History
The Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was established in 2014 through a Strategic Instructional Innovations Program research grant led by Craig Zilles, Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider, Dave Mussulman, and Matt West. Their research sought to reimagine the assessment process for large-enrollment courses to improve both the student and faculty experience.
The result was the development of the CBTF: a dedicated testing facility designed around secure, in-person, asynchronous exams. Beyond providing a scalable solution for administering assessments, the CBTF enhances exam security through trained proctoring staff and restricted internet access. At the same time, it creates a more student-centered experience by allowing students to schedule their exams within designated testing windows.
Since its founding, the CBTF has become an integral part of the College of Engineering’s assessment infrastructure and has expanded to support courses in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. With nearly 300 testing stations and sessions offered seven days a week for up to twelve hours per day, the CBTF now administers more than 200,000 exams annually, including in-semester exams, final exams, and proficiency assessments.
The CBTF delivers meaningful benefits to both students and faculty. Students gain flexibility in scheduling, receive immediate feedback, and benefit from mastery-based approaches and more frequent low-stakes assessments. Instructors are relieved of complex exam logistics, allowing them to focus on high-impact, student-centered teaching. In addition, the CBTF ensures consistent exam administration and provides rich assessment data that supports continuous improvement in pedagogy and course design. Faculty-led educational research conducted within the CBTF has further strengthened the University of Illinois’s position as a leader in innovative, evidence-based computer-based assessment.