Peer Notetakers

Notetakers are students who are enrolled in the same class as the student registered with the Office of Accessibility. Notetakers simply provide their notes to the student to whom they are assigned. The Office of Accessibility will provide you with the necessary materials for notetaking such as carbon copy paper, a copy card, or instructions for uploading notes. It is very easy!

Benefits of Being a Notetaker
  • $100 on All Campus Zip Card Account per class you are assigned as a notetaker. The money will be applied at the end of the semester if all notes were provided to the student within the required time frame. This can be used to buy textbooks, food on and off campus, or anywhere zip cards are accepted.
  • Enhance your resume- your participation can be indicated on resumes.
  • Example Resume Statement:

Notetaker (Semester and Year)
The University of Akron, Office of Accessibility

Provided detailed notes, weekly, for qualified students registered with the Office of Accessibility.

  • Gain satisfaction from helping a fellow student. We’re looking for people who write legibly, summarize the main points, and have the desire to help another student.

How to Sign Up as a Peer Notetaker
  1. Register Online through the Student Testing and Accommodation Request System (STARS). Log in with your UAnet ID and password and select Sign Up as a Notetaker. You will need to have your schedule available. For more information about signing up to be a notetaker, please visit Registering to be a Notetaker.
  2. Register with your student ID, username and your UA email address.
  3. Search for classes and submit your class schedule using the subject, course and section number for the classes in which you are volunteering.
  4. Read and Sign the Notetaker Contract.
  5. Verify that your class schedule is accurate and submit the schedule.
  6. For additional questions, contact the Office of Accessibility at access@uakron.edu or 330-972-7928.

Once you Have Signed Up as a Peer Notetaker

You will be notified by email if we have matched you with a potential notetaking assignment. To be hired for the notetaking assignment:

  • Confirm the assignment via the link in the email “I agree to take notes in this class, and I am still enrolled in this class.”
  • Complete the Notetaker Training and Quiz by clicking on the link provided in the email. It is very easy to complete!
  • Contact the student(s) for whom you will be taking notes. Their contact information will be provided in the notetaking assignment email. If a student name is not listed, this means the student wishes to remain confidential and notes will need to be uploaded or brought to our office.
  • Have your instructor fill out the Instructor Verification Form and upload to STARS with a page of your notes.
  • Sign an Electronic Invoice at the end of the semester verifying that you have provided the notes to the student(s) for the whole semester.
  • For peer notetakers of online classes: In online courses, peer notetakers are only responsible for providing notes that cover lecture materials (live or recorded lectures, PowerPoints, or readings that are intended to take the place of a lecture), and do not provide notes covering course assignments or homework materials. Peer notetakers are never responsible for assisting students with homework, studying, or testing.

User Guides for Peer Notetakers

Register to be a Notetaker
A Guide to Notetaking Services (PDF)
Uploading Notes to STARS
Uploading Instructor Verification Form to STARS (PDF)
Reducing File Size for Uploading Notes (PDF)
Signing Notetaker Invoice 
Notetaking Strategies and Tips for Online Classes (PDF)