Subj : Local License Exam Update
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Tue Apr 14 2020 08:45:18

  Due to the CoronaVirus (COVID-19), many amateur radio functions,
including hamfests, club meetings, and license exam sessions, have
been CANCELLED. Please check with the organizers or contact persons,
to be sure that the event is still on.

  Concerning the exam sessions I do, the UALR Benton Center is now
CLOSED, so there's no more testing in Benton. Testing is to MOVE
to the UALR Main Campus in Little Rock, but with the campus CLOSED
until fall, I have no idea when testing will resume there...but it
might not be until September. In talking to some medical professionals
in Little Rock, they don't expect "some sense of normalcy" to return
to Arkansas until possibly August...but that's not guaranteed.

  With the Central Arkansas Library System being CLOSED through
late April, and all activities SUSPENDED into May, I have CANCELLED
the exam session that was to be held at the Amy Sanders Library in
Sherwood on May 16. I still have the dates of July 18, September 19,
and November 21, on the calendar, but those may be CANCELLED due to
COVID-19.

  Some VE Teams are offering "online" or "remote exams"...but, to me,
there is too much potential for fraud by examinees, never mind the
intensive logistics involved. While ARRL/VEC is looking into it, they
note "changes will not happen overnight", and "some VE Teams may NOT
have remote testing as an option. See the related message from ARRL/VEC
for more information.

  In short, I personally am NOT planning on doing any remote or online
testing. When exams resume, I will do them IN PERSON, with at least
three (3) ARRL/VEC Amateur Extra Class Volunteer Examiners (VE's), to
check ID, and monitor for possible cheating.

Daryl Stout, WX4QZ, UALR Ham Radio Club VE Team Liaison
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