Note-Taking Assistance Accommodation
Note-taking is a new and sometimes challenging part of being a college student. Many students, even those without disabilities, struggle to learn this skill. Kent State Online has several modules for improving learning strategies, and we encourage students to visit the Academic Success Center to learn additional strategies.
Where appropriate, SAS provides a note-taking assistance accommodation. This is determined on a case-by-case basis called an "interactive process" that considers the nature of the student’s disability, the nature of the course, the method and context of communication used in the course, and by the student's individual circumstances and requests. Approved note-taking accommodations may be used in remote, face-to-face, synchronous, asynchronous, and online classes, regardless of if materials are being graded or classes are taken for credit. Requests for note taking accommodations should be made at least two weeks before the start of each semester, if possible, to help ensure implementation of the services prior to the first day of class.
The primary method for using the note-taking assistance accommodation is via Note Taking Express at no cost to the student. All students eligible for this accommodation will be emailed a Note Taking Express username and password within three days becoming eligible for this accommodation. You must use the log-in credentials provided for you to ensure that you are not charged personally for this service.
To use Note Taking Express, students must record their class lecture as an MP4 or MOV file and upload the recording to the Note Taking Express website. The team of note takers at Note Taking Express will then provide quality summarizations or transcriptions of the content. Students can download the notes from their account in Note Taking Express within 48 hours.
In some circumstances, SAS may assign a peer note-taking accommodation when necessary based on the student’s disability. In cases where a student receives this accommodation, SAS will work with a student's instructor(s) within seven business days to identify a note-taker. Notes taken by a peer note-taker will be uploaded to Access KSU, and the student will receive an email with a link to download the notes. If the note-taker is a peer in the student's class, the note-taker will not be told the identity of the student for whom they are taking notes. In cases where a peer note-taker is necessary for equal access but cannot be identified within seven business days after the student notifies SAS of the need, SAS will assign a staff member to assist with notetaking.
Students with note taking accommodations are strongly encouraged to record their class lectures and to review PowerPoints in addition to using note-taking assistance. This allows students to review course lectures multiple times at their own pace. If a student records a class for this purpose, they must provide their own recording device and should not share their recordings with anyone else. PowerPoints may be available to students with this accommodation even when they are not available to the entire class. Speak with your professor about the best way to get PowerPoint slides.
Some material recommended or provided by an asynchronous class (e.g., recorded lectures, videos, Power Points with voice over, etc.,) may be considered personal use or study materials, and note-taking services and other accommodations may not be appropriate for those materials. However, asynchronous course materials are not automatically considered personal use or study materials, so students should contact SAS if they have questions or concerns about how accommodations apply in asynchronous courses. Additionally, if at any time SAS needs to re-evaluate an accommodation decision, they will let the student know by email that an interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations will take place and what participation is needed from the student. Students will receive notice via email about accommodation determinations and information about how to appeal accommodation determinations.
Kent campus students with questions or concerns about note taking should contact their Access Consultant directly or email sas@kent.edu. Regional campus students, contact your regional SAS Coordinator.