STEPS FOR REQUESTING/USING NOTETAKERS

The following guidelines have been established to assist students and DSC in making the notetaking service efficient. Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility as the student to provide DSC with a completed Quarterly Services Request Form immediately after you register for classes. Notetakers may be requested for courses and discussion sections. Students must be enrolled in classes in order to receive notetakers. Notes will NOT be provided for audited classes.

1. All requests for notetakers should be submitted to DSC before classes begin or no later than the end of the first week of each quarter; notetaking requests received after the first week are more difficult to fill. It may take one week or longer to locate a notetaker after your request is received. Due to start-up activities each quarter, students may not receive any notes the first week of the quarter. DSC will request the instructor to make an announcement for a notetaker; however, the student should also identify and refer students in the class who may be willing to be a notetaker. The student may also remind the instructor to make the announcement.

2. If you are ill or otherwise cannot come to the office, please phone, email, or fax in your requests.

3. When submitting your request, please inform DSC of any special instructions, i.e. having your notes enlarged or read onto tapes.

4. Inform DSC immediately of any changes in your class schedule (add or drop).

5. Inform DSC immediately if your notes are late, incomplete, or in poor quality. We or you are not obligated to keep a notetaker if the notes are poor or if the notetaker is not reliable. If necessary we can terminate a notetaker and attempt to hire a new person.

6. Individual notetakers are instructed to type and email notes or make copies of their daily lecture notes and to leave them in your DSC box within one work day.

7. DSC encourages notetakers and students to communicate directly with one another to ensure quality notetaking services.

8. It is essential that you attend lectures; the notetaking service is not designed or provided as a substitute for class attendance.

9. We need your feedback about the notetaking service - problems, suggestion for improvements, etc. - talk to us or complete our evaluation forms.

10. Lecture notes are available for students with disabilities registered with DSC only. Under no circumstance should notes be photocopied and shared with other students in the class.

Notetaking assistance (or taping of lectures as an alternative) is a disability accommodation that may be appropriate under requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. There must be a disability-related need for notetaking assistance.

As a general guideline and to communicate appropriate disability accommodation needs to faculty or TA’s, we strongly urge students to personally speak with each instructor so that he/she will know about and understand your disability and classroom accommodation needs related to testing, notetaking, seating, reading, or any other appropriate accommodations.

September 2002