Notetakers
Request a Volunteer Notetaker
Steps to Request a Volunteer Notetaker:
Note: Notetaker accommodation must be approved prior to this request.
- When sending your Faculty Notification Emails in the Portal, select "Notetaking Services" from your approved accommodations for each class in which you will require a notetaker.
- Once your request for a Faculty Notification Email has been approved (this may take up to 48 hours), you must confirm your request. On your Portal dashboard, click "Notetaking Services" on the left. Click "Confirm Now" for each course that requires a notetaker.
- When a notetaker has been assigned, they will upload notes directly into the Portal. You can access the notes by selecting "Click to download available notes."
It is important to remember that peer notetakers are volunteers. Although you request a notetaker for a specific course, there is a chance that no one volunteers. If you require notetaking assistance in a course that does not have a notetaker assigned, contact your Accommodation Coordinator to discuss alternative notetaking supports.
If you are eligible for this accommodation, when you select "Notetaking Services" on your Faculty Notification Email request, your professor is notified that you may need a notetaker. You will then be prompted in Portal to confirm that you really need the notetaker. Please be sure that you need a notetaker in the class before confirming.
DSS will send an email to your professor to make an announcement to recruit a notetaker for you. After a notetaker is identified, they will be instructed to upload their notes in the Portal.
Volunteering as a Notetaker
Notetaker Role
Some students have disabilities that prevent them from being able to take effective and complete notes during class. These disabilities may or may not be readily apparent to others, but their eligibility to receive notetaking services has been documented and authorized by Disability Support Services (DSS).
The role of the notetaker is to provide a student with a disability with class notes via regular uploads to the Portal. By doing so, the notetaker facilitates equivalent access to class information for all students, with or without disabilities.
- Navigate to the DSS Portal.
- Log in using your UDSIS User ID/UDID# and password.
- If you are a DSS-registered student, please contact our office to verify your eligibility to sign up as a notetaker.
- If you are currently registered as a notetaker with our office, please sign in and sign up as a notetaker through "My Dashboard" (go to step 4).
- New notetakers will need to complete the Notetaker Application (please use your UD email address in all requested email fields).
- The next screen will ask for additional information (such as name, address, and cell phone number). Once submitted, you will automatically be logged out, and your Portal account will be created.
- On the login screen, click “Sign In.”
- Once logged into the Portal, you will electronically sign the Notetaker Agreement/Contract and can begin searching for courses or notetaking assignments. You will need either the Course Registration Number (CRN), which is a four-digit number you can find in UDSIS or on your class schedule, or the course subject and number.
- Once you have located the course you are volunteering for, you will be asked to verify the course and select your method of compensation (either 15 community service hours per class or a letter of commendation).
- Once you have been assigned as the notetaker, you will be sent an email to confirm your assignment. You may choose to decline the assignment if you are no longer interested in volunteering at that time.
- After receiving the confirmation email, you should begin uploading notes to the Portal.
- To upload class notes, log in to the DSS Portal.
- Within the Portal, click the "Notetaker" icon in the left column.
- Under My Assignments, click "Upload and View Notes."
- To upload notes, select the class, week, and day the notes correspond to, then choose a file.
- If your file is successfully uploaded, you will see a green checkmark in a circle and a confirmation message.
- You will also see a list of files that have been uploaded at the bottom of the page.
- Notetaker and DSS student names remain confidential throughout the semester. If you have any concerns, please contact DSS directly.
Important: If you are scanning your notes, please make sure the scan resolution is not set too high. Typically, 150 dpi works well. PowerPoint files are usually too large and will need to be converted into a PDF.
It is vital for students with disabilities to receive their notes as soon as possible. Uploading notes the same day is preferred so they can have equal access to class materials when studying for exams and quizzes.
For example, if you take notes in a Monday, Wednesday or Friday class and there is a quiz on Monday, the student with a disability will need Friday’s class notes on Friday to have equal access.
Typed notes are the preferred method for most lectures. Include the course title and the date of the class (e.g., MATH 241 – 3/2/26). Also include instructions for any assignments given, as well as dates for upcoming exams, papers, or other assignments mentioned in class.
If the professor uses PowerPoint presentations that are available to all students, include any additional lecture information and note which slide it corresponds to. Class discussion notes should also be included.
Other Tips:
- Listen for repeated details from the instructor.
- Listen for sentences containing the following words: results, cause, characteristics, purpose, criticisms, contrasts, similarities, and summary.
- Include any information the instructor indicates will be on the exam.
- If there were no notes for a particular class meeting, write the following:
“No notes for the class meeting on 00/00/0000.”
If known, please include the reason no notes were given (e.g., the instructor dismissed class for library research). - Use a black or blue pen when taking handwritten notes so the scan will be clear.
- For a clear scan, use only the front side of the paper and do not write on the back.
Notetakers who have concerns about any aspect of the notetaking process and/or the student they are taking notes for should contact DSS at 302-831-4643 or dssoffice@udel.edu.
DSS staff members will determine the appropriate course of action based on information gathered and discussions with the student with a disability, the course instructor and the notetaker.