Note taking

Note takers are students who are enrolled in the same class as the student.  Students requesting note takers must select the course(s) needing a note taker through STARS.   A note taker memo will be emailed separately from the accommodation letter to the instructor.

The note taker memo explains to the instructor the process of identifying eligible note takers. It also includes an anonymous announcement for the instructor to read to the class to recruit a note taker. Students should ask the instructor to read the memo explaining the note taker position.  When a potential note taker from the class signs up through STARS, she/he will be hired as the note taker if the employment criteria are met.

Steps:

1. Students receive the note taker accommodation approved by a disability specialist in the Office of Accessibility.
2. Request accommodation letters each semester through STARS. Instructors will receive the Instructor Guidelines for Securing Note takers via email.
3. The letters and memos are emailed to instructors. Instructors will read the request aloud. Interested students in the class will sign up through STARS.
4. Note taker’s qualifications will be verified and the note taker will be hired. If hired, the note taker will be given the student’s contact information in order to arrange the delivery of notes.
5. Your confidentiality is important to this office. If you receive note takers, the office will share your contact information with your note taker to help facilitate the process. If you wish to remain confidential it is your responsibility to notify the Office of Accessibility and update STARS in order to effectively provide you with your academic accommodations.  Follow these steps to update STARS:
   • Log into STARS
   • Select Notetaking Services under My Accommodations
   • Under “My Preference” select “yes” that you would like to hide your name from your note taker
   • Work with the Office of Accessibility to get course notes from the assigned note taker

Student Responsibility:

• Students are required to notify the Office of Accessibility if they wish to remain anonymous to their assigned note taker.

• Request the course needing a note taker through STARS.

• If no note taker is in place by the end of the second week of the semester, students must contact the Office of Accessibility.

• If students no longer require a note taker for their services, they must notify the Office of Accessibility by the third week of the semester.

• A student who wishes to obtain a note taker beyond the sixth week of the semester is required to meet with his or her disability specialist to review and discuss this request.

• If note takers upload the notes to STARS, students will need to download notes.

• Students are required to notify the Office of Accessibility and update their STARS profile if they wish to remain anonymous to their assigned note taker.

Contact the Office of Accessibility:

• If by the end of the second week of class, no one has contacted you regarding being a note-taker and you still need a note-taker.

• If you have any concerns regarding the notes.