The Common Ground Community Guidelines

The Common Ground welcomes members of the Pratt community with a wide range of identities, experiences, perspectives, and viewpoints. Community members are expected to engage one another with respect, empathy, and accountability.

Disagreement and dialogue are welcome when conducted in ways that support thoughtful exchange and do not interfere with another person’s ability to participate in or use the space.

The Common Ground is a shared community resource. Programs, meetings, activities, and informal use should be appropriate for a communal campus environment and consistent with Pratt Institute policies.

No individual or group has exclusive use of the space unless an approved reservation provides for exclusive access during a designated period.

Community members should also be mindful that scheduled reservations, programs, and events may temporarily limit areas available for drop-in use.

Everyone using The Common Ground shares responsibility for keeping the space clean, organized, functional, and accessible.

Community members are expected to:

• Treat furniture, technology, equipment, and supplies with care
• Return furniture and shared materials to their original location after use
• Properly dispose of trash, recycling, and food waste
• Return borrowed materials or equipment as directed
• Leave the space ready for the next individual, group, or program
• Report damaged equipment, spills, safety concerns, or other facility issues to Common Ground staff when available

Groups reserving the space are responsible for setup, cleanup, and restoring the room following their program unless other arrangements have been approved in advance.

The Common Ground should remain accessible and usable for members of the Pratt community with a range of access needs.

Furniture, entrances, exits, pathways, and accessibility features must remain clear. Programs and activities must comply with applicable room-capacity requirements, fire and life-safety requirements, and Pratt Institute policies.

Event organizers are responsible for considering accessibility when planning programs, arranging the space, selecting activities, and communicating with participants.

Some programs hosted in The Common Ground may involve personal experiences, identity, community concerns, or other sensitive topics.

Participants are expected to respect others’ privacy and any confidentiality expectations communicated by program facilitators.

Audio recording, video recording, photography, or livestreaming during meetings, conversations, programs, or events should not occur without appropriate advance notice and any required permission or participant consent.

The Common Ground may be reserved for approved meetings, programs, workshops, and community events.

Submitting a reservation request does not guarantee approval or availability. Reservations may be reviewed based on factors including scheduling, room capacity, proposed use, operational needs, and compatibility with the space’s shared purpose.

Approved reservations must follow the date, time, room setup, attendance, and other conditions associated with the reservation.

Changes to an approved event—including significant changes to the program format, attendance, timing, or space needs—should be communicated to the appropriate office in advance.

Common Ground student staff help support the day-to-day operation of the space during staffed hours.

Student staff may:

• Welcome visitors and provide general information about the space
• Share basic information about scheduled programs and room use
• Help visitors understand general space expectations
• Provide basic assistance with available room resources or equipment
• Identify and report facility, safety, or operational concerns
• Connect visitors with the Office of Engagement, Culture & Community, the Office of Student Involvement, or other relevant Pratt resources

Common Ground student staff are not responsible for approving reservations, changing confirmed reservations, granting exceptions to Institute policies, providing event-production services, mediating formal complaints, or making decisions on behalf of ECC or Student Involvement.

Direct questions about reservation approval, event changes, special access, policy exceptions, or other administrative decisions to the appropriate office.

Community members should be mindful of noise, room capacity, furniture use, and activities that may affect others using the space.

During scheduled programs or reservations, visitors may be asked to relocate within the space or return at another time if the reserved activity requires use of the room.

Individuals and groups are expected to follow reasonable directions from authorized Pratt staff related to safety, scheduled programs, building operations, or appropriate use of the space.

Use of The Common Ground remains subject to applicable Pratt Institute policies and procedures.

Activities that violate Institute policy, create unsafe conditions, damage property, substantially interfere with scheduled programs or community use, or exceed the approved purpose of a reservation may be stopped or referred to the appropriate Pratt office.

Repeated or significant concerns regarding use of the space may affect future reservation privileges.