Bartlett Labs: Extending Our Impact
Laurel Grigg Mason, Director of Bartlett Labs
The SALT Center and Bartlett Labs are honored to serve as consultants to the American University of Iraq – Sulaimani (AUIS) as they seek to increase services for neurodiverse learners at their institution. AUIS is a non-profit university serving the Kurdistan region of Iraq and surrounding areas. It is also a University of Arizona microcampus, through which students earn dual degrees from Arizona and the partner university at locations worldwide.
Our consulting relationship includes sharing the SALT Center model of student support and providing guidance to AUIS as they develop systems, policies, and procedures to better support students with learning differences. We hosted AUIS President, Bruce Walker Ferguson, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, Rachel Gresk, and Coordinator for Academic Services, Elizabeth O’Sullivan, for a campus visit. In addition to showcasing SALT Center facilities and services, we were able to partner with colleagues to highlight innovative spaces and educational practices throughout the campus. With the assistance of the Office of Instruction and Assessment, we were able to visit and observe a chemistry course in one of the Collaborative Learning Spaces. These innovative “classrooms” are physically set up to maximize student interaction and active learning techniques, which promote greater student engagement and deeper learning. We also toured the new Student Success District, including the renovated study spaces and CATalyst Studios located in the Main Library. CATalyst Studios feature a maker studio, virtual reality studio, and data studio all accessible to every Arizona student.
At the conclusion of their visit, we provided AUIS with a set of recommendations for their university context and have plans to engage their faculty and staff in professional development related to the needs of students who learn differently. We look forward to continuing this partnership to increase our capacity to support students and impact the international conversation around neurodiverse learners in higher education.
Bartlett Labs was established in 2019 through the generous support of Bruce and Patricia Bartlett, the parents of an alumnus who benefited from the SALT Center’s support while at the University of Arizona. Our mission is to engage in a robust assessment of SALT Center services and the implementation of research-driven practices into the SALT Center core model. We welcome collaboration with researchers across a variety of disciplines related to factors that influence college success outcomes. We also offer professional development and community engagement opportunities to schools and organizations seeking to enhance their understanding of students who learn differently.