Jennifer Nichols
Director, CATalyst Studios
University of Arizona
As noted in CNI’s Program Plan, research libraries are transforming to address the changing nature of teaching and learning, the need for technical skills by undergraduate and graduate students, and the pressure to accommodate a multitude of changing needs of users with updates to facilities, staffing, and partnerships. This presentation will address how the University of Arizona Libraries has partnered in a unique collaboration across campus units to create the Student Success District, and within that, the CATalyst Studios. CATalyst Studios is a dynamic space fostering creativity across domains, in the areas of data science, digital scholarship, fabrication, and entrepreneurship. Featuring a data visualization wall, a virtual reality/augmented reality studio, a green screen room, and a maker studio, this innovative space within the main library and at the heart of the Student Success District supports students and faculty through all stages of their academic career. This talk will discuss critical frameworks for decision-making and prioritization, drawing from lessons shared across institutions, as well as a five-year local pilot, and visions for long-term models of sustainability.
https://new.library.arizona.edu/catalyst
https://successdistrict.arizona.edu/