U West Alabama Online Test Takers Face Monitoring by Software Security

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 02/12/09

The University of West Alabama will be using a secure environment from Software Security to deliver testing to its 3,000 online students. Students will be able to take Web-based exams with Securexam Remote Proctor, which, according to the company, provides exam-room integrity comparable to what's found in a proctored classroom.

The service controls computer settings, prohibiting it from accessing anything other than the test. It uses fingerprint authentication before granting a student access to the exam. And during the exam, Securexam sends video clips of changes in motion or sound for review by test administrators.

"We have conducted a thorough study of the industry for a solution that will authenticate student identity, ensure that cheating does not occur during exams, and allow the ease of use our students and staff demand," said David Taylor, provost. "It's our responsibility to ensure that the student who receives a degree from UWA is the same one who did the work towards that degree."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Training the Next Generation of Space Cybersecurity Experts

    CT asked Scott Shackelford, Indiana University professor of law and director of the Ostrom Workshop Program on Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, about the possible emergence of space cybersecurity as a separate field that would support changing practices and foster future space cybersecurity leaders.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Launches Claude for Education

    Anthropic has announced a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • AI microchip, a cybersecurity shield with a lock, a dollar coin, and a laptop with financial graphs connected by dotted lines

    Survey: Generative AI Surpasses Cybersecurity in 2025 Tech Budgets

    Global IT leaders are placing bigger bets on generative artificial intelligence than cybersecurity in 2025, according to new research by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

  • university building surrounded by icons for AI, checklists, and data governance

    Improving AI Governance for Stronger University Compliance and Innovation

    AI can generate valuable insights for higher education institutions and it can be used to enhance the teaching process itself. The caveat is that this can only be achieved when universities adopt a strategic and proactive set of data and process management policies for their use of AI.