium, may be an Honor Code Violation.

The rules for your individual exam are posted for each exam on this page. Click on the course title if underlined, and you will be shown the authorized materials and computer instructions for the exam.

6. COMPUTER PREPARATION: COMPUTER PREPARATION: Well before the two weeks of exams, make an appointment to see the Computer Service people at the Computer Lab (cshelp@lclark.edu) if you have questions or want your computer checked. They can assist you before the exam period begins. Complete information about computing services for students go to this website: Computing Services

7. COMPUTER PROBLEMS: Computer problems that prevent you from completing the exam on the computer must be brought to the attention of the Registrar after the exam is over.

If you experienced technical problems, you must be prepared to write the exam in a bluebook. Extra time for technical problems is not allowed. Although we will make reasonable efforts to solve problems, students bear the risk if the problem cannot be solved.

After the examination, should a student experience technical problems of any kind that may affect the printing of the examination either by the use of the student’s printer, CD or Diskette, the student might be required to leave their computer at the Registrar’s office. The Computing department will check the problem before the student will be allowed to take the computer home. If a student refuses to leave the computer, they will possibly jeopardize their examination.

8. Grades are influenced by content and not the fact that they are printed. Do not attempt to use the paperless exam program procedures if you are not fully competent in the use of a computer and familiar with the above procedure.

For More Information

If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact Susan Galyen, Registrar galyen@lclark.edu or 503-768-6615 or Chris, Computing Services Student Help Desk cbray@lclark.edu or 503-768-6905. Computing Services is unable to assist with technical questions once you have started your exam and during the time you are taking the exam.