Title: From peer notetakers to Genio Notes: How University of California, Berkeley saved $250,000 and improved student outcomes | Genio

URL Source: https://genio.co/blog/-how-university-of-california-berkeley-saved-250000-and-improved-student-outcomes-with-genio-notes

Published Time: 2026-06-12T11:42:03.000Z

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# From peer notetakers to Genio Notes: How University of California, Berkeley saved $250,000 and improved student outcomes | Genio

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# From peer notetakers to Genio Notes: How University of California, Berkeley saved $250,000 and improved student outcomes

Discover how University of California, Berkeley reduced its peer notetaker headcount by 76% and saved $250,000 annually by switching to Genio Notes, giving students the independence and confidence to take ownership of their own learning.

![Image 69: Clock](https://genio.co/hubfs/raw_assets/public/genio-2025/images/clock.svg) 4 min read ![Image 70: Calendar](https://genio.co/hubfs/raw_assets/public/genio-2025/images/calender.svg)Published: 12 Jun 2026

![Image 71: Author](https://genio.co/hubfs/raw_assets/public/genio-2025/images/author.svg)Arpita Utham

![Image 72: From peer notetakers to Genio Notes: How University of California, Berkeley saved $250,000 and improved student outcomes](https://genio.co/hubfs/BLOG_how%20to%20study%20better%20THUMB.png)

![Image 73: Sticky notes on a board next to a sand timer and open notebook](https://genio.co/hubfs/BLOG_how%20to%20study%20better%20HERO.png)

**Key takeaways:**

*   **Saving $250,000 a year:**University of California, Berkeley made the shift to [Genio Notes](https://genio.co/notes) and reduced their peer notetaker headcount from 406 to just 99, saving $250,000 a year. 
*   **Supporting student agency:** The decision to switch to Genio Notes was driven by giving students ownership over how they learn. Beginning with 25 Genio Notes licenses over the summer term, made the transition evidence-backed before scaling.
*   **Less anxiety, stronger engagement:** Students reported feeling less overwhelmed in lectures and more confident in their academics since switching to Genio Notes.
*   **Finding the right balance:**Technology-based note taking support hasn’t replaced peer notetakers entirely, but it directs the right resources to the students who need them the most.

* * *

In a [**recent webinar**](https://genio.co/webinars/how-uc-berkeley-centralised-note-taking-accommodations) hosted by Genio, **Christian Yee, Auxiliary Services Supervisor at****University of California****,****Berkeley** shared how switching from a peer notetaker program to [**Genio Notes**](https://genio.co/notes) saved the institution **$250,000** annually.

Prior to the switch, a student would be assessed, a peer notetaker would be assigned, and the department would spend significant time and energy in coordinating that match.

The[**peer note taking model**](https://genio.co/blog/higher-ed-is-rethinking-peer-note-taking), however well-intentioned, was built around filling a gap rather than building a skill. And, as the number of students registered with disabilities continued to rise, that model was becoming harder to sustain. University of California, Berkeley needed a solution that could scale student support without increasing administrative burden and put students back in control of their own learning.

By introducing [**Genio Notes**](https://genio.co/notes), the University of California, Berkeley, reduced its peer notetaker headcount by **76%** in under two years, saving **$250,000** annually and giving students more **confidence, independence**, and **ownership**over their learning.

## Why is student independence so important in note taking accommodations?

The peer note taking model has served students for many years and played an important role in higher education, but there's a[growing case for why it needs to change](https://genio.co/blog/higher-ed-is-rethinking-peer-note-taking). When someone else captures the lecture, the student reads it back later, and the loop closes without them ever having to engage actively with the material. The cognitive work that makes note taking valuable never happens.

[**Independent note taking**](https://genio.co/webinars/why-you-should-encourage-independent-note-taking-in-2025-genio) shifts who is in control of the learning experience. When a student chooses when to record, what to bookmark and how to interact with a transcript, they are proactively participating and building the kind of [**self-efficacy and academic confidence**](https://genio.co/resources/research-and-insights/how-does-genio-notes-increase-academic-self-efficacy) that follows them far beyond the classroom.This is what **Genio Notes**empowers learners to achieve.

_"Now they can choose when they want to record, when they don't want to record, what they want to do with their slides. They're back in the driver's seat." - Christian Yee, Auxiliary Services Supervisor at_ _University of California_ _Berkeley_

The [practical impact](https://genio.co/resources/research-and-insights/learner-impact-report-2026) shows up in the classroom. Students who were previously spending lectures typing to create their own transcripts, or straining to capture every word at the expense of actually listening, can now **sit back**, **engage** with their instructor, and **trust**that the content is being captured for them to review during their study sessions.

**_To read more about how Genio Notes is transforming the college student experience_**[**_click here_**](https://genio.co/blog/how-genio-notes-is-transforming-the-college-student-experience)**_._**

## How can colleges transition from peer notetakers to technology based note taking support?

University of California, Berkeley started with a pilot of **25 Genio Notes licenses**, run over a three month summer term. Students already using audio recording accommodations were invited to try **Genio Notes**. Feedback was gathered, confidence was built, and by the following Fall, the department had **scaled to 50 licenses.**

From there, disability specialists referred new registrants directly to Genio Notes. Existing students frustrated with inconsistent peer note taking were offered the option to switch.

_“Being more confident in my notes because of Genio Notes, allows me to thus be more confident in my studying. I am more sure of my notes, and therefore am more sure of myself when reviewing these notes.” - Autumn, Student at University of California,Berkeley_

_“Genio Notes helps me study more effectively because I can capture the full lecture and then review it in a structured way instead of relying on rushed notes.” - Parshv, Student at University of California,Berkeley_

**_To learn more about Genio Notes’ impact on student outcomes,_**[**_click here_**](https://genio.co/resources/research-and-insights/learner-impact-report-2026)**_._**

## How much can Disability Services departments save by replacing peer notetakers with Genio Notes?

In Spring 2024, University of California, Berkeley was still running **406 peer notetakers** across campus. By Fall 2025, that number had dropped to **99**, thanks to Genio Notes. The department now records approximately **4,000** classes per semester and students have logged tens of thousands of **hours of recordings** since the program began.

The financial impact has been equally stark. **Peer note taking**, when you factor in recruitment, coordination, monitoring, and employment administration, **costs roughly four times more than Genio Notes**. The savings at University of California, Berkeley amount to approximately **$250,000** annually.

Freed from the administrative weight of coordinating hundreds of notetaker assignments, Christian’s team can spend more time on the students who genuinely need intensive, individualized support.

_"Peer notes still have a place. There are students who physically cannot engage in this process themselves. The goal isn't to remove peer notetakers. It's to make sure we're using the right tool for the right student."_ _- Christian Yee, Auxiliary Services Supervisor at University of California, Berkeley_

**_To learn more about how streamlined accommodations can improve student outcomes and reduce admin time for accessibility teams,_**[**_click here_**](https://genio.co/blog/how-streamlined-accommodations-can-improve-student-outcomes)**_._**

## How can departments collaborate with faculty for AI note taking and lecture recording tools?

Proactive collaboration with faculty on the topics of recording and AI in the classroom is highly valuable, and having clear guidance in place helps build trust and confidence early on. University of California, Berkeley approached this proactively by establishing clear communication and expectations from the outset.

Working with the institution's policy analysts, Christian's team developed **clear guidance** for faculty on how the accommodation works, what data is captured, how it is stored, and what AI does and does not do within the platform.

Genio Notes **does not use student data**to train **AI models**. The recordings belong to the student. For institutions that don't yet have a formal audio recording policy or an [AI use policy](https://genio.co/resources/research-and-insights/ai-policy-template) in place, these conversations are worth having proactively.

**_To learn more about Genio’s AI policy,_**[**_click here_**](https://genio.co/ai-hub)**_._**

## What does sustainable note taking accommodation delivery look like for growing Disability Services teams?

University of California, Berkeley's experience points to something broader. As [Disability Services](https://genio.co/blog/how-disability-services-offices-can-be-the-drivers-of-strategic-goals-genio) teams face rising registration numbers, tighter budgets, and growing expectations, they need to focus on how to build a model of accommodation that is **sustainable, scalable**, and **centered on the learner's development.**

[**Evidence-backed**](https://genio.co/about/research-accreditation-hub) note taking tools like [**Genio Notes**](https://genio.co/notes) do something peer note taking never quite managed. It makes the student a [**proactive participant**](https://genio.co/resources/research-and-insights/how-does-genio-notes-increase-academic-self-efficacy) in their own learning rather than the recipient of someone else's interpretation of a lecture.

Genio Notes also generates data using an array of [**admin features**](https://genio.co/resources/product-and-feature-guides/genio-notes-admin-guide)that helps Disability Services teams understand how students are engaging and where they might need more support, freeing up human capacity.

For Christian and the University of California, Berkeley’s team, the journey that started with 25 licenses has become a model for what modern accommodation delivery can look like, built around **independence**, backed by **evidence**, and scaled without sacrificing **quality**.

* * *

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## **Time for a simpler, smarter note taking accommodation?**

Genio Notes is the online note taking tool that makes compliance simple, reduces cost and admin burden, and improves student outcomes.

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[![Image 81: From student advocate to campus champion: How Taylor Thornton is transforming learning at Loyola University with Genio](https://genio.co/hs-fs/hubfs/BLOG_navigating%20trio%20sss%20THUMB.png?width=450&name=BLOG_navigating%20trio%20sss%20THUMB.png) ![Image 82: Clock](https://genio.co/hubfs/raw_assets/public/genio-2025/images/clock.svg) 3 min read ### From student advocate to campus champion: How Taylor Thornton is transforming learning at Loyola University with Genio Discover how Taylor Thornton, a Disability Accommodations Coordinator at Loyola University Maryland, used Genio to drive a remarkable 92% adoption rate and transform note taking into an independent, universally supported skill for all students.](https://genio.co/blog/from-student-advocate-to-campus-champion-loyola-university)[![Image 83: How Genio Notes helped two students become more confident learners](https://genio.co/hs-fs/hubfs/BLOG_confidence%20academic%20performance%20THUMB.png?width=450&name=BLOG_confidence%20academic%20performance%20THUMB.png) ![Image 84: Clock](https://genio.co/hubfs/raw_assets/public/genio-2025/images/clock.svg) 3 min read ### How Genio Notes helped two students become more confident learners Meet Beki and Samantha, two Genio ambassadors who share how Genio Notes has helped them to developed better learning habits, empowering them to become confident, successful students.](https://genio.co/blog/genio-notes-helped-two-students-become-more-confident-learners)[![Image 85: Returning to education: How mature students are using Genio (formerly Glean)](https://genio.co/hs-fs/hubfs/BLOG_how%20to%20study%20better%20THUMB.png?width=450&name=BLOG_how%20to%20study%20better%20THUMB.png) ![Image 86: Clock](https://genio.co/hubfs/raw_assets/public/genio-2025/images/clock.svg) 3 min read ### Returning to education: How mature students are using Genio (formerly Glean) It can be daunting returning to education as a mature student, but with the right support, it can be incredibly rewarding. This blog shares the stories of two mature students, and how they successfully navigated new learning challenges.](https://genio.co/blog/returning-to-education-how-mature-students-use-genio)

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