CON Professional Graduate Test Construction and Delivery

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UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
COLLEGE OF NURSING
Professional Graduate Test Construction and Delivery Policy: 1310
Faculty Policies Originating Date: April 2026
Responsible Reviewing Agency:
Professional Graduate Affairs Committee

Responsible Approving Agency:
General Faculty Organization

Related Documents:
Policy 2311 - Professional Graduate Testing
UNMC Accommodation Policy (ADA Policy)
 


Purpose

Establishes criteria for testing construction and delivery.

Scope

This policy applies to professional graduate faculty.

Policy

Testing processes have been established to ensure consistency in testing practices for didactic course content.

Exam Construction

  • All professional graduate courses that include tests/exams as part of summative evaluation must administer exams with no fewer than 50 multiple-choice questions per test.
  • Course coordinators may determine the weight of test/exam scores within the final course grade; however, exams must comprise no less than 20% and no more than 50% of the total course grade.
  • Faculty must develop and share with students an exam blueprint outlining tested concepts and approximate question distribution at least one week prior to the exam.
  • Faculty must provide a rationale for each exam question within the approved testing platform.
  • Exam questions shall be retired after five years of use or earlier if psychometric analysis does not support continued use. See test question review table below.
  • Questions must align with board-style formatting, including:
    • No true/false questions
    • Avoid negatively worded stems
    • Avoid absolute terms (e.g., “always,” “never”)
  • Questions must be free of bias, stereotyping, slang or prejudicial language.
  • Faculty must design and deliver exams in a manner that minimizes opportunities for unauthorized use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as the use of application-based questions, appropriate time limits, randomized item delivery, and approved remote proctoring settings.

Exam Administration

  • Exams must be administered using the approved remote proctoring platform.
  • Faculty must set up exams to match the program’s designated three-hour testing window, ensuring that students receive the entire allotted time to complete the exam.
  • Faculty are responsible for ensuring exam settings are accurate, including:
    • Availability window
    • Time limits
    • Attempt rules
    • Proctoring requirements
  • Faculty must clearly communicate to students in advance:
    • Exam timing and availability window
    • Testing expectations and procedures
    • Permitted and prohibited materials
  • Faculty shall coordinate accommodation needs in alignment with approved student accommodations.

Pre-Exam Responsbilities

  • Exams must be prepared, reviewed, and published in the testing platform in advance to ensure system readiness.
  • Faculty must inform students of exam expectations and ensure clarity regarding:
    • Testing procedures
    • Allowed materials
    • Proctoring requirements
  • Faculty must inform students of any approved testing materials (e.g., calculators, scratch paper) in advance, if permitted.

Exam Delivery

The University of Nebraska College of Nursing prepares students in a similar testing environment and style as the current licensure testing (NCLEX). Exams are computer based with no backward navigation enabled. This is a strategy for student success.

  1. Unit and final exams are proctored and administered in a secure environment.
  2. Unit and final exams will be given using the UNMC specified exam/evaluation software. Quizzes (e.g., iRAT, gRAT, med math) are exempt from this requirement.
  3. Exams will be taken on either a student’s device, a UNMC College of Nursing issued device, or at a campus testing site. Student requirements for pre-exam preparation are proscribed in Policy 2227 - Undergraduate Testing.
    1. Students who are not able to take the exam as scheduled are expected to notify the course coordinator as soon as possible prior to the scheduled start time for the exam.
    2. Exams start on time and students are expected to be present.
      1. Students who arrive more than 5 minutes late will need to work with the course faculty to either reschedule or complete the exam.
      2. Students who begin the exam after the start time will need to complete the exam at the same time as the rest of the class who began on time, unless otherwise determined by the course faculty.
    3. If students experience an urgent issue (e.g., technical issues or illness) during the exam, they are required to notify the exam proctor immediately.
    4. Students who are unable to complete the exam once started will be required to make-up/retake the exam and may be given an alternate format exam.
    5. Students can leave the exam room during the exam only with proctor permission.
    6. Students are required to upload their exam file upon completing the exam and prior to leaving the exam room. Exams not uploaded may receive a zero for that exam.
    7. Incorrect exam responses are shared with students via the review option in the exam/evaluation software immediately following the exam.
    8. If a passing score is not achieved, students will be required to meet with course faculty to review incorrect exam responses.
    9. Students have the right to seek clarification about exam items and must contact faculty within 72 hours after the completion of the exam.
  4. Make-up exams will be scheduled at the discretion of the course coordinator and will follow the guidelines published in the course syllabus.
    1. An alternate exam format may include essay, short answer, and multiple choice. The test/exam shall be worth the same number of points as the original.
    2. The date and time for a make-up exam will be determined by the course coordinator/instructor. See CON Policy 2216 - Undergraduate Progression.
  5. Students are only allowed items needed for testing at their computer. See Students section below for specific examples. Faculty reserve the right to inspect any items that are at the testing location with the student.
    1. Needed testing items will be provided by CON personnel.
      1. Scratch paper provided by the proctor and used during the exam is not an official document and will not be considered in determining a student’s exam grade. Proctors will collect all scratch paper and dispose of appropriately.
      2. Unit and final exams and exam questions are to remain in the testing environment.
    2. Device attachments (i.e., chargers) can be used only for the sole purpose of completing the exam.
    3. No excessive attire is allowed during testing. Students must submit a written request for an attire exception to the assistant dean on the student’s division. Written documentation of the approved exception must be shared by the student with CON personnel as needed.
  6. Proctors will respond to technical issues but will not answer questions related to exam content.
  7. There shall be more than one proctor in the main testing room or an alternate support person available on campus.
  8. Faculty shall verify the number of students taking the exam in all testing sites.
  9. Proctors shall check for exam submission via confirmation screen prior to student leaving the testing site.
  10. For ATI proctored exams, faculty must follow ATI requirements.

Accommodations

  1. Students are required to adhere to the Accommodation Policy (ADA Policy) that is listed in the UNMC Student Policies and Procedures (see policy in related documents).
  2. Students with accommodations must present their letter of accommodations from the UNMC Accessibility Services Office to the course coordinator at least one week prior to any exam for which accommodations are requested. Once the letter has been provided to the coordinator, the accommodations will remain in effect for the length of time specified in the letter or until the student in writing indicates the accommodations are no longer needed.
  3. Accommodated students are expected to comply with timely arrival at the location for testing identified by the course coordinator.
  4. Faculty will prepare accommodation materials and resources as specified in student letter.
  5. Faculty will work with On-line Testing Coordinator and any other personnel needed to facilitate testing accommodations for students (e.g., low distraction room, additional testing time).
  6. On campuses that use affiliated university testing services, complete the accommodated testing form.
  7. Students testing via a paper copy will use a specified excel form to record exam answers. Once the exam is completed, the student will transfer the exam answers to the exam software, or the excel form data will be uploaded into the exam software by College of Nursing personnel. Transferring of the exam answers is not included in the allotted exam time.

Post-Exam

  1. Course Coordinator/ Faculty will review the exam statistics, determine any scoring adjustments needed, and make any adjustments to the exam in the exam/evaluation software.
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