For Taylor Thornton, Disability Accommodations Coordinator at Loyola University Maryland, the mission to support students is deeply personal. Here, interviewed by Conor Grego at Genio, Taylor shares their story of how Genio became a pivotal support tool for their students.
Taylor's Higher Ed journey began as a student from 2015-2019 and they then completed grad school online during the pandemic from 2021-2022. As a student Taylor initially found note taking challenging but learned early the power of effective note taking.
Taylor brings a unique and powerful perspective to the role. This first hand experience has shaped them into a passionate advocate for student empowerment.
Today, they stand as a key champion for Genio on campus, driving remarkable adoption, a staggering 92%, and transforming the way students engage with their learning. Their journey from a recipient of services to a provider of support gives them a profound understanding of the student experience.
Taylor shares: "Our usage being at 92% tells me students are really using the product and benefiting from the product. Students are seemingly really happy with how they can take notes and organise themselves. For those students having access to something like this, where they don't have to identify themselves, they don't have to get the 'no' and they still have access to a helpful tool."
It’s this empathy that fuels their success and lies at the heart of Loyola's thriving partnership with Genio; a partnership that has grown from a targeted accommodation tool to a cornerstone of the university's student success strategy.
Overcoming the challenge of inconsistent support
Before standardizing on Genio, the landscape of academic support at Loyola, like at many institutions, could be fragmented.
Providing consistent and effective note taking support was a significant challenge. The reliance on various methods meant that the quality and reliability of support could differ from student to student and class to class.
This inconsistency created an unequal playing field and added a layer of uncertainty for students who depended on these services to thrive academically.
The introduction of Genio marked a pivotal shift. Initially adopting its predecessor, Audio Notetaker, in 2020, Loyola upgraded to the full Genio platform in 2024.
This move provided a unified, robust solution that guaranteed every student received a consistent standard of support. It eliminated the variability and administrative burden of previous methods, allowing Taylor and their team to focus on what truly matters: empowering students to become more effective, independent learners.
Cultivating a culture of adoption: Best practices in action
As the lead champion for Genio on campus, Taylor has been the driving force behind its incredible success. With 75 licenses now in place, Loyola boasts an impressive utilization rate of 92%; a testament to their strategic and student-centric approach.
Taylor's success stems from a few core practices that other institutions can learn from:
- Centering on the student: Taylor and the Disability and Accessibility Services team’s entire process is built around the student. They ensure they don't just receive a license but learn a valuable skill. By enabling them to own their learning process with Genio, Taylor fosters independence and long-term academic confidence.
- Building a peer support network: Recognizing the power of community, Taylor encourages students who have mastered Genio to help their peers. This student-to-student support system not only eases the burden on their office but also creates a positive, collaborative environment where users feel comfortable asking questions and sharing tips.
- Demonstrating, not just describing: Taylor overcomes initial student hesitancy by actively demonstrating the tool's value. They walk students through Genio’s features, showing them how it can directly address their specific challenges. This hands-on guidance builds comfort and turns scepticism into enthusiasm.
This model has created a virtuous cycle. As more students find success with Genio, they become advocates themselves, spreading the word to their peers and organically driving adoption across campus.
The vision for the future: Genio as a universal learning tool
The remarkable success within the accommodations office has sparked a broader conversation at Loyola.
Taylor and their colleagues envision a future where Genio is not just an accommodation for a select group but a universal learning tool available to all students. This next chapter of Loyola Maryland’s journey with Genio is about breaking down silos and levelling the academic playing field for everyone.
Making Genio available institution-wide would have a profound impact. It would remove the stigma sometimes associated with seeking support, as the tool would become a standard part of the university's academic toolkit.
Students who may not qualify for formal accommodations but could still benefit from enhanced note taking and study skills would gain access to transformative support. This proactive approach aligns with the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), ensuring that all students have the opportunity to improve their learning strategies and achieve their full potential.
Conversations are already underway with other campus departments, like the Tudor Center, to explore how Genio can support a wider student population.
Taylor is excited for the year ahead, confident that the self-reliance and comprehensive support Genio provides, consolidating multiple study needs into one platform, will continue to empower even more students. They’re most excited to see more students becoming confident and independent in their learning, using Genio as their main study tool - with everything they need in one place.
Taylor’s journey, from a student needing a voice to a professional amplifying the voices of others, perfectly mirrors the evolution of Genio at Loyola: from a specific solution to a campus-wide catalyst for student success.
