Teaching & Learning

Honorlock Guidance for Summer and Fall 2025

Announcing Alternate Testing Locations On-Campus

Option for Alternate Testing Location

• Beginning this summer, the University will offer limited, on-campus seating through the Campus Testing Center (CTC). This option is available for students without access to a suitable testing environment (e.g., a private space, stable internet, and compatible technology). It is intended for exams that are typically proctored through tools like Honorlock.
  • Important: This process is instructor-initiated and requires advanced coordination between instructors and students!
• Faculty instructions closely resemble the University’s process for scheduling testing accommodations. This Canvas “How-to” guide for instructors illustrates the step-by-step process.
  • • Instructor Responsibilities:
      • Submit the exam schedule and instructions in Canvas through RegisterBlast (found in the Canvas Course Navigation Menu) at least five business days before the exam date.

• • • • • Exam title must include the words “Remote/Honorlock – No accommodations”
      • Grant student permission to test at the CTC (a brief email or Canvas message is sufficient)
    • Student Responsibilities:
      • After the exam schedule is approved, students must book their appointment at least three business days before the exam date/time.
      • When asked to upload a “D&A Letter”, students should instead upload a screenshot of the instructor’s permission.
      • Be aware that:
        • Seats are limited and will be assigned on a first-come basis
        • Testing occurs in a shared space with other students taking various exams

Set Clear Expectations for Using Honorlock

New Syllabus Policy for Remote Proctoring with Honorlock

• Beginning this fall, faculty must communicate in their syllabi that the option for Alternate Testing Locations is available to students to help them understand requirements for scheduling an exam on-campus. I have prepared sample syllabi language that instructors can use.
  • Sample Syllabi Language:
    • “Alternate Exam Locations for Remote Proctoring: With the exception of the final exam period each semester, students may request to book the option to complete an exam on campus in the Campus Testing Center. To use this option, students must contact their instructor no less than 10 business days before a scheduled exam. Your instructor will then work with the Campus Testing Center to schedule the exam if space is available.”
• A note on constraints with scheduling on-campus testing at the CTC:
  • Final exam period: During final exams, the CTC is not available as an alternative location because the CTC quickly becomes fully booked with accommodated final exams.
    • The OAT is working to identify new space that could facilitate this testing option during periods where the CTC is fully booked.
  • Available Space: Seats are limited and will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis.

Syllabus Language for Requiring Honorlock for Assessments

Sample scripts stating requirements:

• “All students are required to use Honorlock to complete exams for this course.”
• “Before you take your first exam, you must complete (1) The Honorlock Student Prep Tutorial Assignment and (2) [insert # of] Practice Exams in Canvas.”
• List any custom requirements for Honorlock exams.

Reduce Anxiety for Student test-takers

Honorlock Prep Tutorial Assignment

• We recommend you create a for-credit assignment in Canvas and require students to complete the Honorlock Student Prep Tutorial. Offering practice exams before a live exam setting is proven to be the biggest differentiator between a positive and negative testing experience. If you need assistance setting up an assignment exam for credit, please email the Canvas team to request a consultation.

Offer For Credit Practice Exams

• Taking an Honorlock Exam requires additional steps beyond logging into Canvas and opening the exam. If you launch a live exam without conducting practice exams, students will experience more issues than if you establish several practice exams.
• To encourage students to participate in the practice exams, we recommend you require them as for-credit assignments. If you need assistance setting up a practice exam for credit, please email the Canvas team to request a consultation.

Prepare Pencil & Paper Alternative (For In-class Assessments)

• Despite best efforts and troubleshooting, it is possible that some students will be unable to access your assignment using Honorlock. We recommend you prepare pencil & paper alternatives for students who are unable, due to incompatible device(s) or for other reasons, to complete their assignment through Honorlock.

Promote Academic Integrity

Add UT Honor Code Affirmation to All Quizzes and Exams

• The Office of Academic Affairs strongly encourages all instructors to add an Honor Code Affirmation item as your first quiz question in all Honorlock Exams. We have added this Affirmation item to the Item Bank in Canvas. To add this question to your quizzes, follow these instructions or email the Canvas team to request a consultation.

New Features and Tools

Updated ID Verification Process

• This feature is designed to streamline the student authentication process by reducing the need for escalated support from Honorlock. In addition to Name Verification (the workflow that matches the name on the student’s ID with their name in Canvas), the updated ID Verification searches for additional landmarks on the ID to verify the validity of their identification. If a student’s camera cannot capture a clear image of their ID, students can now upload an image of their ID without having to contact support.

Hotkey Detection

• The Hotkey Detection feature is automatically enabled to prevent the use of “hotkey” keyboard shortcuts to take screenshots during a proctored exam. A list of hotkeys that can be detected can be found here.

User Questions

• Question: I’d like to use the new policy for Alternate Testing Locations to schedule space for my student(s) to complete their exam in the Campus Testing Center. Can/should I still use Honorlock to configure this exam?
  • Answer: The presence of on-hand proctors in the Campus Testing Center should offset the need to rely on proctoring tools like Honorlock. Additionally, proctoring features such as “Room Scan” capabilities are not permitted in the Campus Testing Center as other students complete their own assignments.
  • If the instructor would prefer their student(s) to use Honorlock from within the Campus Testing Center, they must create and configure a separate exam using Honorlock with only the Browser Guard enabled.

• Question: I’d like to use the new policy for Alternate Testing Locations to schedule space for my student(s) to complete their exam in the Campus Testing Center. What if my student(s) also have testing accommodations in addition to needing alternate space?
  • Answer: If student(s) require additional accommodations at the Campus Testing Center, then the instructor for that class must submit a separate exam schedule for the non-accommodated, remotely proctored exams.

• Question: I’d like to learn more about the customization options located in the Proctoring Settings menu. What resources are available?
  • Answer: Honorlock maintains a Knowledge Base article (link) detailing quiz settings available in the Proctoring Settings menu. Additionally, this tutorial video (below) touches on Instructor best practices (skip ahead to 9:32 for quiz settings):
    • https://utexas.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=b5e8c708-a13b-45c8-83c4-b061012ff2b5