Proctoring

Proctoring

Choosing the right proctoring method depends on your course format, class size, and the level of security your assessment requires. On this page you'll find proctoring options to choose from with each option accompanied by explanations of which context the option is best for, how much effort is required on your part as the instructor, and what the student experience looks like for that option. Along with this overview, provided in table format for quick reference, you'll also find "How To" steps for each option as you scroll down the page.

Proctoring Options Quick Reference

All proctoring options have limitations to what they can prevent. For assessments that best guard against AI use or cheating, consider developing authentic assessments (real-world tasks that mirror how students will apply their skills outside the classroom) instead of exams. Examples include oral presentations, complex problem-solving tasks, oral or written reflections, project-based assessments, and process-oriented assessments that require students to explain the process they used to develop the final product.

Option Best For Faculty Effort Student Experience
Self-Proctoring In-person courses and all levels of assessment Variable In a classroom or other faculty-monitored space
Honorlock Full online courses, large enrollment courses, high-stakes assessments Low to Moderate Can be accessed remotely at a time chosen by the student; offers a variety of safeguard settings
Testing Center Students in any kind of course needing a controlled, in-person environment alternative to the classroom, high stakes assessments Moderate Scheduled, on-campus, fee required

Option 1: Self-Proctoring
Recommended for In-Person Classes

For in-person or hybrid courses, many faculty choose to proctor exams themselves in the classroom. Some faculty apply similar principles during a live, synchronous online session (for example, a scheduled video call, such as Webex, where students keep cameras on for the duration of the exam). This option requires no special software but benefits from some upfront planning.

How To:

  • Space out seating where possible, or assign alternating exam versions by seat (e.g., students in odd-numbered seats receive Version A, students in even-numbered seats receive Version B) 
  • Create 2–3 versions of the exam (reordered questions/answer choices) to reduce copying 
  • Set clear expectations at the start: phones away, one browser tab, etc. 
  • Circulate periodically rather than remaining stationary at the front 
  • Remain behind students to better see what is happening on screens 
  • Collect scratch paper along with exams, if used 

Exam design suggestions: 

  • Use question banks with randomized pulls so each student sees a different combination 
  • Set a tight, reasonable time limit calibrated to discourage look-up behavior 
  • Favor application/analysis-style questions over items easily searched online 
  • Consider open-note or open-book formats where appropriate, shifting the emphasis from recall to reasoning

The above strategies are suggestions which may help to reduce the need for heavy monitoring during exams.

Option 2: Honorlock
Recommended for Online Courses

Honorlock is the university's official online proctoring solution, integrated directly into Canvas. It uses a combination of AI monitoring and live human review to flag potential integrity concerns, without requiring students to schedule appointments or install standalone software (a browser extension is used instead). 

Why faculty choose it: 

  • No scheduling needed — students can test within an open window you set 
  • Works for large sections where in-person monitoring isn't feasible 
  • Flags are reviewed by Honorlock staff, not just an algorithm, before being reported to you 
  • Integrates with existing Canvas quizzes — minimal rebuild required 

Getting started: 

  • Enable Honorlock through the Canvas course navigation menu 

  • Configure your exam settings (browser lockdown, ID verification, recording type) within the Honorlock dashboard 

  • Communicate technical requirements to students in advance (webcam, stable internet, government-issued ID) 

Using Honorlock in a Face-to-Face Classroom 

While Honorlock is built for online exams, some faculty also run it during in-person exams — for example, in a large lecture hall where walking the room isn't practical, or to keep a recorded copy of the exam session for later review. 

How To: 

  • Confirm each student has a laptop or device with a working webcam — Honorlock requires a computer browser, not a phone 
  • Set the Honorlock exam window to match your class period, so students can't start early or keep working after they leave the room 
  • Still circulate and monitor the room in person — Honorlock supplements, but doesn't replace, an instructor's physical presence 
  • Tell students in advance that Honorlock will be active in class, including the ID and environment check, so they aren't caught off guard 
  • Check with IT or the classroom scheduling office that the room's Wi-Fi can support the whole class connecting to Honorlock at the same time 

Option 3: The University Testing Center

For students who need a distraction-free, in-person environment — or for courses where remote proctoring isn't a good fit — the Testing Center offers staffed, on-site exam administration.

Why faculty choose it: 

  • Fully human-proctored, in a controlled physical space 
  • Useful for accommodations testing, makeup exams, or students without reliable home internet/webcam access 
  • Removes the technology burden from both faculty and students

Getting started: 

  • Submit exam materials and instructions to the Testing Center in advance of your requested testing window 
  • Communicate the scheduling process to students, including any deadlines for booking a seat 
  • Confirm accepted formats (paper, Canvas-based, other LMS) with Testing Center staff ahead of time 

Check current submission deadlines and hours directly with the Testing Center, as these may vary by term.