SAS Resources- Note Taking

Eligibility for the accommodation of note-taking assistance for qualified students with disabilities is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Due to logistics in ensuring quality note-takers for each class, the process of locating and assigning note-takers may take up to three weeks. Therefore, we encourage students, when able, to take their own notes, tape record lectures, and/or ask a classmate to share their notes, until a note-taker is assigned.  

Student Responsibilities

Students receiving the accommodation of note-taking assistance are required to adhere to the following steps:

1. Students should request their accommodation letters through SAS Online Services and indicate which class(es) note-taking assistance is needed. Students are encouraged to request their accommodation letters after making their final course selection for the semester.
2. Students are expected to attend class to determine if a note-taker is necessary in a class.  
3. A confirmation email will be sent to the student’s Kent State email for each class in which note-taking assistance has been requested. If the student has attended class and feels a note-taker is still required, they must confirm their need by completing the steps contained within the confirmation email. If the student does not complete the confirmation process, the accommodation of note-taking assistance may be dropped for each unconfirmed class. Please note, students may re-add their request for note-taking assistance at any time during the semester through SAS Online Services.
4. Students are strongly encouraged to identify another student in their class to be their note-taker. Please refer the note-taker to SAS Online Services to complete the note-taker registration process.  
5. Students will access their notes by logging into their profile in SAS Online Services, clicking on “Note-Taking Services”, and downloading their class notes. Students should expect to receive notes weekly for the classes conducted that week, for the duration of the semester.
6. Students can expect notes to be legible and thorough, and notes should include key information from the chalk/white board, about homework assignments, and exams/quizzes.
7. Students should contact Danielle Baker-Rose if notes have not been received after three weeks of the confirmed note-taking request, if notes are inadequate or not received weekly.  
8. If a note-taker is no longer needed, students should modify their accommodation letter request in SAS Online Services.
9. Students are expected to adhere to the class attendance and class absence policy (3-01.3) of the university as note-taking assistance is not a substitute for attending class. The accommodation of note-taking assistance is intended to supplement the student’s own notes, and the student, if they are able, is strongly encouraged to take their own class notes. SAS also recommends that students record the class when appropriate.  
10. Students should contact Danielle Baker-Rose to address questions or concerns at dbaker13@kent.edu.

SAS Responsibilities

1. Eligibility for the accommodation of note-taking assistance for qualified students with disabilities is determined through an interactive, case-by-case approach by an Accessibility Specialist in SAS.  
2. After accommodation letter(s) are requested by the student and approved by SAS, an email will be sent to students whose names appear on the roster of the class in which note-taking assistance was requested announcing the need for a note-taker. In addition, SAS will email the instructor(s) requesting assistance in identifying a note-taker.  
3. Following a short period of time after which the student has attended at least one class session, students will be emailed to confirm their need for a note-taker. A second follow-up email will be sent shortly thereafter to students that did not confirm their need for a note-taker.
4. If the student does not complete the confirmation process, the accommodation of note-taking assistance may be dropped for each unconfirmed class.
5. After receiving confirmation from the student that a note-taker is needed, SAS will coordinate the note-taking process; resolve issues or concerns of the student receiving the accommodation of note-taking assistance; resolve issues or concerns of the note-taker; and coordinate the distribution of gift cards to note-takers.

Note-taker Responsibilities

Note-takers are generally students enrolled in the class in which note-taking assistance is needed. SAS may require that notes be typed. Note-takers are awarded a $100.00 bookstore gift card for their service during the semester. Note-takers are required to adhere to the following steps:

1. Interested note-takers should access SAS Online Services, select ‘Sign Up as a Note-taker’, and create an account by entering their contact information and the course registration numbers (CRN) of the classes in which they are enrolled and would like to be considered for the note-taker position. Interested note-takers are also required to read, sign and agree to the terms of the Note-taker Contract.
2.  If the interested note-taker is selected to serve as the note-taker for a specific class, they will receive a confirmation email from SAS confirming their appointment.  
3.  Note-takers are required to complete the SAS Note-taker Training within two weeks of confirming their note-taking position. This training will assist the note-taker in developing good note-taking skills.
4.  Note-takers are required to work with their instructor to complete the “Instructor Verification Form” and are responsible for submitting the completed form to SAS.
5.  Note-takers should provide notes for each class session unless a class session is canceled, and the notes should be representative of the entire class session, from the beginning of the class to the end of the class. If a note-taker is absent for any class, it is their responsibility to find a substitute note-taker and/or to otherwise ensure notes are provided.  
6. Note-takers should submit notes twice a week (or once a week if the class meets only once a week) for the duration of the semester. Notes should be legible and thorough, and should include information from the chalk/white board regarding homework assignments and exams/quizzes, etc.
7. Note-takers are required to submit their notes by uploading the notes to SAS Online Services.
8. Note-takers are required to pick up their gift card during the last week of classes from the SAS office located at: Kent State University at Salem, 2491 State Route 45 South, Salem, OH 44460, Office 107-C. Please note, SAS reserves the right to withhold or reduce the gift card amount for notes not delivered, incomplete notes, incomplete training, and/or failure to complete and submit the Instructor Verification Form.

Questions or concerns? Please contact Danielle Baker-Rose at 330-337-4214 or dbaker13@kent.edu.