Notetaking services at Dartmouth College is provided to qualified students whose disability affects independent notetaking in the classroom. Notetaking is primarily provided on a volunteer basis although the nature of a student’s disability or a unique classroom circumstance may result in a notetaker being paid a small stipend to take notes. The success of this service relies on students, the Student Accessibility Services office (SAS), and faculty working together to provide this accommodation.
RECRUITMENT: Notetakers are recruited from the classroom by the student user who may also work with the faculty member to identify qualified volunteers. To recruit from a class roster, the faculty member is asked to read and/or post the following the first week of class or as early as possible after learning about the need:
“A volunteer in this class is needed to take notes for a fellow student with a disability. If you are interested, please send me a copy of today’s notes and your contact information and the student will be in contact with you."
Faculty members who routinely produce notes or a lecture outline for each class and are willing to provide a copy to the student user may make the recruitment of a volunteer notetaker unnecessary. Student users should explore this option with faculty at the start of term.
RECEIVING NOTES: Copies of class noted can be provided one of four ways:
NOTETAKER RESPONSIBILITIES: Notetakers are expected to attend class regularly and provide notes to the student user in a timely manner. They are also expected to maintain the confidentiality of the student for whom they are taking notes. They are not expected to function as a study partner or take notes for a student who does not attend class regularly.
If you are having difficulty locating a notetaker or encounter difficulty receiving notes during the term, please contact Student Accessibility Services immediately.
