Receiving Peer Notes

Note-taking services require you to communicate with the Center, and with the note-taker.  You will use notes for personal study purposes only, and must not sell, redistribute, copy, or divulge class notes provided as an accommodation.

The Role of a Note-taker

  • The role of the note-taker is to provide a digital copy of their typed notes or handwritten class notes for a student(s) with a disability by uploading them via their CEA Student Login.  In doing so, the note-taker facilitates equivalent access to class information available to all students, with or without disabilities.  It is not acceptable for a note-taker to refer a student with a disability to NoteHall or any other paid service for a copy of their notes.

  • Note-taking services are supplemental and are not meant to be instructional. Students with disabilities should not use note-taking services as their sole means of study for the course. Class attendance, participation in class discussions, course readings, handouts, a student’s own class notes, and discussions with the instructor, together constitute essential elements of study for a course.

  • Students should not request the note-taker to engage in roles that are unrelated to note-taking. Note-takers are not responsible to “re-teach” the material to the student or to engage in a “tutoring” (or other) relationship with the student.

  • The student requests official accommodation letters from the Center by logging into their CEA Student Login. Select “note-taker” as an accommodation for those classes in which you will need a note-taker. You may not need a note-taker in some classes such as online courses, practicums, drills, clinicals, studios and labs or when materials/resources are provided that are considered equivalent to a note-taker (PowerPoints, instructor notes, class recordings, etc.) Assess your needs before requesting note-takers. (You can always modify your request by checking or unchecking the note-taker box.) Peer notes may not be reasonable or appropriate when materials/resources are provided that are considered equivalent to a note-taker. Examples include but are not limited to PowerPoints, instructor notes, and class recordings.

The Process of Securing a Note-taker

1.  Request accommodation letters

First request official accommodation letters from the CEA by logging into CEA Student Login . Select “note-taker” as an accommodation for those classes in which the student with a disability will need a note-taker. 

2. Confirm note-taker requests.

You must confirm note-taker requests in each class it is requested before recruitment of a note-taker begins.

  1. Log into CEA Student Login.
  2. On the left-side navigation, click the "Note-taking Services" link.
  3. Click "Confirm Now".

3. Discuss accommodations with instructors.

You are responsible for discussing accommodation needs with instructors of the courses when the accommodation letter is delivered. Please inform the instructor that an email will be sent from CEA if their help is needed to recruit a note-taker. (We may already have a volunteer in the course.)

4. CEA contacts instructors if necessary to secure a note-taker.

After you have requested accommodation letters and confirmed need for a note-taker, the CEA will email instructor(s) with an announcement to recruit a note-taker unless we already have a volunteer or the student with a disability has chosen a note-taker. In this case, email ceanotes@uark.edu to let us know and have the note-taker sign up through CEA Student Login. The instructor may personally identify a class note-taker in lieu of making the announcement. After the delivery of the accommodation letter (and discussion with the student) the instructor may read the announcement to the class, post the announcement on Blackboard or email it to the class roster to recruit a note-taker.

NOTE: Want to be a note-taker? Students who are interested in being a note-taker should sign up via CEA Student Login.  Click on note-taker login. Enter UARK email and password. Click “Sign Up as a Note-taker” and complete the online information. Note-taker volunteers do not need to go to the instructor.  The CEA will select a volunteer and the student with a disability will receive an email when a note-taker has been assigned.

5.  Check for uploaded notes.

It is your responsibility to log into your CEA Student Login to check for uploaded notes by clicking on the note-taker link to the left. You may contact the note-taker and discuss with the note-taker how notes will be provided if there is a problem with uploaded notes. Alternatives are emailed notes or copy of notes, or carbonless note-taking paper. The CEA prefers that notes are uploaded or delivered immediately following class, whenever possible.

6. If you do not receive notification of an assigned note-taker within two class periods of the class announcement, you should contact the CEA office at ceanotes@uark.edu to inquire if a note-taker has volunteered.  If no volunteer has come forward, the CEA office will contact the instructor and ask that the announcement be made again to the class.

7. You are responsible for maintaining contact with the CEA office regarding note-taker status and/or if any problems occur by emailing ceanotes@uark.edu or calling 479-575-3104.

8. You are also encouraged to record class lectures (as applicable) so lecture content can be accessed and reviewed (see #3, below).

Attendance

  • Students who receive copies of peer notes are required to attend classes (notes are supplemental in nature and are not intended to replace or substitute for class attendance).

  • Students who miss more than three classes without discussing their situation with a Center staff member may forfeit their right to continue to receive class notes.

  • Note-takers are not obligated to provide notes for classes of which the student has missed.

Concerns

  • If you do not receive notification of an assigned note-taker within two class periods of the class announcement, you should contact the Center’s office at ceanotes@uark.edu to ask if a note-taker has volunteered.  If no volunteer has come forward, the CEA will contact the instructor and ask that the announcement be made again to the class.

  • You have the right to be assigned a new note-taker if the volunteer is not providing timely or adequate notes.  In this case, you are encouraged to contact the CEA as soon as possible so alternative arrangements can be made.

  • You are responsible for maintaining contact with the CEA regarding note-taker status and/or if any problems occur immediately by emailing ceanotes@uark.edu or calling 479-575-3104.