Disability Resource Center

Notetaking Accommodations

 pen writing on paper

Notetaking Accommodations are approved when the student experiences a barrier to taking their own notes during class. In most cases Notetaking Accommodations are intended to supplement a student’s own notetaking efforts and fill in any gaps in their own notes.

Depending on the notetaking barriers a student experiences, Notetaking Accommodations may include:

  • Notetaking Supports: intended to help students take their own notes. Supports include notetaking technology, permission to audio record class lectures, or use a laptop to take notes during class.
  • Notetaking Services: intended for students who have a barrier to taking their own notes. Students will receive a copy of class notes from a peer or professional notetaker.

Notetaking Supports

To utilize Notetaking Support accommodations, every term the student submits Accommodation Requests indicating which of their eligible Notetaking Support(s) they wish to utilize for each class. Their instructor will then be notified that the student has permission to utilize the requested Notetaking Support(s). 

Notetaking Support Details

DRC contracts with a professional service called Note Take Express (NTE). NTE is a user-friendly service that converts the student’s lecture recordings to professional notes. The student simply records the lecture, uploads it to NTE, and the notes are sent to the student’s CPP email within 24-48 hours.

As part of this accommodation, the student is authorized to audio record lectures and will be required to fill out the Audio Recording Agreement in DRC Online Services every year. A copy of this agreement is provided below.

Students who request Notetaking Technology accommodation for their class(es) will receive an NTE account and information about how to use the service. Students who have any questions or concerns about the use of NTE should contact DRC immediately by emailing drcnotetaking@cpp.edu or completing the Notetaking Technology Review Form for assistance or to explore other options available. 

More information on how to use NTE can be found in our NTE tutorial

Student may use a personal audio recording device of their choice for class lectures. 

DRC recommends students practice using their chosen recording method and verify it works before recording for class. Below is a checklist of items to confirm during practice and after each recording.  

  • Recording can pick up other people talking  
  • Recording does not cutout or stop  
  • Recording can pick up sound properly (i.e., is loud enough, can record instructor speaking at a distance if needed)  
  • If possible, recording can pick up self-talking

Recording Options

  • Recorder app found on iOS or Google Play
  • NTE App for audio recording only
  • Check-out a USB recording device from DRC (limited availability)

If students are having difficulty audio recording, please contact drcnotetaking@cpp.edu 

Student may use a personal laptop solely for notetaking and in-class writing purposes as an exception to course policies restricting use of laptops in the classroom.

If providing lecture slides to the class, instructor must provide a copy to the student prior to the start of class. DRC recommends students speak with their instructor ahead of time to arrange how and when lecture slides will be provided. 

Students are required to adhere to the following conditions prior to using the Notetaking Technology or Recorded Lectures accommodations: 

  • Understand the recorded material will be solely used for their personal use for educational purposes and will not be reproduced or shared in any way. 
  • Understand the recorded material is protected under federal and international copyright legislation and may not be published or quoted (this includes social media) without the instructor's explicit consent. 
  • Understand they must stop recording if personal or sensitive information is being shared. 
  • Understand they must delete all recordings at the end of the term. 

Violation of any of these conditions will be reported to Student Conduct and Integrity for disciplinary action which may include suspension or expulsion from the University. 


Notetaking Services

To utilize Notetaking Services accommodations, every term the student submits their Accommodation Requests indicating each class they will need Notetaking Services for. Their instructor will then be notified that the DRC will work with the student and instructor to establish a notetaker for the class. 

Students approved for Notetaking Services should review or Notetaking Services tutorial.


If you have any questions or concerns about your notetaking accommodations, please do not hesitate to contact DRC at drcnotetaking@cpp.edu or (909) 869-3333. We are here to help!