It was a bomb scare in 2006 at the Keele campus, which disrupted ongoing exams, that made Student Services staff realize the need for an alternate exam space to accommodate students with various disabilities, whether there was an emergency or not, said Rob Tiffin, vice-president students, to those gathered at the launch of the Glendon Alternate Exam Centre on Feb. 26.
The Keele campus Alternate Exam Centre has been in operation since 2007, and now Glendon has its own, the brainchild of Louise Lewin, former associate principal of Student Services. Her successor, Rosanna Furgiuele, has continued Lewin’s work, resulting in the bright, modern space.
Left: Glendon Principal Kenneth McRoberts cuts the ribbon to officially open the Alternate Exam Centre at the Glendon campus
“We recognize the varying needs of students, both physical and academic,” said Françoise Mougeon, Glendon associate principal academic & research in Academic Administration. “This wonderful space ensures that every student can do his best to succeed at university.”
The new centre consists of six workstations in glass enclosed cubicles, each equipped with a computer and a closed-circuit camera, which is connected to a central computer in the invigilator’s booth. The person supervising can thus monitor all the booths at the same time and ensure that exam rules and regulations are being observed.
“It is very important to accommodate to the individual needs of our students, and this centre provides excellent facilities in a very comfortable and beautiful space,” said Glendon Principal Kenneth McRoberts, after cutting the ribbon to mark the official launching of the centre.
Right: From left Principal Kenneth McRoberts; Rosanna Furgiuele, associate principal of Student Services; and Rob Tiffin, vice-president students
The centre is on the main floor of York Hall, easily accessible by wheelchair. The peaceful pale green colour of the walls and chairs creates a comfortable and welcoming space and has garnered favourable reviews from users.
“This project could never have been completed without the commitment of Vice-President Students Rob Tiffin and the financial support of the University as a whole,” said Furgiuele. “But many others on both campuses were also instrumental in making this centre happen.”
Furgiuele gave special recognition to Jane Van Huyen, administrative coordinator in Glendon’s Office of Student Services, who had worked very closely with Lewin in the planning stage and is currently the coordinator of the new centre. “We began using the centre for the first time in November and, so far, students who need special accommodation have written 170 exams in this lovely, bright facility,” said Furgiuele.
Submitted by Marika Kemeny, Glendon communications officer