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The University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Educational Success Center (ESC) has introduced a new Sensory Friendly Study Space designed to support student-centered learning and foster healthy, productive and sustainable study habits.
The customizable space allows students to adjust lighting, sound and seating preferences to create an environment that best supports their individual learning needs. The study space reflects the ESC’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of students while advancing a core university initiative: providing individualized support and opportunities for every learner to feel a sense of belonging.
Students can personalize the space by adjusting lighting, ambient noise and study positions. Lighting options include dimmable, warm, natural and bright overhead settings. A dedicated “phone nest” helps reduce digital distractions by providing a place for students to set aside their phones while studying. A sound machine allows users to minimize auditory distractions and create a more focused environment.
The room also features a variety of ergonomic seating options, including active chairs on wheels, a sit-stand desk, a beanbag chair and floor cushions. These options allow students to shift positions as needed to maintain comfort and focus throughout their study sessions.
The Sensory Friendly Study Space is located in the Educational Success Center/Writing Center in Swenson Hall rooms 1024 and 1025. The space is open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information about the space and the research-backed frameworks that informed its design, email [email protected].
The ESC also looks forward to collaborating with partners across campus to expand the growing number of sensory-friendly spaces available to students.