To Whom It May Concern:
 
Please be advised that several concerns have been voiced regarding a college’s mandate to use intrusive online proctoring programs. These invasive programs frequently invoke anxiety that negatively affects test performance. Additionally, many students feel that being required to be recorded during exams represents an invasion of privacy. Due to the COVID pandemic as well as other impediments, several students are often required to take tests in their personal homes and do not wish for their personal homes to be recorded. As such, we note that there are legitimate and significant “privacy, security, and equity concerns, including the collection of sensitive personal information.”
 
We note that CUNY was successful in obtaining 27,000+ signatures requesting that such software not be utilized. As a result of the petition, CUNY administrators responded by implementing conforming policies; students are no longer required to use online proctoring programs which they felt uncomfortable with. We further refer your attention to the article below which references a myriad of universities that have received similar petitions with the collective goal of protecting students’ privacy. The vast number of petitions further outline particularly why students are opposed to the use of mandatory invasive proctoring programs for exams. We are hopeful that you will take our legitimate concerns into consideration when you consider this school’s policies moving forward, and we thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
 
Respectfully Submitted,
 
SUNY Students   

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/09/students-are-pushing-back-against-proctoring-surveillance-apps