Spring 2026 Newsletter

Dear UO Faculty, Instructors, and Academic Leadership, 

We hope Spring 2026 term is treating you well so far!

This email contains information about the following:

  • Accommodated Testing Growth and Reminders
  • Accessibility Ally Training-Sign up Now
  • Faculty Excellence in UDL Award
  • Faculty and Staff Support Page & Website Resources

Accommodated Testing Growth and Reminders

The AEC has continued to see sharp growth in students getting connected with our office for support and/or accommodations. The number of accommodated exams and proctoring needs has skyrocketed, with testing accommodations being one of the most common accommodation needs. In AY22, we had 5,407 accommodated exams. In AY25 we had 11,183 accommodated exams. This number continues to increase term-by-term as the number of registered students increases. It is more imperative than ever that as instructors, you understand your responsibilities related to accommodated testing. Please review the following reminders.

  • If you would like AEC to proctor your exam, complete the testing agreement right away. Students are not able to schedule exams with the AEC until instructors complete the testing agreement for those exams. Please complete it as early as possible in the term. You can find instructions here on how to complete a testing agreement, modify it, or copy it across different CRNs. 
    • The testing agreement should include instructions for quizzes, exams, midterms, and finals.
    • Make sure to enter in ALL exam dates, including the final, in the testing agreement. 
    • Include materials allowed and scantrons, if required, in the testing agreement for each type of exam.
    • If copying the testing agreement across multiple CRN’s, make sure to edit exam dates if they are different.
  • Provide us with your exams in a timely manner. Exams need to be uploaded at least one business day before the student's scheduled exam, by 10:00am.
    • Send exam errors/corrections/clarifications to AEC (aectesting@uoregon.edu) AND the University Testing Center (UTC) (testing@uoregon.edu) as soon as you are aware of them. 
    • ***For finals, please submit your final one week in advance, if possible, but at least 2 days in advance at minimum. Please understand that if you are unable to provide us with your final in advance, you must either hand deliver us a copy of the exam prior to the start time, or you will be asked to proctor the students’ exam with the necessary accommodations yourself. 
  • Please make arrangements to be available or have someone available for questions during an exam.  If you have students testing with the UTC or AEC, they should have the same/similar access to you or a GE that students testing in the class do. 
  • Some student requests require instructor approval, please review the email and approve or decline in a timely manner. 
  • If you have an exam correction, email AEC: aectesting@uoregon.edu and Testing Center: testing@uoregon.edu
  • Understand that given the growth in service demands and stretched resources, during midterms/ finals, flexibility will be needed and students may not always be able to test at the same time as the rest of the class.
  • You can view student's accommodations in one place on AEC connect.
  • Newly added feature in AEC Connect for the testing agreement - How to Create a Date Range/Grace Periods for Exams

Accessibility Ally Training- Sign up Now

The Accessible Education Center (AEC) will be hosting the Accessibility Ally Training this term! The Accessibility Ally Program is an opportunity for interested faculty and staff to increase awareness related to disability and develop skills and knowledge to act as an ally for accessibility and inclusion of students with disabilities. Topics include conceptualizations of disability, disability identities, disability history, disability representation, ableist language and microaggressions against people with disabilities, and universal design. Our mission with this program is to create a network of allies committed to eliminating the attitudinal, physical, and curricular barriers experienced by students with disabilities at the University of Oregon. 

The training is hybrid, though in-person registration has reached capacity. Registration is still open for the virtual session, which will be held Wednesday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Zoom. Please register on MyTrack as soon as possible!

Faculty Excellence in UDL Award

Know an outstanding instructor whose course design embraces individual learning differences? Nominate them for AEC's Faculty Excellence in Universal Design Award by May 22nd by submitting the nomination form.    

Faculty and Staff Support Page & Website Resources

There are often misconceptions about what it means to have a disability. Please visit the AEC Faculty and Instructors webpage  to find information about best practices, instructor responsibilities, Universal Design strategies, our past Faculty/Instructor Newsletters, and more. You can also find information on our website about what a disability is, and the legal mandates that guide the work of the AEC. 

Go Ducks! 

On behalf of all AEC staff, we wish you a smooth Spring 2026 term! Please review the AEC website for additional information, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of any assistance. We look forward to continuing to work with you and support you in ensuring access and inclusion at UO. Go Ducks!