Environment Check and Second Camera Guidance

Updated March 27, 2026

A 2022 district court case in Ohio found room scans during online exams to be unconstitutional.  As a result, the guidance from Purdue’s Office of the Provost and Purdue’s Office of Legal Counsel is to avoid any implementation of “room scans” and “second cameras” at the Purdue West Lafayette campus.

Instructors

In Respondus Monitor, this means turning OFF the “Environmental Check” in the Startup Sequence and leaving the “Require students use a second camera in addition to the webcam” setting OFF.

In other proctoring tools (including Honorlock), this means not asking students to conduct a room scan as any part of the proctoring session.

Students

Should a student encounter an assessment where the room scan feature or the second camera is required, and the student is uncomfortable proceeding with this technology in place, the student is advised to contact their instructor immediately and work with them to identify an alternative method of completing the assessment.  If students need further support with this, they may connect with Purdue’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities at: