WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a shift to online, remote learning beginning in Spring 2020 which increased the use of third-party remote proctoring software at Palomar College to facilitate classroom assessment activities, and   

WHEREAS the use of third-party remote proctoring software creates a default assumption that all students are guilty, thereby unacceptably lowering expectations for student conduct and achievement, and that other methods of assessment (such as authentic assessment) exists that can both assess student learning and reduce the possibility of cheating, and   

WHEREAS a number of educational institutions around the country have restricted or banned the use of third-party remote proctoring software and the CCC Chancellor’s Office will no longer fund the use of third-party remote proctoring software, which has an annual cost of more than $18,000, and   

WHEREAS the use of third-party remote proctoring software is an invasion of student privacy, can increase anxiety and negatively impact student performance on assessments, places technological and equipment demands on students that have financial impacts, and is an inequitable assessment solution as it disproportionately and negatively impacts BILPOC students, students with certain physical or psychiatric disabilities/limitations, students performing childcare duties during the time of assessment, and others, and   

WHEREAS Palomar College’s Associated Student Government has shared student concerns about the use of third-party remote proctoring software. BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate opposes the use of third-party remote proctoring software which includes synchronous or asynchronous video recording, recording of biometric data, recording of private student spaces, or collection of any other private data by third-party providers in Palomar College courses, and RESOLVED that before the end of the 2020/21 academic year the Faculty Senate will identify faculty who are utilizing third-party remote proctoring software and provide them with recommendations and guidelines for the limited use of third-party remote proctoring software that can help reduce inequities and negative impacts for students, as well as, alternatives such as utilizing Authentic Assessments. RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate will ensure that any remaining or future ATRC training on the use of third-party remote proctoring software will include the Faculty Senate guidelines for appropriate usage, and RESOLVED that this resolution shall be shared with Palomar College’s Associated Student Government, Palomar College’s Academic Technology Resources Center, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, and the Chancellor’s Office.