Note Taking Services

Note taking services are available for students with disabilities whose documentation supports this accommodation.

This accommodation must be established early in the semester and students registering or checking-in for services after midterm may not be eligible.

Notes are provided by student volunteers through a confidential process.

HOW IT WORKS

Once approved for this accommodation, a student is assigned a number and has a corresponding folder within the Office of Disability Services, in which the notes are placed.

The DS counselor provides note taker request forms during the semester check-in or registration appointment. Students then deliver the request to their instructors. Upon receiving the note taker request form, the faculty member makes an announcement in class that the Office of Disability Services requests a note taker.

The identity of the registered student is not announced.

A volunteer from the class comes forward and is given the request form by the instructor. The volunteer note taker then provides their contact information to Disability Services (DS), where they are granted access to the copier machines. Note takers make copies of their notes and place them in the assigned student folder in 230 Fretwell.

INFORMATION FOR VOLUNTEERS

If a volunteer note taker uses a laptop in class or types their notes, they can submit their notes electronically to the Office of Disability Services. Our office will then forward these notes via email without any identifying information to the registered student.

Student volunteers may copy their notes free of charge within the Office of Disability Services, located in Fretwell, Room 230 A.

Volunteer note takers receive 45 hours of community service which can be indicated on resumes or used toward certain program requirements. Certificates will be provided to volunteers at the end of the semester.

INFORMATION FOR DS REGISTERED STUDENTS

It is recommended that registered students pay close attention to ensure the announcement is made in class by the faculty member. Students should check with Disability Services (DS) to determine if a note taker has been found.

Students can ask their instructors to make several announcements until a note taker is secured. It is the student’s responsibility to alert Disability Services if there are problems with the note taking service.

Students who receive the note taking accommodation must attend class regularly and take their own notes. The note taking service is a supplement to students’ notes and classroom experiences.

Notes are to be picked up at least once a week.

IMPORTANT: The note taking accommodation can not be ensured when the request is made late in the semester as this process requires timely notification and is not retroactive. Students are not entitled to receive notes prior to the date of their registration or semester check in.

If a DS registered student or volunteer note taker drops or adds a course, this change should be relayed to the Office of Disability Services in order to alter note taking services appropriately.