How MS-DS Uses Virtual/Remote Proctoring
Some for-credit MS-DS courses feature a proctored experience at the end of the course. This is generally an exam, but may also be a project-based experience. The University of Colorado Boulder takes academic integrity seriously, and is committed to ensuring that your MS-DS degree accurately represents your competency and retains its value in the marketplace. Protecting the integrity of the course exams is part of this process.
The stakes of the proctored experiences in MS-DS courses are high. When you gain access to these protected items on the Coursera platform, you are no longer eligible for a tuition refund if you decide to drop the course, and you are no longer eligible for a course withdrawal. Accessing the protected examination means that you will only be eligible for an earned grade based on performance.
What is ProctorU?
ProctorU is a live online proctoring service that allows students to complete exams or project-based assessments online. This service ensures exam integrity and accountability for any test-taker with internet access using only a computer and a webcam. ProctorU monitors exam takers in three ways:
- By using secure identity verification to ensure that the person taking the test is the correct student.
- By employing a human proctor to monitor the test taker through a webcam. You’ll be connected to a real person to guide you through the process.
- By having a proctor watch the students’ screen in real time and see everything the student is doing.
ProctorU is available 24/7. However, you must schedule your proctoring session at least 72 hours in advance of your exam. We also highly recommend you test your connectivity at least 72 hours in advance of your exam.
In order to use ProctorU, you will need a reliable high-speed internet connection, a webcam (internal or external), a Windows or Apple operating system and a government issued photo ID. Please note you will not be able to use Linux systems to access ProctorU.
Equipment Requirements
You will need:
How to Use ProctorU
1. Create An Account
Creating a ProctorU account is simple. Click here to get started.
2. Test Your Equipment
Visit ProctorU's Test It Out site as soon as possible (at least 72 hours prior to your proctoring session) to test your equipment.
Generally, the startup process with the proctor takes about 10–15 minutes if you have completed the system testing beforehand. Otherwise, expect to spend up to an hour completing the process. Please feel free to direct any questions to the student support team via the live chat within your account.
3. Schedule Your Exams
We strongly recommend that you do not start the proctored exam process until you are ready to take the exam and complete the course. Find more details about the relationship between proctored experiences and course drops/refunds in the MS-DS on Coursera Student Handbook.
4. Know What to Expect
The following resources will help you better understand what to expect:
Privacy Policy
This program adheres to the University of Colorado Boulder’s commitment to the protection of individual privacy. Please see the CU Boulder privacy statement.
In order to preserve the integrity of this program, exams will have live proctoring managed by ProctorU. Please read ProctorU’s privacy policy before you take the exam.