Information on Computer-Lab-Based Exams | Office of the Vice-Principal Academic and Dean

CCT building — Many CLBEs take place in UTM's Communication, Culture & Technology Building

Computer-lab-based-exams (or CLBEs) are final exams held in-person within designated computer labs at UTM.

Requesting a CLBE

Requests must be submitted in Step 1 of the Exam Details module of CIS by the published deadline. Requests must include a substantive rationale linking the request to a pedagogical need and to the assessment of learning outcomes for the course.

Instructors must have support from their chair or director to hold a CLBE before entering the request on CIS.

Scheduling and attendance considerations

Due to space and scheduling limitations, UTM may not be able to grant all requests.
Instructors are required to be present for all regular and deferred CLBEs (associated deferred exams must also be CLBEs).
Because CLBEs are run as instructor-administered exams, no exam chief presiding officers will be assigned.
Instructors must identify any additional arrangements for students writing with Accessibility Services.

Space and capacity considerations

Computer labs for CLBEs can accommodate up to 90 students for an alternating seating arrangement. If the instructor opts to use a version exam, then every seat can be used to a maximum of 180 students.

Courses with enrolments greater than 24, the exam will be spread over 2-4 computer labs (depending on course size). Instructors should arrange for adequate invigilation and be prepared to travel to each computer lab during the exam.

Deferred exams, exam copies and exam re-reads

Instructors and/or academic units are responsible for administering the deferred examinations for a CLBE, as well as fulfilling any students from students for CLBE exam copies or re-reads.

Technical considerations

CLBEs are carried out on MS Windows operating system computers only. As some students may not be familiar with the Windows operating system, instructors approved for a CLBE must inform their class (both in the classroom and on Quercus) that their final exam will be given on Windows-only computers. This is required to give students sufficient time to prepare themselves.

UTM's I&ITS will be present in every CLBE room for the first 15 minutes of the exam. During the exam, instructors may contact the I&ITS help desk at 905-569-4300 in the event of a technical issue. That said, instructors should make a contingency plan to support any technical issues in the lab that may delay the exam, as I&ITS is not responsible for exam-related failures..

Questions or requests related to CLBEs should be submitted to I&ITS via online ticket at least two months prior to the start of the exam period. Instructors are strongly advised to set up a time with I&ITS to test the CLBE set-up so that they understand lab operations well in advance of the final exam. Note that failure to do so may result in the exam being moved to a regular classroom.

For questions contact academicplanning.utm@utoronto.ca.