Assistance with note taking is an accommodation that may benefit students who need to focus their attention and concentration on listening, or who find taking notes difficult due to a physical, visual, learning, or hearing limitation. Students should take an active role in attempting to secure a note taker, and asking their instructor for assistance when necessary.
Volunteer note-takers are typically peers in the student's class. Note-takers may be obtained by:
Usually note-takers readily volunteer. They are already taking notes for themselves, so the student is not asking them to do more than what they are already doing. Students having difficulty locating a note-taker, or who have concerns regarding the quality of the notes, should discuss this with his/her instructor, or contact the DSS office for assistance. A sample letter to share with note-takers is included within the Forms link to the left.
If two or more students volunteer to be note-takers, ask them to submit a copy of their notes to review. Ask one volunteer to be a "substitute" note-taker in the event the primary note-taker is not available. It is helpful for students and note-takers to exchange contact information and the student should supply the note-taker with NCR paper for note taking (can be obtained from the DSS office). At the end of class, both students should have a copy of notes.
A note-taker is not a substitute for class attendance. It is not the note-taker's responsibility to supply the student with notes for classes he/she missed. The student and note-taker should establish "up front" what the note-taker agrees to do in situations where the student receiving notes is absent from class.