Note-Taking assistance is provided as an accommodation for students whose documented disabilities inhibit their abilities to take notes.

We strive to foster responsibility and self-sufficiency while acknowledging that these accommodations are meant to aid student learning, not replace active class participation and personal note-taking efforts.

DASS Note-Taking Accommodations:

Messenger Pigeon (MP)

What is MP?

Messenger Pigeon (MP) is a third-party contracted digital technology tool that provides a set of typed notes from a professional specialist Note-Taker. Students upload an audio lecture recording from either their personal recording device or a DASS recorder to receive summarized notes from the MP website.
Learn more on all MP steps (PDF, 385KB)

MP Eligibility

MP serves as the primary source of note-taking for students eligible for note-taking accommodations. If a students believes MP does not provide them with effective solutions, students can contact DASS to schedule a meeting with the DASS Note-Taking Assistant.

Peer Note-Taking

What are Peer Note-Takers?

Peer Note-Takers are hired student assistants who are trained to take handwritten or typed notes based on lecture content during in-class scheduled sessions.
Learn more on all Peer Note-Taking steps (PDF, 253KB)

Peer Note-Taking Eligibility

MP may not be the best fit for some students with specific disability types such as hearing, hand/arm mobility and visual limitations. Due to this, students are approved for Peer Note-Taking or MP-Live services. Peer Note-Takers serve for in-person classes only.
Not all courses qualify for peer note-taking. Courses that do not have a lecture component do not qualify for notes, including most labs, open discussion forums, performance art (dance) courses, etc.

MP-Live

What is MP-Live?

MP-LIVE sends a contracted professional note taker to take notes synchronously during a virtual class session. Notes will be uploaded to selected students' DASS Online Portal accounts afterwords.
Learn more on all MP-Live steps (PDF, 255 KB)

MP-Live Eligibility

MP-Live may not be the best fit for some students with specific disability types such as hearing, hand/arm mobility and visual limitations. Due to this, students are approved for either Peer Note Taking or MP-Live services. MP-Live serves for virtual classes only.
Not all courses qualify for MP-Live. Courses that do not have a lecture component do not qualify for notes, including online-only classes with no lecture recordings.

Note-Taking Resources