Accommodation Guidelines for Scribe Services

Scribes

Scribes assist students when their disabilities prevent them from writing responses to assignments or exams.  Winthrop University provides scribe services only to students with appropriate documentation.  For examinations, the scribe will be a Graduate Associate (GA) working in Counseling Services or Services for Students with Disabilities (SSWD).

Student Responsibilities

• It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for a scribe for assignments or tests.  Contact the SSWD Coordinator at 323-3290 if a scribe is needed.

• Give as much notice as possible if a scribe is needed.  Give the SSWD Coordinator at least a 1-week notice when needing a scribe for an exam.

• Understand that a scribe’s responsibility is to transcribe the student’s responses verbatim, not to give opinions or to act as an editor.

• Plan for a scribed test to take longer than the allotted class time.

Professor Responsibilities

• Understand that it is the student’s responsibility to make his or her own scribe arrangements.  However, if you encounter difficulties with the student failing to assume this responsibility, please contact the SSWD Coordinator.

• Understand that scribing an exam takes additional time. Generally, a student using a scribe needs from 1.5 to 2 times longer to complete the exam.

• Understand that a scribe’s responsibility is to transcribe the student’s responses verbatim, not to give opinions or to act as an editor.

• Scribes for exams will often use a computer with Spell Check (increases speed).  Sometimes, subject-specific language or proper names may be misspelled.  Please do not count scribe error against the student.

• Tests that are scribed are administered in Counseling Services.  Contact the SSWD Coordinator if you have concerns about administering a test at Counseling Services.

• Understand that to ensure test security, only the SSWD Coordinator or a GA in the Counseling Services office will act as scribes for tests.  Because scribed exams are subject to Coordinator or GA availability, exams may need to be given at a different time than the preferred test time.  Every effort will be made to give the student the exam at the time requested.

• Understand that Counseling Services is open M-F, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., so students taking night classes will have to take their exams between those hours.

• Contact the SSWD Coordinator at 323-3290 with questions or concerns regarding scribe services.