SALTCastsFAQs
Admissions
How do students apply?
To apply, students must complete: a University of Arizona application for admission and
a SALT Center application.
Please note that the SALT Center can only accept students who have been admitted to the University of Arizona.
When should I apply for admission?
We strongly recommend that students apply early in their senior year. You may apply as early as August 1. It is best to submit your application to the SALT Center at the same time that you apply to the University of Arizona. The SALT Center will start a waiting list for students who are admissible once we have reached our maximum capacity of admitted students. Students will be offered spots in SALT as space becomes available.
Do I have to wait until I've been admitted to UA to apply to SALT?
No! You can, and should, apply to both around the same time. You will, however, always hear back from UA first. If you apply to SALT at the same time you apply to UA, you will usually have your admissions decision from SALT within approximately 2-3 weeks of hearing from UA. If you wait until you have been admitted to UA, you may put yourself at risk for being placed on a waiting list at SALT.
What documents are required for SALT admission?
Please see Undergraduate Application Materials Required by SALT.
Is there a deadline for applying for admission to SALT?
Not at the current time. Students are encouraged to apply early but the SALT Center is sometimes able to accept applications throughout the year. Consult our web site to learn of any upcoming deadlines for application. Students should apply early to avoid being placed on a waiting list.
Is there a waiting list?
Quite possibly. SALT is committed to providing a high quality of service and to giving our students lots of personal attention, so we do limit the number of new students we accept every year. Students placed on the waiting list will be accepted into the program as soon as possible, but may have to begin mid-semester or at the beginning of the next semester. Generally a waiting list will form in spring, so it is best to apply early.
When will I be notified if I am accepted to SALT?
The SALT Center can only accept students who have been admitted to the University of Arizona. If you have provided all the documents required for your SALT application and you are eligible for SALT admission, you will be notified of your SALT acceptance within two weeks of your acceptance to the University.
How is the SALT Center different from the Disability Resource Center?
The SALT Center provides comprehensive support services to students with learning and attention challenges. The services provided by SALT are designed to maximize each student's opportunity for academic success. Services provided by Learning Specialists, the Writing Skill Coordinator, and tutors are not required by either the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504. However, these services, available on a consistent basis, can greatly enhance a student's University experience. There is a fee for these enhanced services as available through SALT. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides services to all UA disabled students. These services are designed to equalize the learning environment and to remove barriers to academic success that are presented by the individual's learning and attention challenge. DRC provides academic accommodations to qualified students such as testing accommodations, note takers, or readers. DRC services are offered free of charge.
Many students use both SALT and DRC services.
Technology
Should I buy a Mac or a PC?
It is your choice whether to buy a Mac or a PC. Students going into any multimedia major would probably benefit from a Mac, whereas business students might choose a PC. However, if you are a Mac user and you are going into business, you can still buy a Mac (Intel) and run Windows virtually using Parallels or Boot Camp software.
Should I buy a desktop or a laptop?
Again, this is your preference. If you like the mobility, a laptop is the way to go. If you will mostly be doing work from your room, a desktop would fit just fine.
Can I install any of the AT software on my computer?
Yes, you can. You will need to purchase a copy of the software from the vendor and visit one of the CRL staff for assistance with installation.
Does SALT have wireless Internet?
At this time SALT is not wireless. However, we plan to go wireless in the near future.
Should I buy a USB flash drive?
Many of our students carry a USB flash drive for convenience in moving homework and class assignments. If you are planning to buy one, 1GB and up is a good size to have, especially if you will be carrying audio files from Kurzweil.
Tutoring
How do I sign up for tutoring?
SALT uses TutorTrac as a tutor management system. You may log in to Tutortrac using your SID.
Where do I go if I'm a SALT student and have tutoring questions?
Tutoring is located on the 2nd floor of the main SALT building. To contact tutoring, please send an email to salttut@email.arizona.edu or call 626-4157.
How many tutors does SALT employ?
SALT has a tutoring staff that varies from semester to semester, based on the need. We have anywhere from 75-120 tutors on staff in the fall and spring semesters.
Will I have a tutor for every class?
SALT does not guarantee tutors for every class, but we make a good faith effort to provide tutors. We do have tutors for the majority of the general education requirements, and we work with faculty and departments to try to locate tutors for each class. However, there will always be some classes for which we are unable to provide tutors.
Will my tutor have taken the class that he/she is tutoring?
Not necessarily. We have tutors who are professionals in the field. We have tutors who graduated from other universities. We have tutors who are graduate students in the field. In all of these cases the tutor will not have taken the exact course you are taking. Our tutors have a good background in the area in which they tutor and are able to help students help themselves work through the course material.
Where can I be tutored? (public vs private location)
All tutoring takes place in the SALT Center during regular hours. Tutors will not go to your dorm or apartment, nor will they meet you at outside locations like coffee shops.
Who are SALT tutors?
SALT has a wide variety of tutors available. Some tutors are community members. Some tutors are graduate students. Some tutors are undergraduate students. The student tutors must have a 3.0 GPA, a successful record in the course they are tutoring, and have a strong faculty recommendation. In all cases our tutors are trained and supported by SALT staff.
Learning Specialists
Should I take summer school prior to coming to the UA?
It can be helpful, especially math classes, but you should consult with your academic advisor to see if the units will transfer and apply to your degree program. If you are unsure who your academic advisor is, please visit Advising Resource Center.
Will the Learning Specialist have regular contact with my instructors?
No, the SALT Center philosophy is to encourage students to directly communicate their academic progress directly with their instructors.
Will the Learning Specialist have regular contact with my parent/guardian?
No, the SALT Center philosophy is to encourage students to directly communicate their academic progress directly with their parent/guardian.
What is a consent form?
If a student elects to sign the SALT Center Student Consent Form for release of information to parents and guardians form, the Strategic Learning Specialist can discuss the student’s use of services, within the parameters the student has set on the release form. The consent form allows the Strategic Learning Specialist to discuss services, but it does not mean that the specialist will initiate contact.
What is FERPA?
Please see: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
What is the difference between an academic advisor and a Strategic Learning Specialist?
Your academic advisor has authority over your curriculum and can advise you as to which classes meet your degree requirements. Your Strategic Learning Specialist works with you on a weekly basis to support your learning in the classes in which you are enrolled and to provide support in your transition to a college setting.
Last modified: April 10 2008 11:09:39.