How to Find and Keep a Volunteer Notetaker

If you’ve chosen to locate your own classmate volunteer to share notes, here are some tips to get you started in the right direction:

  1. Practice how you might ask someone to be your notetaker. Think about how you would approach the person and what you might say. Ask an OSD counselor, Coordinator of Access Resources, or other students for suggestions. Find what feels comfortable for you.

  2. Try people who sit near the front and pay attention, students you know (or at least recognize) from other classes, students with friendly faces, or older students.

  3. Find one regular notetaker and one or two substitute notetakers.

  4. Give each of your notetakers a "Volunteer Notetaker" handout that are available from the Coordinator of Access Resources.

  5. If you are using the free NCR notepaper available through OSD, be sure to explain how to use it and have a good supply of it with you at all times. NEVER send your notetakers to sign out your packets.

  6. Exchange phone numbers with your notetakers so that you can let each other know about absences. This partnership may also work into a study group.

Here are tips to use once you’ve got everything in place:

  1. Remember to thank your notetakers throughout the term and let them know that you really appreciate their willingness to provide this service. For example, you might say that their notes were a big help when you were studying for an exam or that you appreciate how well they organize the information.

  2. Attend class regularly and actively participate.

  3. Occasionally, students have problems with volunteer notetakers who don’t write down enough, write too messy, or don’t attend class regularly. This can be an uncomfortable situation. You may wish to discuss the situation with an OSD counselor, the Coordinator of Access Resources, or other students who have faced this same dilemma. It's best to deal with the problem soon, not to let it slide and hurt your grade!

As the term ends,

  1. Ask the District Department Chair to write a letter of appreciation to your volunteer. You will need to provide your notetaker’s name (spelled correctly) and the name of the class. You may also include details as to how this assistance was beneficial.

  2. Consider writing a short thank you notes to show your appreciation.