If online proctoring is available for your courses, it will be listed in LEARN.
Online proctoring can provide the opportunity to write exams online while assuring academic integrity is maintained.
To accomplish this the University has contracted ProctorU, now called Meazure Learning, which leverages automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide online proctoring. A live proctor will help you get started with your exam, and then will leave while you complete your exam. A live proctor will review your session after you have completed it to make sure the AI did not flag anything innocuous. Your instructor will review all remaining flags and make any final decisions about issues that have been reported.
ProctorU allows you to take your exam from a location of your choosing, within a time period specified by your instructor. It monitors you during your exam via your webcam and records the activities on your computer. You should understand that:
- There is no fee to use the service if you schedule your exam at least 72 hours before the start of the exam window. If there are less than 72 hours before your exam start time you will be assessed a $20 fee to schedule or reschedule your exam. No exams can be scheduled in the 24 hours before the first start time.
- If you have serious objections to writing your exam with an online proctoring service please contact your instructor.
- You will need to create an account with ProctorU. Please use your uWaterloo email address (ie WatIAM@uwaterloo.ca).
- From your ProctorU Account download the ProctorU Guardian Browser and review the test taker resources to understand the process.
- When the exam is activated in ProctorU, you will be able to schedule your exam. Choose a time when there are fewer demands on your internet connection. Your instructor will let you know when you can do this.
Getting Started
- Ensure you are in a quiet and private area when you take your exam.
- During the startup process you will be required to show a photo WatCard or government issued photo identification.
- Reboot your computer, and make sure you have closed any apps or processes not allowed by your instructor.
- A few minutes before your scheduled exam time login to your ProctorU account. You will be asked to download a temporary app called LogMeIn Rescue to allow the proctor to communicate with you. The proctor will connect with you via the app, but it could take up to 15 minutes, so please be patient.
- The proctor will verify your identity, check your computer and surroundings and then will enter the password so you can begin your test. Your test time will not start until you are successfully into your test. After that the proctor will discontinue contact with you, but will be available via the live chat if you need assistance. It could also take a few minutes for a proctor to connect via live chat.
- If you need help and wish to speak to a proctor or technical support, enter "Live Agent" into the chat box.
- Your instructor, TA, or other designated Waterloo staff members may observe your exam session.
- If you have registered with AccessAbility Services please check with your Accommodation Consultant in advance to see if you need to adjust your academic plan. Any accommodations will be setup in advance in ProctorU and your proctor will be aware of them.
Please review the video below to see what taking your test looks like.
Equipment Requirements
You should confirm your computer meets the minimum requirements to work with their system. You will also need:
- microphone and speakers (not a headset or earbuds)
- webcam
- the ProctorU Guardian Browser
- to review their exam readiness guide.
Technical support is available via chat or phone. This startup time will not affect your exam time. Please direct any questions to the ProctorU support team via the live chat, located in the bottom right of your screen within your account.
Statutory and Policy Requirements
Under the authority of the University of Waterloo Act the University gathers and maintains information used for the purposes of admission, registration, and other fundamental activities related to being a member of the University community and enrolled in a public post-secondary institution located in the province of Ontario, Canada. The information collected and used for online proctoring is directly related to, and needed by, the University for the purpose of administering online exams and maintaining the academic integrity of the exam process.
Information submitted by students during the online proctoring process is needed to verify identity as well as to ensure that academic integrity is maintained. That information will be processed in compliance with Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the University of Waterloo’s policies (e.g., Policy 46 – Information Management) and guidelines, as well as in accordance with ProctorU’s privacy policy. Before you begin, please ensure that you have read ProctorU's Privacy Policy.
Your exam will be recorded and the data will be managed according to the University records classification scheme, WatClass, and will be securely destroyed when no longer needed by the University.
ProctorU is a third-party platform and the personal information processed within the system is carried out by ProctorU in accordance with their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Waterloo has reviewed this information as well as ProctorU’s security and data management practices.
Questions or Concerns
For questions specific to your exam or online proctoring in relation to your course please speak with your instructor.
General questions about online proctoring at Waterloo should be emailed to the extendedlearning@uwaterloo.ca.
Questions about personal information and privacy at the University or about our responsibilities under Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation should be directed to the Privacy Officer at fippa@uwaterloo.ca. Learn more about Information and Privacy.