Peer Notetaker - OARS Accommodation

In order for a student to receive the Peer Notetaker Accommodation, they must:

  1. Be registered with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS).
  2. Be registered for this accommodation based on their needs, and have it documented in their accommodation letter. 
  3. Communicate with the professor that they intend to use their accommodations in the course. 

Professors will first be alerted via receipt of the Faculty Notification Letter each semester by the student. If the student is registered for a Peer Notetaker, it will be stated in the student's letter as follows:

Accommodation letter text: "The student will need a peer notetaker for the course. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the Notetaker Request Form to request a notetaker from OARS. It is the professor’s responsibility to assist OARS with class lists to recruit appropriate peer notetakers if needed."

OARS Responsibility

Student Responsibility

Faculty Responsibility

Determine student eligibility for a student notetaker as an accommodation.

Consult with faculty (when necessary) to discuss this accommodation.

Recruit, hire and employ a student notetaker. 

Create and give access to the Google Drive folder that notes will be uploaded into.



Communicate with the professor the intention to use this accommodation by sending the Faculty Notification Letter in a timely manner. 

Complete the Notetaker Request Form to request notetaker from OARS. Include the name of the course, section, and professor's name.

To ensure notetakers are in place prior to the beginning of a course, notetaker requests should be submitted 2-4 weeks before the course start date.

Assist OARS with class lists to recruit appropriate peer notetakers if needed. 

Accommodation application in an online setting: The peer notetaker accommodation may not apply to all courses. As a general practice, this accommodation is not needed for an online course where the lecture content is delivered asynchronous (i.e. pre-recorded). If a synchronous course meeting is required, a student may request a notetaker. 

Qualification for accommodation: Student notetaker is considered an appropriate accommodation for students who an assistive technology is unable to meet their needs.