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Southwestern Michigan College’s testing center has been recertified by the National College Testing Association (NCTA) for five years.

Coordinator Michelle Gibson began assembling a thick binder of documentation in February to meet rigorous criteria based on Madison, Wis.-based NCTA professional standards and guidelines. The non-profit NCTA is dedicated to promoting professionalism and high-quality service in the administration of testing programs.

NCTA membership numbers more than 2,200 testing professionals from 650 colleges and universities, as well as 50 test companies and organizations offering test-related products and services. SMC’s testing center has been certified since 2012. While the name seems self-explanatory, the testing center offers many more services than people realize.

SMC became an Empco testing site in the fall of 2013 with the launch of its criminal justice program. Empco conducts written examinations, assessment centers and oral boards for more than 250 agencies nationwide.

Participating agencies locally have included the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and Prosecuting Attorney, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Dowagiac, Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg, Cassopolis and Buchanan police departments.

Empco, based in Troy, began police and fire testing in 1987. It offers examinations for police, public safety, fire service and municipal positions for entry-level and promotions.

“I mainly help corrections officers,” Gibson said. “I implemented a Metro State of Michigan pesticide exam. Certification exams have expanded tenfold because I do a lot of billing coding. I conduct ETS ParaPro tests for anyone who needs to be a paraprofessional in a high school or elementary school.”

With 10 different types to administer, Gibson processes almost 4,000 tests a year, including placement exams for students who lack ACT or SAT scores.

The center conducts make-up exams for instructors and previously handled all the IC3 training (Internet and Computing Core Certification, a digital credential all students and staff earned by passing three computer literacy examinations) required as a condition of college employment.

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) is a group of standardized tests created and administered by the College Board that assess college-level knowledge in 36 subject areas and provide a mechanism for earning college credits without taking college courses.

“I gave one of those this week,” she said. “I can take control of the computers if someone is cheating by having something onscreen that they’re not supposed to. If they have notes on paper, I can zoom in on the desk. We monitor with video” from behind a glass wall, similar to courthouse or airport security; there is a wall of lockers to stow belongings before entering the arena with 28 stations, 25 desks and a private room to schedule by appointment. She also has a COW (Computer on Wheels) for use with laptops.

Gibson, an NCTA-certified proctor who received her 20-year SMC service pin Feb. 14, 2024, previously worked in banking for 18 years.

While the testing center might sometimes seem impersonal, “I love what I do and try to be as helpful as possible. I had a couple of nursing students I built rapport with who brought me eggs or plants in appreciation of the welcoming service they received, which is important to me.”