UCSB must provide auxiliary aids and services to students with documented disabilities and not deny equal access to the institution’s programs, courses and activities. For a variety of reasons, some students are not able to take adequate notes during class, while others need longer time to process spoken content. Audio recorders are a legitimate auxiliary aid as a supplement or substitute for note-taking for some students with disabilities and to allow others who need it the ability to capture the spoken content of the class for further review.
Guidelines for Use:
Students must discuss this and all accommodations with their instructor before they are used for lectures, discussions, etc. Recordings in any form are:
- The University’s and the instructor's intellectual property and not owned by the student.
- An alternative format of the class notes and/or provide access to the spoken content of the class for students with disabilities that require them.
- Only permitted for use by the student who is given the accommodation and may not be consumed by or sold to any other person in any form (audio, text, speech, ETC.). Violations of this can be subject to the Student Code of Conduct.
- Released to the student by the instructor for the limited uses listed above, and this student is held accountable to use them within these guidelines.
- Self-disclosure by students of personal issues and experiences in recordings are protected under the same guidelines as the instructor's spoken content.
- Permission to make recordings will not be withheld as defined by law as long as this access is not abused by the student.
In the event that it is determined that this access has been abused, the accommodation will be reevaluated by DSP, and disciplinary action may occur.