Notetaking
Need Help with Notetaking? We’re Here to Support You!
If you experience challenges taking notes during class due to disability-related barriers, the Notetaking Office can help connect you with a volunteer notetaker to support your learning.
Contact us at: sasnotes@uoguelph.ca
How to Request a Notetaker for Your Course
- Discuss your needs - Speak with your SAS Advisor about any barriers your experience to taking notes.
- Submit your accommodation requests - Log in to the SAS Student Portal at the start of each semester to request accommodations and confirm which courses require notes.
- Matching process - The Notetaking Office will make the best effort to assign a volunteer note-taker for your class.
- Access your notes - Once matched, you will be able to download your notes from the SAS Student Portal. Learn how to request and/or access notes for your course using the SAS Student Portal.
- Show your appreciation - Please consider writing a note at the end of the semester to thank the volunteer(s) who provided their notes. SAS will forward this to the volunteer(s) on your behalf.
Important Considerations:
Notetaking does not replace class participation. Attending lectures is essential for fully engaging with course material. This service is meant to enhance your learning, not replace the classroom experience.
Not all courses are eligible for a volunteer note-taker. Courses that may not require this service include:
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Distance Education (DE) courses
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Pre-recorded lectures
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Labs and other hands-on learning experiences (can vary by course)
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Courses where instructors provide comprehensive notes
Notes accessed through the Notetaking Portal are for personal use only. Unauthorized sharing or distribution may be considered academic misconduct under the University of Guelph policies.
Interested in Volunteering as a Notetaker?
Support your peers while enhancing your own learning! Becoming a volunteer is easy and looks great on your resume.
What Do Volunteer Notetakers Do?
Volunteer notetakers agree to share their notes from their own regular classes. This helps students in those same classes who face barriers to taking their own notes. Students receiving notes may have:
- Dexterity impairments that make writing difficult
- Information processing challenges that affect note-taking speed or organization
- Other functional limitations requiring notetaking support as an academic accommodation
By volunteering, you’re directly contributing to your peers' academic success, and many notetakers report that the process also helps improve their own learning and study habits!
Students who wish to volunteer can become a part of the program in three simple steps using the SAS portal:
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Sign up - Log in to the SAS Student Portal and register your course(s).
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Get matched - The Notetaking Office will pair you with a student who needs notes.
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Upload your notes - Regularly submit your lecture notes through the SAS Student Portal.
Why volunteer as a notetaker?
- Help a fellow student.
- Improve your own study skills.
- Gain valuable experience for your resume.
- Get a reference letter or verification on hours of volunteering by SAS!
Questions? Need more assistance? Please email sasnotes@uoguelph.ca
HELPFUL TIP:
Booking Tests & Exams
If you use the SAS Exam Centre, please remember that all test and exam bookings must be submitted at least 10 BUSINESS DAYS in advance and not later than the first business day of March, July, or November as appropriate for the semester.