Notes are an important part of class success. But what happens if you physically can’t take them?

A lesser-known on-campus job that NC State students are eligible for is an academic assistant who helps another disabled student with various classroom tasks.

Though academic assistants mainly take notes for a disabled student, their work is immensely important in the academics of many disabled students.

“Most of my duties are accompanying the student to one of their classes, and taking notes,” Mackenzie Raymond, a sophomore studying English, said.

It’s important to discern that as an academic assistant, one accompanies a disabled student to only one of their classes, not all of them.

“I am just there for one course, but attend all classes related to that course,” Ayesha Bari, a graduate student studying electrical power systems engineering said. 

Accompanying a student to their classes can be time consuming, however.

“I’m a full-time student, so when I add in the classes I’m assigned to take notes for, it’s almost like I’m taking 21 credit hours,” David Smith, a senior studying civil engineering, said.

As an academic assistant, most duties are strictly related to academics as opposed to a personal assistant.

“Our role is to only take notes, or simple things such as opening a book bag or something similar,” Garima Singh, a graduate student in electrical engineering, said. 

Academic assistants also help students operate clickers, or if needed, do any physical activity for the class, Bari said.

“Additionally, we have to accompany the student if there is a field trip in our assigned class,” Singh said. 

The note-taking that academic assistants do isn’t simply putting pen to paper; it requires the use of Livescribe, an electronic note taking technology.

“I take notes in a special notebook with a Livescribe pen that also records the lecture,” Smith Said.

After they are taken, the notes are shared with the student by computer. 

“After class, I connect the pen to my laptop to transfer the notes to a PDF which I can then share with the student on Google Drive,” Smith said.

Concerning employment, academic assistants are similar to other university employees.

“I applied to be an academic assistant last semester, where I found a job listing through the university network of jobs,” Raymond said.

In addition to filling out a job application, students must go through training once they are hired.

“I took training sessions online concerning how to communicate, as well as take notes,” Raymond Said. 

Another important qualification of an academic assistant is experience with the course in which they will be assisting a student. 

“You have to have past experience with the course subject, because [DSO] doesn’t want you taking the class for your benefit,” Raymond said. 

Smith said he is mainly assigned to assist students with math courses because that is his major.

Sometimes, both the student and the academic assistant happen to be enrolled in the same class.

“A few times I have actually already registered for the class that I’m assisting so I end up working closely with the other student and we help each other out to get a good grade,” Smith said.

Aside from the benefit of employment, academic assistants receive a sense of fulfillment through their job. 

“I really like this job, because I’m from India, and students don’t get this kind of help there,” Singh said.

According to Smith, being an academic assistant is meaningful. 

“I greatly enjoy my job because I know that my efforts to take diligent notes are positively impacting someone’s future,” Smith said.

Through being an academic assistant, students also get a new perspective concerning students with disabilities.

“All of the students with disabilities are very intelligent, and I think it’s important to remember that they are all qualified to be here at NC State,” Raymond said.