Disability Services

To Disability Services (SLDS) peer notetakers:

Thank you! We appreciate you volunteering to provide a copy of your notes to a SLDS-registered student. Your assistance helps the university provide equitable access to education for all students.

Please complete the steps below to begin your role as a peer notetaker for SLDS. Failure to meet your responsibilities as a notetaker may result in forfeiture of compensation.

1. Register as a Notetaker.

• Register as a peer notetaker in AIM. Your Username is your name.# and your School ID is the 9-digit number on your BuckID.
• If you are a student who has previously registered with SLDS for accommodations, you will instead email slds-notes@osu.edu and request to be added as a notetaker.

2. Request your notetaking assignments.

• Login to AIM. Request an assignment for the class(es) for which you will provide peer notes. You can search for your class using the Course Subject and Course Number (e.g., Chemistry 1210) or input the unique CRN for your section. You can find these on your Class Schedule. The same page is where you will upload notes, once you are assigned in the system.

3. Take legible, good quality notes.

• For tips on effective note-taking strategies, visit the Dennis Learning Center’s Active Note-Taking Strategies page.

• Consider how you’ll be providing notes, and how to make the exchange as smooth as possible. For example, it can be difficult to scan notes from a 3-ring binder. Loose-leaf paper is easier to scan, while typed notes require no scanning at all.

4. Deliver notes in a timely manner.

• Typically, notes should be delivered by the following class period, or within 48 hours. Notes can be uploaded to your AIM notetaker portal. 
  
  
• All notes relevant to an upcoming exam should be delivered with enough time for the registered student to use the notes for studying.

5. Attend class regularly and keep in communication.

• Even if you are absent from class, you are still responsible for providing notes for that day. Work with the instructor or a classmate to obtain a copy of notes.
  
  
• If there are any changes in the note-taking arrangement (you drop the class, the services are not needed anymore, etc.), or if you have any questions/concerns about your role, please let us and your instructor know as soon as possible.

6. Maintain confidentiality.

• It is okay to tell people that you are a notetaker for SLDS, but do NOT reveal any identifying information (name, disability, etc.) about the student(s) receiving notes unless you have their explicit permission.

7. Follow the instructions below to receive compensation.

We will provide either (1) a stipend of $25 per credit hour or (2) a certificate of volunteering upon satisfactory completion of note-taking assistance. This compensation can be awarded only once for each course for which you are providing notes. Your compensation is only based on the credit hours of the course and stays the same regardless of the number students for whom you are providing notes. 

• If you are currently a student employee, you will be paid via direct deposit approximately 4-6 weeks after the end of the semester. Please note that your stipend will be the amount of compensation after taxes and will be added to the payment for your current student employee position.
  
  
• If you are NOT currently a student employee, you will be paid via direct deposit/eft or check. We highly encourage you to complete the direct deposit form for more efficient payment. If you choose to paid by check, please note it can take up to 90 days to receive the paper check by mail to your permanent address after the end of the semester.
  
  
•  Regular faculty or staff are not eligible to receive the stipend.

IMPORTANT: To be eligible to receive a stipend payment, notetakers are required to complete and submit additional documentation described in the sections below. Stipend payments cannot be processed without the required documentation.

To Receive a Certificate of Volunteering:

1. On your Notetaker Request Form, indicate that you are requesting volunteer hours.
   
   
2. We will email you a certificate confirming your volunteer hours 2-4 weeks after the end of the semester.

To Receive the Stipend:

1. On your Notetaker Request Form, indicate that you are requesting a stipend.
   
   
2. If applicable, submit a completed New Vendor Setup Form and OPERS Independent Contractor/Worker Acknowledgment to slds-notes@osu.edu at least 3 weeks prior to the start of finals week for the current semester/term. All non-student employee notetakers seeking a stipend MUST complete and submit the OPERS Acknowledgement. If you have served as a notetaker in a previous semester, were paid by check/direct deposit (as a non-student employee), and your mailing address has not changed, you do not need to submit a new vendor form. If you are a student employee requesting compensation, you do not need to submit a vendor form. If you served as a notetaker in a previous semester while a student employee, but are now no longer a student employee, you will need to submit a vendor form. To be paid via direct deposit, you must also submit a voided check or bank letter confirming routing and account numbers. This form requires a handwritten signature. Signature from a tablet with a stylus pen is also acceptable.
   
   
3. Non-citizens must also complete and submit a W-8BEN form along with a copy of your passport and visa. Once this information is entered into the system, you will receive an email from support@online-tax.net giving you access to log-on and complete a questionnaire. If the requested information is not completed within 15 days the maximum amount of US tax will be withheld from any US income paid to you.