Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I request note taking services?

A: To receive note taking support you must be eligible for the services. If you are unaware of your eligibility, you can contact your Accessibility Consultant, and together you can determine if you are eligible for the support. Note taking support also comes with a cost, your Accessibility Consultant will discuss your options with you to cover the costs associated with this service.

If you already have note taking as an accommodation, you can request a note taker for one or more of your courses by completing Request a Note Taker process. Instructions can be found on our Clockwork How To's webpage. Remember to submit the form as early as possible to ensure that you have note taking in place for the first day of the term.

NOTE: You will note be able to request note taking services until you have reviewed and confirmed your Accommodations for the current term.

Q: Can I request a specific note taker?

A: Yes, if you have had a note taker in the past that you really liked and would like to request that they note take for you once again this term, you may make that request. It cannot be guaranteed, as it all depends on the note taker's schedule, but we will do all that we can to make that arrangement. You can submit your request by e-mail to notetaking@nipissingu.ca after you have identified your need for a note taker on the portal.

Q: I don't need a note taker for my class anymore, what should I do?

A: If you no longer need a note taker for one of your courses, or a portion of your course (seminar, lab, tutorial), please let the Student Accessibility Officers know as soon as possible. Remember, note taking is a paid-for service, and even if you are using the BSWD (Bursary for Students with Disabilities) to cover the cost, there is a limit of funding that is assigned to each student that is eligible. By informing the Student Accessibility Officers of any changes, we can refund your bursary if there are any unused portions, leaving you with more money for any other terms.

Q: For one of my courses the online portal says "Notetaking accommodations not approved for this course. If you require a notetaker please contact your disability advisor", but I thought I was eligible for note taking. What does this mean?

A: This statement can mean one of two things:

• If you do not have note taking as an accommodation, then this statement means that you are not currently eligible for note taking services - contact your Accessibility Consultant for more information on this support.
• If you do have note taking as an accommodation, then this statement means that you have not requested note taking support for this specific course. Complete the Request a Note Taker process for each course.

Q: For one of my courses within the portal, I am not able to access my notes, and it says "N/A" instead of the "Notes" button. What does this mean?

A: This simply means that we are still working on filling your request, and we do not have a note taker matched with this course yet. If you have received confirmation that you have a note taker, but are not able to access your notes, please contact notetaking@nipissingu.ca for support.

Q: I am not getting my notes in a timely fashion. What can I do?

A: If you are not receiving your notes within 24 - 48 hours after the class has ended, it is your responsibility to contact the Student Accessibility Officers and inform them of your concern. We will follow up with the note taker, and work together to resolve the issue. Remember, you stay anonymous to the note takers unless you have chosen to self-identify to them on your own.

Q: The notes that I am receiving are not supporting me well (the format isn't ideal, there is key information missing, etc.). What can I do?

A: If you are receiving notes that are formatted in a way that does not support your learning, or there is important content that seems to be missing lecture-to-lecture, it is your responsibility to contact the Student Accessibility Officers and inform them of your concern(s). We will follow up with the note taker, and work together to find a solution. The note takers are required to be flexible with their note taking techniques, and note takers are put in place to support you, so do not be afraid to bring up any concern(s). Remember, you stay anonymous to the note taker unless you have chosen to self-identify to them on your own.