Notetaker Accommodation Information

A Notetaker accommodation is intended to provide  students with equal access to information presented in class. This accommodation can be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

1. The Professor may provide the student with a copy of his/her own personal lecture notes.
2. The Professor may ask a volunteer to take notes without revealing the student who the accommodation is for. 
3. A teaching assistant may be requested to take notes for the class.

• Students approved for this accommodation must submit request for their accommodation letter to faculty.
• Student with this accommodation are required to alert their professors or the Disability Services (DS) Office as soon as possible that they will be using this accommodation.
• Student should not expect to receive notes until a Notetaker has been cleared to work by Student Employment.
• We encourage students to continue to take all notes as they are able and utilize this accommodation to supplement missing notes.
• Notes will only be provided if students are in class attendance.
• Students can choose to remain anonymous and receive notes through DS Office or can have direct contact with their notetaker.
• Request only those services from notetakers as outlined in the notetaker's job description. Notetakers are NOT expected to act as tutors.
• Students who add/drop a class or make schedule changes, should notify Disability Services immediately.
• If a notetaker is not providing the necessary notes, students must contact the DS Office immediately.
• If a problem arises or feedback is necessary and students are uncomfortable or unable to directly communicate with the notetaker, students are expected to contact DS Office for guidance.

Some faculty already provide notes for the whole class on the web, Echo 360, or as handouts. If this is the case in your class, please let us know immediately that a paid student notetaker may not be needed.

Lecture capture in particular is a highly recommended universal design tool available to all faculty. Please use the form on the Lecture Capture webpage to request it for your classroom.

If a student notetaker needs to be obtained, faculty should do the following:

• Instructor and student should connect to discuss if the student needs a notetaker for this course and if the student has a classmate in mind or needs assistance to obtain a volunteer. Additionally, ask whether the student wishes to receive notes anonymously.
  • If the student chooses to remain anonymous, please do not identify the student by name. Notes would then be exchanged confidentially through the Disability Services (DS) office.
  • If the student prefers a direct connection to the notetaker, once a volunteer has been identified, the student and notetaker can be directly linked.
• Either a faculty member can identify a strong student to ask directly, or a general announcement should be made in class for a need for a notetaker.
• A suggested announcement can be found below:
  • There are one or more students in this class who need a notetaker. If you are interested, please contact me immediately. (email, Canvas, or preferred method)
  • If you do not receive a response within a week, please reach out to our office by email: Disability@uml.edu and we will work to obtain a notetaker.
  • When a notetaker is identified, have them email: Disability@uml.edu with the class and section number to formalize the role.

Once a notetaker has been identified for a course, they need to do the following:

• Email: Disability@uml.edu with the class and section number to formalize the role.
• Disability Services (DS) will instruct notetaker on how to proceed to apply for the post.
• Notetakers are expected to share notes with students "only" once their employment has been approved through JobHawks portal by Student Employment.
• Notetakers are expected to submit their time, one hour per week through the JobHawks portal every pay period.
• Notetakers must work with Disability Services to determine how many hours they are expected to work the first pay period to catch up with hourly payments from the start of the semester.

The Notetaker will be paid to deliver copies of their notes to student. The rate is one hour per week at $15.00. Total of 15 hours per semester.

Notetaking Expectations:

• Most often notes should be typed and submitted electronically within 48 hours of the class session.
• Notetakers are expected to attend classes. In case of illness, an emergency or a predetermined absence, please inform the professor and the note-takee. We recommend finding a substitute within the same class.
• If the identity of the Note-takee is not disclosed due to confidentiality, please send your notes by email to: Disability@uml.edu
• Students who add/drop a class or make schedule changes should notify DS immediately.
• If a problem arises or feedback is necessary and a notetaker is uncomfortable or unable to communicate directly with the note-takee, notetakers should contact DS for guidance.

Tips for Successful Notetaking:

• Record the date and class name on the top of the first page of notes.
• Always number your pages
• Use dark ink if you are handwriting notes
• Write neatly. Make notes complete and clear to understand when you come back to them.
• If using abbreviations, include a "key" so your notes can be understood.
• Highlight important items with asterisks (*) or draw circles or boxes around main topics. Highlight important ideas, terms and concepts with different colors. Indentation and underlining can also be used to emphasize points. Show uncertainty with a circled question mark.
• Leave plenty of white space for later additions. Skip lines, Leave spaces between main ideas.
• Information to include in your notes:
  • Anything written on the board or presented on an overhead.
  • Any information that is repeated or emphasized by the instructor, especially when the instructor uses phrases like "finally", "remember", "most important", etc.
  • Numbered or listed items.
  • Important or new terms, definitions and examples.
  • References to your textbook.
  • Include pertinent comments made by your classmates.
  • Ask questions about topics that need more clarification.