Students are responsible for requesting note taking accommodations from a SAS counselor. This request can occur during the initial welcome appointment or anytime thereafter during a drop-in or scheduled appointment. The counselor will review disability documentation and engage in an interactive session with the student to determine if the accommodation can be approved. Eligible students have disabilities that may impact their ability to take notes, due to a variety of reasons: it may be a physical (limited use of hands, low vision, interacting with a sign language interpreter, etc.) or non-physical reason (difficulty listening and writing at the same time, difficulty transcribing verbal information). Once approved it is placed on the student’s AAP. SAS facilitates access to note-taking accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Thank you for your interest in the peer note taker program! Please contact us if you are interested, or if you have any questions or concerns at sas@miracosta.edu or call 760.795.6658.
Getting Started: Student Requesting a Peer Note Taker
- Meet with a counselor to request and discuss peer note taking as an accommodation. Once your Accommodation Letter outlines the approved note-taking accommodation you will receive a Note Taker Application from your SAS counselor. Note Taker Application packets are also available for pick up at the SAS office at Oceanside. You can also request to have a packet emailed to you from sas@miracosta.edu.
- Forward the Note Taker Application as well as your Accommodation Letter to your professor. Your professor will help recruit a note taker and you can choose to work directly with the student to obtain your notes, or you can ask to stay anonymous, and the instructor will facilitate the exchange of notes.
- If a peer note taker is not available, the student is required to contact SAS right away to allow the Counselor to work with the professor and/or SAS staff to identify another note taking solution.
- Regular, ongoing, and timely class attendance is required for note taking services. A Peer Note Taker accommodation is not intended to be provided so that the student receiving the notes misses class. Class attendance is required for students to receive notes. The one exception to this is should the student be absent due to a disability-related absence.
- Student may use the SAS copier to make photocopies of notes. The student may also request for the notes to be e-mailed to either the instructor to e-mail to them or directly to them, depending upon their comfort and preference.
Getting Started: Student Serving as a Note Taker
Instructors will make an announcement in class or on Canvas that a Volunteer Note Taker is needed for the class. Note-takers help other students have equal access to the course material. Note takers simply share their lecture notes with a classmate. Notes provided by peer note takers supplement or provide notes for those who are unable to take notes during class. Note takers do not provide any academic assistance or advantage for those who use the service. Note takers do not provide tutorial or academic assistance in your class.
General Guidelines
Maintain a respectful and professional relationship. Student requesting a note taker may wish to stay anonymous.
- Respect the student’s right to privacy by keeping names confidential.
- Attend all class sessions.
- In the event a note taker must be absent from class: Note takers are required to make arrangements for a substitute note taker, or for notifying their professor.
- Notes should be uploaded within 24 hours of the end of the class session if possible.
- Maintain academic integrity and refrain from sharing copies of notes with other students.
- Notify SAS immediately of any note taking concerns, absences from class, or changes in your class schedule.
Do you think you would make a good note taker? Read more to see if you would enjoy this position!
Note Taking Benefits
- Volunteer note-takers can receive $50 Stipend and/or receive a Letter of Commendation from the President of MiraCosta College.
- At the end of the semester, you will receive an email with a commendation letter, thanking you for serving as a volunteer note-taker this semester.
Enhance Your Résumé
Example Résumé Statement:
Volunteer Note Taker (Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
MiraCosta College, Oceanside Campus, Student Accessibility Services
Provided detailed class notes for qualified students registered with the Student Accessibility
Services. [# weeks or semesters] of accommodation note taking service were completed.
Tips for Successful Peer Note Takers
- Take notes as usual during class. Be sure to record all pertinent content.
- Upload/copy notes and submit to student as soon as possible, within 24 hours of the end of each class session.
- Record the date and class on the top of the first page of notes.
- Put the class session date and course number on the first page.
- Make notes complete and clear enough to understand when you come back to them.
- Explain all abbreviations or acronyms when using them for the first time.
- Note important ideas, terms, and concepts.
- Ask questions about topics that need more clarification.
- Indicate uncertainty about any content with a question mark.
Include in Your Notes
- Anything written/typed on the board or presented on PowerPoint or projector. (if PowerPoint slides are provided by the instructor, you do not have to repeat content.)
- Any information that is repeated or emphasized by the instructor, especially when preceded by key phrases (“finally,” “remember,” “most important,” “this will be on the exam,” etc.)
- Numbered or listed items, procedures, examples, etc.
- Important or new terms, definitions, and examples.
- References to your textbook (page numbers, exercises, graphics, tables, etc.) or other reference materials
- Pertinent comments made by your instructor or classmates during discussions.
- If you aren’t able to keep up with a fast-paced lecture, just write down key nouns, verbs, dates, etc.
- Review your notes and fill in any gaps in concepts or content.
