Notetaking Service Fact Sheet

The McBurney Disability Resource Center's Notetaking Service helps qualified students with disabilities locate paid notetakers. In most instances notetakers are students recruited from the class during the first week of school. Recruiting notetakers during the first week allows you to review actual class notes from several notetaker applicants before making a final selection.

Funding for the notetaking service is provided through U.W. Madison for most students. Notetaking may also be funded through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) for non-Wisconsin VR clients. Funding includes a per credit cost for notetaker stipends, supplies and coordination. Notetakers who are employed to take notes for more than one student in a class receive an extra 50% of the base stipend for each additional student.

In keeping with McBurney's philosophy of encouraging independence, you are expected to participate in managing your notetaking services. Your responsibilities, as well as those of McBurney staff, faculty, and notetakers, are outlined below:

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT POINTS

1. Request notetaking services at https://www.mcb.wisc.edu/students/Login/ as soon as you register for classes.
2. Meet with faculty to request assistance in recruiting notetakers. Give them a faculty letter.
3. Give each notetaker a Notetaker Information Form as soon as you hire them.
4. Inform the Notetaker Coordinator immediately of any changes in notetaking requests.

Responsibilities for Arranging Notetaker Services:

1. Request notetaking services as soon as you register for classes by completing the online request form at https://www.mcb.wisc.edu/students/Login/ .
   
   Requests must be submitted to McBurney prior to the start of the semester to ensure that notes are provided and funded for the entire semester. For example, if a request form is submitted to McBurney during the sixth week of the semester, the notetaker will be paid a prorated amount for providing notes from the sixth week until the end of the semester. McBurney is not responsible for services provided prior to receiving a notetaker request.



2. If you are also using interpreting or captioning services, submit the Notetaker Hiring Preferences Form / Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.



3. Inform B.A. Scheuers if a non-Wisconsin VR agency is funding your notetaking services.


Provide your VR counselor's name, phone number and email so that the VR counselor can be contacted regarding funding support.


4. Meet with faculty to request assistance in recruiting notetakers, if needed. Provide a faculty letter which includes a notetaking recruitment announcement.


If you want a notetaker request announcement read on the first class day, schedule an appointment to discuss the announcement with the faculty member before classes begin. Faculty letters can be printed from McBurney's web site or picked up at the office. NOTE: Students who also use interpreting or captioning services may request to have faculty letters mailed directly to faculty by submitting a Notetaker Hiring Preference Form.


5. Give each notetaker a Notetaker Information Form and notetaking supplies when hired.


Notetaking Information Forms can be printed from McBurney's web site or picked up at the office. In order to receive full payment, notetakers must submit the Notetaker Information Form in a timely manner. Make sure they receive one immediately upon hiring. Notetaking supplies can be picked up at McBurney.


6. Inform the Notetaker Coordinator immediately of any changes in notetaking requests.



7. Other options to consider include approaching instructors regarding their willingness to share copies of course notes and using online lecture notes.



Responsibilities Throughout the Semester:


1. Inform McBurney as soon as possible if you are having difficulties locating a notetaker.
2. Request only those services from the notetaker as outlined in the notetaker's job description (e.g., the notetaker should not be asked to recopy notes, take notes from the text, tutor, etc., unless authorized as an appropriate accommodation).
3. Notify the notetaker when you will not be in class, at least 24 hours in advance when absences are predictable.
   • Notifying notetakers enrolled in the class is primarily a courtesy (e.g., notetakers might skip a class during midterms to study for exams if they know you plan to do the same).
   • Notetakers will provide notes for occasional, unanticipated absences; however notes will not be provided for planned or chronic nondisability-related absences.
   • It is your responsibility to regularly attend classes. Frequent non-disability-related absences may result in a suspension of services for that course.
4. Arrange to collect notes from your notetaker at each class meeting. Notetakers will assume you are absent if you don't collect notes and they haven't seen you.
5. If you drop a class or your schedule changes, let the notetaker and the McBurney staff know immediately. Notetakers are only paid up to one week beyond the drop date.
6. Give the notetaker regular, helpful feedback about his/her notes.
7. If you are not satisfied with the notes taken by the notetaker, you should determine the problem (e.g., legibility, organization, completeness) and discuss it with the notetaker. If problems persist, you should bring them to the attention of the McBurney Disability Resource Center staff.
8. Return evaluation forms for each of your notetakers and the notetaker program when requested.
9. Verify and sign the Notetaker Payment Verification Form when requested.
10. Return any supplies you've checked out by the due date. Due dates may be extended by calling McBurney.
11. Notes are for your use only and should not be distributed to others in the class.

1. McBurney provides copies of an introductory letter to faculty that includes a notetaker request announcement to be read on the first class day. Use of this letter is optional but highly recommended.
2. McBurney provides information forms and an orientation session for notetakers.
3. McBurney provides notetaker supplies.
4. McBurney processes payment for notetakers, for both University and VR funded students. Notetaking services will be funded only when students have submitted a request.

The role of the faculty is to facilitate provision of the notetaking service. This is accomplished in the following ways:

1. Faculty announce requests for notetakers on the first day of class, if necessary.
2. Faculty channel interested notetakers to the student. Screening out of inappropriate applicants, based on a short perusal of sample notes, is appreciated.
3. Faculty re announce requests for paid notetakers when necessary. Again, screening of applicants is appreciated.
4. If possible, faculty provide photocopies of their notes or notes taken by a teaching assistant until a notetaker is located or as a supplement to the notetaker's notes. Faculty or teaching assistants who routinely produce complete, legible notes for their courses and who are willing to photocopy those for the student will be providing a valuable service. A notetaker may be unnecessary if faculty or TA notes meet the student's needs.

1. Attend all scheduled classes, except in cases of illness and emergencies.
2. Inform the student when you cannot be in class, at least 24 hours in advance when absences are predictable.
3. Pre-arrange for a substitute notetaker for days when you will be absent. We recommend finding someone in the class since he or she will be familiar with the subject matter and available without notice. Make sure that you discuss arrangements for substitute notes with the student for whom you're taking notes. Notetakers enrolled in the class may have their stipend reduced if they fail to provide adequate notetaker coverage during their absences.
4. Provide notes for the student for occasional absences. If absences seem excessive, discuss your concerns with B.A. Scheuers, not with the student. If the student drops the course without informing you, you will be paid up to one week beyond the drop date.
5. Keep notetaking assignments confidential.
6. Comply with the code of ethics for notetakers.
7. Get feedback on the notes from the student and the instructor.
8. Give the McBurney Disability Resource Center staff at least two weeks' notice if you plan to quit.
9. Return any supplies you've checked out by the due date.
10. Return the completed Notetaker Payment Verification Form by the due date. It is your responsibility to obtain the student's signature on the form.

If you have questions or problems with the notetaking service, please contact McBurney Disability Resource Center's Notetaking Coordinator at 263-2741 (voice) or 263-6393 (TTY) or by e-mail at notes@odos.wisc.edu.