proctors

Proctor is a term used to describe a person assigned to supervise examinations and ensure test security, as well as a broader class of officials with supervisory duties in institutions and legal contexts.

In education and testing, a proctor's responsibilities typically include verifying test-taker identity, distributing and collecting materials, enforcing time limits, monitoring for cheating, handling disruptions, and reporting irregularities to the examination's organizers. Proctors may work on-site at testing centers or remotely for online assessments. Remote proctoring often uses cameras, screen monitoring, browser lockdowns, and sometimes live human proctors or automated AI systems to verify compliance. Privacy, accessibility, and data security considerations are central to policies around proctoring, and many jurisdictions require informed consent or adherence to data protection laws.

Historically and in some institutions, proctors have other roles. In medieval and some modern universities, proctors are officers responsible for discipline and examination oversight; in places like the University of Cambridge, they supervise student conduct and exam administration. In legal or ecclesiastical contexts, a proctor may be a representative of a party in certain proceedings or, more broadly, a guardian or official with fiduciary duties. The precise duties and authority of a proctor vary by country, institution, and the governing rules of the examination or body they serve.