SDSU SDS Connect
A convenient, fast and simple way to access SDS's most commonly used services.
Announcement
SDS Connect is moving to a new system beginning July 15, 2025. The platform will continue as SDS Connect, however, the login system and some user features will change. Please review the new access instructions and training materials in the Guides for Students and Guides for Faculty sections at the bottom of this page.
What can students and faculty do with SDS Connect?
SDS Connect is our convenient, fast, and easy-to-use system for accessing Student Disability Services’ most commonly used features. Through SDS Connect, students and faculty can:
Guides for Students
Download Steps Required at 1st Log-in with SDS Connect [PDF]
1. Log-In: Click "Sign In" in the Student and Staff block (with the power symbol). 
2. Sign in using your SDSU email address and password. 
3. First Time Logging-In: The first time you login, there will be a message indicating you have at least one form to electronically sign. Click "Continue to Sign Electronically" to move forward. 
4. Read any form(s) listed and the Student Acknowledgment of Responsibilities completely. At the bottom of the screen, type your name in the "Signature required field" field and click "Submit Form". 
5. You can now move on to scheduling exams.
Follow these steps to send your accommodation letters: Sending your accommodation letters is a process that should be completed every semester for each class that you plan to use your approved accommodations for, as early as possible into the semester. This allows instructors to prepare and adjust for accommodations ahead of time and avoid last-minute complications.
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Navigate to https://loa.accessiblelearning.com/SDSU and log in with your SDSUid username and password.
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From your To Do list, click "Request Accommodations".
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Select the courses for which you are requesting accommodations. If you will be using the same accommodations for all courses, select "Apply the same accommodations to all selected courses." Click "Continue To Next Step".
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Select the accommodations you will be utilizing for these courses, and click "Submit Request".
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If you would like to request different accommodations for each course, select the courses, then click "Continue to Next Step".
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Select the accommodations you will utilize for each course. When finished, click "Submit Request".
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Your accommodation requests are complete, and you may now download a copy of your accommodation letters for your records (optional) by clicking "Get PDF".
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If you made an error, you can select "Modify Request" to make the correction.
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Select/de-select any accommodations, and click "Update Request".
Download Instructions for Scheduling Exams at the Test Accommodation Center (TAC) [PDF]
1. Log-In: Click "Sign In" in the Student and Staff block (with the power symbol). 
2. Sign in using your SDSU email address and password. 
3. Go to Your Testing Home Page: Click "Alternative Testing". 
4. Select the class for which you want to schedule an exam from the dropdown menu and click "Schedule an Exam". 
5. Select an exam from the "Available Exam Dates" dropdown menu. 
6. Select the accommodations you want to use during the exam. 
7. Read all the TAC terms and conditions completely and click the boxes next to each each one. 
8. Click "Add Exam Request". 
9. Your exam has now been scheduled! If you wish to schedule more exams for this class, select each additional exam from the "Available Exam Dates" dropdown menu and repeat steps 4, 5, & 6 for each date. 
10. Viewing Your Booked Exams: Click on "Alternative Testing" in the menu on the left. 
11. On your Testing home page, you will see a list of upcoming booked exams you have at the TAC, including the one you just scheduled. 
12. Scheduling an Exam in a Class Without Course Instructions: If when selecting your class, you see an asterisk (*) next to the course number, that means your instructor has not yet submitted Course Instructions. Move forward to schedule your exam anyway. 
13. You will see a message at the top of the screen explaining our need for the Course Instructions from your instructor. Because we will not yet have the Course Instructions, the exams dates will not be populated in a dropdown menu. You should select the exam date manually and continue through the exam scheduling process. Your exam booking will go into the system, but it will remain pending until we receive Course Instructions from your instructor. 
14. Late Bookings: If you try to schedule an exam less than 5 business days in advance, you will receive an error message explaining that you will not be able to schedule that exam. The message will outline your options. 
Download Student Guide: How to Submit a Flex Plan Request [PDF]
Q: I missed the deadline to schedule my exam in SDS Connect. What should I do?
A: Standard exams and quizzes must be scheduled at least 5 business days in advance. (Business days do not include weekends or holidays). Final exams must be scheduled at least 4 weeks before the first day of finals week.
Late exam requests cannot be accommodated unless the delay was caused by unexpected and unavoidable circumstances directly related to a disability or medical condition. If this applies to your situation, email the Test Accommodations Center (TAC) at [email protected] with a brief explanation.
If this does not apply, you will need to take the exam in class. If you would like to request an alternative arrangement, contact your instructor directly. Approval of an alternate testing time or make-up exam is entirely at your instructor's discretion. The TAC does not proctor make-up exams or provide flexible exam scheduling.
Possible alternative arrangements to discuss with your instructor include:
- Taking the exam in class with extended time and, if necessary, finishing in a separate location, such as the instructor's office, after class ends.
- Taking the exam at an alternate time in the instructor's or department's office, under the supervision of a student employee or administrative assistant.
- Arranging for another instructor, teaching assistant, or student assistant to proctor the exam.
Q: When should I arrive for my exam?
A: Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled exam time. This will give you enough time to lock up your belongings and complete the check-in process. Be sure to allow additional time for possible traffic and parking delays.
Q: What happens if I’m late to my exam at the TAC or miss it?
A: If you arrive 1-15 minutes after your scheduled start time, you may still take your exam, but the time you are late will be deducted from your testing time.
If you arrive 16 minutes or more after your scheduled start time, you will be considered a no-show and will not be permitted to take the exam at the TAC.
You will not be considered late if the delay is caused by TAC operations or an issue with receiving the exam from your instructor.
Exceptions may be made only when tardiness was caused by unexpected and unavoidable circumstances directly related to a disability or medical condition.
The TAC does not administer make-up exams. Any opportunity to make up a missed exam is entirely at your instructor's discretion. If your instructor allows a make-up exam, you will need to work directly with them to determine your available options.
Your instructor may choose to proctor the make-up exam or refer you to Testing Services, which offers proctoring for all students for a $20 fee.
Q: When should I schedule my exam?
A: Your exam must be scheduled for the same day and time that your class is taking the exam.
Exceptions are made only for academic conflicts or when the class exam time falls outside TAC testing hours:
Regular Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Finals Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
When an exception applies, your exam should be scheduled as close to the class testing time as possible.
You cannot schedule your exam for a different time because you missed the scheduling deadline or have a personal conflict.
Q: My exam will start before the TAC opens or end after the TAC closes. What should I do?
A: If your class exam time falls outside TAC operating hours, schedule your exam for the closest available time that allows you to complete your full testing time before the TAC closes. You may also contact the TAC at [email protected] for assistance.
Regular Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Finals Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Q: My accommodations will cause my exam to conflict with another exam or class. What should I do?
A: If your accommodations, such as extended testing time, create a conflict with another exam or class, that is considered an academic conflict. You should manually select a different start time that allows you to use your full testing time while remaining as close to the class exam time as possible.
After scheduling, contact the TAC at [email protected] to confirm that you scheduled the exam correctly.
Q: I’m taking an online class and/or my exam is online. Do I still need to schedule my exam at the TAC?
A: If your classmates are permitted to take the online exam at home, you may take it at home as well. If your classmates are required to take the online exam in class or in an on-campus computer lab, you may take the exam with your class or schedule with the TAC if you plan to use your approved testing accommodations..
If you take your exam at home, you are responsible for ensuring that your testing accommodations are provided. For example, if you have an extended-time accommodation and want to use it, you must ask your instructor to program the appropriate amount of additional time into your online exam.
If you have an approved Distraction Reduced Environment or Separate Private Room accommodation and feel the TAC would provide a more appropriate testing environment, you are welcome to schedule your online exam with the TAC.
Q: What do I need to bring with me to the TAC for my exam?
A: You must present a physical, valid photo ID to take your exam. Accepted forms of identification include:
- SDSUcard
- Driver's license
- Passport
Digital IDs, photocopies, and photos of an ID on your phone will not be accepted.
NO ID = NO EXAM
You are also responsible for bringing all exam materials approved or required by your instructor, such as a Scantron, blue/green book, pencil, calculator, dictionary, or approved notes. The TAC does not provide these items.
Q: What am I NOT allowed to bring with me to the TAC?
A: Cell phones, smartwatches, smart glasses, and other electronic devices are strictly prohibited in the testing area unless they are specifically approved as an SDS accommodation or permitted in writing by your instructor.
Food and beverages other than water are also prohibited unless specifically approved as an SDS accommodation. Water must be in a bottle with a secure lid and may be subject to inspection.
Bicycles, skateboards, and scooters are not permitted inside the TAC. Bicycles may be secured at a bike rack on the first floor. Skateboards and scooters may be secured to the rack outside the TAC. A limited number of locks are available to borrow while you are testing.
Guides for Faculty
Instructors can view their students' accommodation letters online through our online accommodations management system, SDS Connect.
Accessing your students' accommodation letter via SDS Connect:
1. Access the SDS Connect portal via the SDSU Connect website. You will be required to log in with your SDSUid single sign-on credentials with DUO multi-factor authentication.
2. The instructor overview will default to the current term and show the list of requested accommodations. The Home menu will always be displayed on the left side.
3. Under “Students Who Requested Accommodations” you should now see a list of your students that have submitted their accommodation letter to you. Click on the View link to view the accommodations for that specific student. Click on the PDF link to download a copy of the accommodation letter.
We advise all registered SDS students to submit their accommodations through SDS Connect as early as possible into the semester so that instructors have enough lead time to ensure accommodations can be made.
However since students may be registering with SDS throughout the semester, we recommend checking this list before every upcoming exam.
What do I do after viewing my students' accommodation letters?
If your students have testing accommodations, they may be scheduling their upcoming tests using SDS Connect to take at the Test Accommodation Center (TAC).
SDS Connect will send out an email reminder to instructors for upcoming tests. These emails are sent out six (6) days and one (1) day before your upcoming test. These emails will have information regarding how to provide information about your upcoming tests.
If there is an accommodation listed on the students' accommodation letter that you have questions about, please contact the Student Disability Services (SDS) at [email protected].
Note: If you are a student assistant (SA) or graduate assistant (GA), you should have been assigned a separate work email account. This will be the email address where SDS Connect will send emails to. Please contact our IT department to find how to access your work account.
If you require additional support or have any concerns or questions, please reach out to the TAC at [email protected].
Download Completing Course Instructions and Entering Exam Dates [PDF]
1. Log-In: Click "Access Instructor Portal" in the Instructor Portal block. 
2. Click "Continue to View Student Accommodations". 
3. Navigating to you Testing Home Page: " Click "Alternative Testing". 
4. Here you will see the number of exams your students have already scheduled prior to the submission of your Course Instructions, the number of classes in which you still need to submit Course Instructions, and the number of exams on the calendar for which you have not yet uploaded exams. 
5. Completing Your Course Instructions, i.e.- Setting Up Your Classes for TAC Proctoring: Click "Courses without Course Instructions". 
6. Here you will see a list of all classes for which you need to complete Course Instructions. To begin submitting Course Instructions for each class, Click "Specify Course Instructions" in the block for the class. 
7. Select your preferred proctoring option from the dropdown menu. "SDS Will Proctor Exams" is the most preferred option. Click "Confirm to Proceed". 
8. Click "Submit Your Selection". 
9. This is the Course Instructions page. Please complete it fully. 
10. Use the additional comments sections to add details, such as what kinds of notes the students can have. 
11. Please note that the TAC will no longer be able to return completed exams via email. If you would like your exams scanned and sent to you electronically, they will be uploaded to your SDS Connect account, where you will be able to download them. 
12. Your response(s) to this question will enable us to schedule alternate arrangements with your students without needing to bother you for each individual situation. 
13. Once you have completed the entire Course Instructions page, click "Submit and Continue to Specify Exam Dates". 
14. Scheduling Exam Dates: You will now need to add ALL the exam dates for this class, including the final. Even if you are uncertain about some of your exam dates, please use your best estimate to set your exam dates. You can always go back and change details later. These dates will become the options from which your students will select to schedule their exams. 
15. Select which kind of exam from the dropdown menu, set the date, time, and standard duration of the exam. Our system will calculate any additional time your student(s) may receive as part of their accommodations. 
16. Add any instructions that might be specific to this exam only and upload the exam file if you have it ready. If you do not have the exam ready, you can upload it at a later time, but no later than the day before the exam at noon. 
17. Click "Save Exam Date". 
18. Repeat steps 15, 16, & 17 for each exam date in this class. 
19. Applying a Completed Course Instructions Page to Other Classes: From your testing home page, click "Course Instructions". 
20. Identify the class which has the completed Course Instructions you want to apply to your other class(es) and click "View/Modify Course Instructions" in that class block. 
21. Click "Copy Course Instructions". 
22. The "Copy Course Instructions to" dropdown menu will show all your classes which still do not have completed Course Instructions. Select which class you want to apply these Course Instructions to and click "Continue". 
23. Make the appropriate changes to the exam dates and times for the new class. 
24. Make sure to indicate if the same exam should be used for this class, as the system will link the two classes if "Use Same File" is clicked. 
25. Click "Copy Course Instructions". 
26. You will now have the opportunity to add additional exam dates for this class. 
27. When you finished adding an exam date, click "Save Exam Date. If you do not want to add any exam dates, click "Back to List". 
28. Adding the same Exam Date for Multiple Classes at the Same Time: From your Course Instructions page, click the "Handy Tools: Specify Exam Date for Multiple Courses" Dropdown menu. 
29. Select the classes to which you want to add the same exam date and click "Continue with Selected". If you would like to add the same exam date to all your classes, simply click "Continue With All Courses". 
30. Enter all the exam details. Please note that using this method, the exam date, time, and duration will be identical for all classes selected. 
31. Type the name of your exam and upload the exam file. Finish by clicking "Save Exam Date". 
Download Uploading Exam Files and Downloading Completed Exams [PDF]
1. Navigate to your Alternative Testing home page by clicking "Alternative Testing". 
2. Uploading a New Exam: Select an exam from the list for which you have not yet uploaded your exam file. 
3. Type the title of the exam in the "Title or Exam File Note" field. 
4. Click "Choose File", select the file from your computer, and click "Upload File". 
5. Uploading the Same Exam File for Multiple Exams: From your testing home page, click "Course Instructions". 
6. Click the "Handy Tools: Upload Exam File for Multiple Exam Dates" dropdown menu. 
7. Select a date that is 7 days in advance of the scheduled exams and click "Find Exam Dates". 
8. Select to which exam dates you would like this exam file applied. Type the name of your exam and upload the exam file. Click "Upload Exam". 
9. Downloading Completed Exams: Click "Completed Files". 
10. Identify the exam you would like to download and click "Download". 
11. Where is the Exam?: The exam will now be in your computer's Downloads folder.
12. Note About the New Cover Page: Each exam will now have a cover page. That cover page was not only the instruction sheet we used during the proctoring of that exam, it was also the electronic communication tool our new system used to route that exam to your SDS Account. We cannot omit cover pages from exam uploads.
Download Instructor Guide: How to Review, Edit, and Approve Flex Plan Requests [PDF]
Q: I need to change an exam date. How do I do that?
A: You can update an exam date directly in SDS Connect. Follow the step-by-step instructions titled “How to Modify or Delete an Exam Date” on this webpage.
Q: My student has testing accommodations that I am unsure how to provide. What should I do?
A: If you select “SDS Will Proctor Exams” as your Exam Management Method when completing your Course Instructions in SDS Connect, the Test Accommodation Center (TAC) will provide the student’s approved testing accommodations.
When you choose for SDS to proctor your exams, the only accommodation you would still be responsible to provide is ensuring that online exams are programmed to stay open for the correct amount of time if the student has an extended time accommodation.
If you select “I Will Proctor & Provide ALL Testing Accommodations,” you are responsible for providing all of the student’s approved testing accommodations. Some accommodations, such as assistive technology or specialized equipment, may only be available at the TAC.
If a student has an accommodation you are unable or unsure how to provide, please contact the TAC for guidance.
Q: Why do I need to submit Course Instructions at the beginning of the semester?
A: Students cannot finalize their exam bookings until you submit your Course Instructions in SDS Connect. Any exam requests submitted before your Course Instructions are received will remain pending.
As well, submitting Course Instructions at the beginning of the semester helps ensure that students can schedule their exams promptly and receive their approved accommodations.
Q: Why do I need to add all exam dates at the beginning of the semester?
A: Providing your exam dates allows students to schedule their exams accurately and efficiently.
If exam dates are not entered, students must manually enter the exam details when submitting a request. This increases the possibility of errors, and each manually entered exam request must be individually reviewed and approved by you. You will receive email reminders for these requests until they are approved or corrected.
Providing all exam dates at the beginning of the semester:
- Dramatically reduces approval requests in your inbox.
- Enables future testing accommodation requests to be handled more seamlessly, often without additional action from you.
- Reduces inaccurate exam scheduling.
- Enables students to schedule all of their exams for the semester in advance, helping them avoid missing the scheduling deadlines.
- Supports timely access for students to their approved accommodations.
Q: Why do I need to submit my exam files at least 48 hours before the scheduled exam?
A: Submitting exam files at least 48 hours in advance gives TAC staff adequate time to prepare the exam and ensure that all approved accommodations are in place.
Late submissions or last-minute changes can cause delays and create logistical challenges that may affect the testing process.
Q: What has changed from the previous SDS Connect/TAC procedures?
A: Key changes include:
- Course Instructions are submitted once per course, per semester through SDS Connect, rather than for each individual exam.
- Exam files must be uploaded directly to SDS Connect or delivered by faculty in person to the TAC.
- Exam files are no longer accepted by email.
- Completed exams are no longer returned by email.
- Exams are scanned and uploaded to SDS Connect or faculty can pick them up in person at the TAC.
- Students will only see the exam times provided by the instructor.
- Exam times manually entered by students will not become options for their classmates.
- Instructors must approve or correct manually entered exam requests in SDS Connect.
- Student exam bookings are not finalized until Course Instructions are submitted.
Q: Can students take exams at alternate times with the TAC?
A: To ensure equitable testing, exams at the TAC must be scheduled on the same day and at the same time as the class exam.
Exceptions may be made when:
- A student’s extended testing time creates an academic conflict with another class or exam.
- The class exam falls outside TAC testing hours.
TAC testing hours are:
Regular semester: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Finals: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
When an exception is necessary, the exam will be scheduled as close to the class testing time as possible unless you specify a different option in your Course Instructions.
Students may not schedule an exam at a different time because they missed the scheduling deadline or have a personal conflict. Flexible exam scheduling is permitted only when that flexibility is available to all students in the class.
You may, at your discretion, allow a student to take an exam at a different time for personal reasons or as a make-up exam. However, as the TAC does not proctor make-up exams or allow flexible exam scheduling, that exam could not be administered at the TAC. You will need to arrange to proctor the exam yourself or allow the student to use Testing Services, which provides proctoring for all students for a $20 fee.
Q: A student told me, “The TAC is full on the day of the exam.” Is this true?
A: No, students who schedule their exams by the scheduling deadline are guaranteed proctoring services and approved accommodations at the TAC.
The system blocks exam requests submitted fewer than 5 business days in advance for standard exams and quizzes and 4 weeks in advance for final exams. If a student misses a scheduling deadline, they will be instructed to take the exam in the classroom or make other arrangements at the instructor’s discretion.
Students are not permitted to schedule their exam at a different time simply because they missed the scheduling deadline.
Q: How do Memory Aids as accommodations work?
A: A Memory Aid is one 8.5" × 11" single-sided sheet of notes that may be used during an exam by a student who has been specifically approved for this accommodation by their SDS Counselor.
A Memory Aid is an accommodation designed to support students with significant recall difficulties. It is not a traditional page of open notes.
The following guidelines apply:
- Memory Aids cannot alter the essential requirements of the course or provide direct answers to exam questions.
- Although a Memory Aid is an approved testing accommodation, instructors have the right to approve or reject its specific content.
- Previously approved Memory Aids have included mnemonics and memory triggers such as images, acronyms, acrostics, rhymes, wordplay, and words or phrases that help prompt recall of course content.
- A Memory Aid may not be used during an exam without prior approval from the instructor.
Memory Aid Approval Process
- The student should ask the instructor how far in advance the Memory Aid must be submitted for approval.
- The student emails an image of the proposed Memory Aid to the instructor for approval and CCs the TAC at [email protected].
- If revisions are required, the student makes the requested changes and emails an image of the revised Memory Aid to the instructor, again CCing the TAC.
- The student repeats this process until the instructor approves the Memory Aid
- The student ensures that the TAC receives the instructor’s final written approval, linked directly with an image of the approved Memory Aid.
- The student brings a printed copy of the approved Memory Aid to the TAC on the day of the exam.
Important: Final written approval from the instructor, including an image of the approved Memory Aid, must be emailed to the TAC at [email protected] before the student may use it during the exam.
Note for Student Assistants and Graduate Assistants
If you are a Student Assistant (SA) or Graduate Assistant (GA), you should have been assigned a separate work email account. SDS Connect notifications will be sent to this account.
Please contact the SDSU IT Department for assistance accessing your work email account.
If you need additional assistance or have questions about testing accommodations or TAC procedures, please contact the Test Accommodation Center at [email protected].
