The University of Toledo

Become a Volunteer Note-taker

Use your academic skills to help other students by serving as a volunteer note-taker.

The University of Toledo’s Office of Academic Access (OAA) accommodates on average 350-400 requests for note-takers a semester. As a volunteer note-taker, you will make an impact! 

To become a volunteer note-taker you must have a 2.5 GPA and complete note-taking training.

Who needs note-takers?

The Office of Academic Access provides access to note-taking accommodations for students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, learning disabilities, dyslexia, blind/low vision, D/deaf/hard of hearing, or individuals with PTSD or chronic illness.

Most students with a disability are able to attend class regularly, however their disability may interfere their ability to take notes. They may not be able to take their own notes because they may have to watch a sign language interpreter closely, they may have low vision or have very limited use of their hands, or they may have difficulty listening and writing at the same time. 

Some students with a disability may miss class sometimes due to illness, hospitalizations, or to attend therapy or medical appointments.

Notes provided by a volunteer note-taker help these students fill-in the gaps in their own notes, or provide notes for those unable to take their own notes due to a variety of reasons.

If you are a good note-taker, you may use your skill to provide a valuable service to the campus community. 

As a volunteer note-taker you are making a commitment to assist UT in meeting their legal obligations and more importantly making a commitment to the student for when you are taking notes. These notes will help give a fellow Rocket the opportunity to achieve academic success.

Steps to serving as a volunteer note-taker

1. Register online through the Student Academic Access Management (SAM) system. You will need to have your complete schedule printed or open in another window so you have access to your course CRN.
2. The Office of Academic Access will notify you via UT Rocket email if we have matched you with a potential note-taking assignment.
3. Complete an online note-taking training (takes approximately 30 minutes to complete).
   Training covers tips for note-taking, the process for turning in your notes and your role and responsibilities as a note taker. Follow this link for instructions on how to complete note-taker training.
4. Upon successful completion of the training you will be given your class assignment
5. How to register as a note-taker

Note-taker Responsibilities and Important Information

• Notes should be submitted/up-load within 24 hours of the class meeting to SAM.
• Notes may be hand written, however to better serve our students, notes typed and saved as a PDF or Word format (any word version is acceptable) are best. This will help you review your own class material if you too are in that class. Even if no notes were taken, indicate this on SAM.
• Volunteers scan their notes and upload them to a secure website. The notes are then accessed through SAM by the OAA registered student.
• If you drop a class or are no longer able to be a note taker, notify OAA immediately.
• Always make sure notes are submitted well in advance of the test day.
• Put the date & course (BIOL 1110) on the first page.
• Number all pages in sequence: 1,2,3,…….
• Explain all abbreviations when you use them for the first time.
• Note-takers are required to make arrangements for a substitute note-taker or access to materials provided by the instructor in the case of absence from class.

 Note-Taking Benefits:

• Community Service Hours - volunteer note-takers can receive community service which may be used towards certain program requirements.
• $100 (Rocket Dollars) at the end of the semester if all notes were uploaded within the required timeframe
• Priority registration access for an upcoming semester if all notes were uploaded within the required timeframe. (If you took notes in Spring you would be eligible for priority registration the following Spring.)
• Enhance your resume -your participation can be indicated on resumes.
  Example Resume Statement:
  Volunteer Note Taker (Semester and Year)
  The University of Toledo, Office of Academic Access Provided detailed notes, weekly, for qualified students registered with the Office of Academic Access. Forty five hours of accommodation note-taking service was completed.
• It’s convenient to be a volunteer note taker. You never have to give up your notebook or visit the Office of Academic Access, to make copies or upload your notes; this can be done using any scanner and computer with internet access.
• Feel good about helping a fellow rocket. You don’t have to be the best note taker in the world to volunteer. We’re looking for people who write legibly, get the main points, and want to help.

Review our Tips for Successful Volunteer Note-Takers

Uploading Your Notes:  Instructions on how to up-load notes to SAM