Audio Recording Lecture Accommodation

The student has trouble processing and retaining information presented verbally during lectures. Due to slower processing and difficulty keeping up with the pace of classroom instruction, the student may not be able to simultaneously listen, process information, and take complete and accurate notes. 

Access to audio recordings of lectures allows the student to review instructional material at their own pace, revisit information as needed, and improve comprehension and retention of course content. This accommodation provides the student with an equitable opportunity to access and process information presented during class. 

Under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, recording lectures is legally recognized as a reasonable aid and academic accommodation for students with disabilities. 

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) may approve audio recording of lectures as an academic accommodation for eligible students whose documented disabilities affect their ability to process, retain, or take comprehensive notes during class. 

Audio recording is intended to provide the student with an additional method for reviewing course material and should be used as a supplement to, not a replacement for attending class and participating in the course. 

Classroom discussions may occasionally include sensitive, personal, or confidential information. Students must use discretion when recording discussions that involve personal experiences, self-disclosure, or information shared by instructors or classmates. 

Students receiving this accommodation are expected to: 

• Respect the privacy and dignity of instructors and classmates. 
• Avoid recording personal conversations or discussions that are unrelated to course instruction. 
• Not share, distribute, post, upload, or otherwise make recordings available to others. 
• Keep recordings secure and accessible only to the student. 
• Recognize that classmates or instructors may disclose personal or sensitive information during classroom discussions. 
• Follow any reasonable instructions provided by the instructor regarding sensitive discussions or activities. 

If a portion of a class involves confidential or highly sensitive self-disclosure, the instructor and OAS may determine that an alternative means of accessing the instructional content is appropriate. 

Students approved to audio record lectures are expected to: 

• Attend class and participate in accordance with course requirements. 
• Use recordings solely for their personal educational use. 
• Protect the privacy and confidentiality of instructors and other students. 
• Respect sensitive information and personal disclosures made during class. 
• Not share, distribute, post, upload, or otherwise make recordings available to others. 
• Not using recordings for purposes unrelated to the course. 
• Delete recordings when they are no longer needed for the course, unless otherwise instructed by OAS. 

The accommodation generally applies to course-related instructional material presented during class, including lectures and discussions that are part of the course. 

Students should not record: 

• Private conversations unrelated to instruction. 
• Personal information or sensitive disclosures shared by another student. 
• Confidential conversations between an instructor and an individual student. 
• Meetings or conversations outside of the approved academic setting. 
• Exams, quizzes, or other assessments unless specifically authorized. 
• Class activities where recording would compromise the privacy or confidentiality of participants. 

Audio recordings may contain the voices, opinions, experiences, and personal information of instructors and students. Students receiving this accommodation have a responsibility to protect the confidentiality of individuals whose voices or information may be captured. 

Recordings are for the student’s personal educational use only and may not be shared with classmates, posted on social media, uploaded to websites, or distributed through any electronic or physical format. 

All recordings must be destroyed and permanently deleted immediately upon the conclusion of the final exam or the last day of the semester. 

When audio recording is approved as an accommodation, the student should work with OAS and the instructor regarding implementation of the accommodation. 

Instructors may contact OAS with questions or concerns regarding the accommodation, particularly when a course includes activities involving sensitive content, personal disclosure, or confidentiality. 

There may be circumstances in which recording a particular class activity is not appropriate because of sensitive content, personal disclosure, privacy, or confidentiality concerns. 

In such situations, OAS will work with the student and instructor to determine an effective alternative accommodation that provides the student with meaningful access to the course material. 

Students and faculty are encouraged to contact the Office of Accessibility Services with questions regarding audio recording accommodations, implementation, sensitive content, self-disclosure, privacy, or alternative arrangements.