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Community Standards

Pratt Institute’s mission is to educate students to become creative, responsible professionals who will contribute fully to society. The Institute upholds values and standards that support that mission and holds high expectations regarding the conduct of students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Above all, we respect one another and behave in ways that advance the free association of people and ideas. We cherish the diversity represented by our people and their disparate values and ideas. At the same time, we expect each student, faculty, or staff member to value and uphold the community standards essential to the pursuit of academic excellence and social responsibility.

Pratt Institute takes the view that any action by one person that causes harm to another person will not be tolerated. Bullying, harassment, or any behavior that causes disruption to a community member’s ability to learn conflicts with the values of Pratt Institute and violates the community member’s right to feel protected, nurtured, and valued.

The Board of Trustees reinforced these ideals by passing a resolution on freedom of expression in 1992:

“It is resolved that: Pratt Institute supports and upholds freedom of speech and other forms of expression because these freedoms are essential to an educational mission and to ideas, values, and opinion. At the same time, Pratt recognizes that such freedoms exist in the context of law and responsibility by one’s actions and, therefore, the exercise of these rights must not deny the same rights of others.”

Such is the spirit in which our social and academic standards have been articulated and herein promulgated. Below is a summary of these standards. A full policy and procedures document and related institute policies and procedures can be found online (www.pratt.edu/policies) or in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Main Building, Lower Level. While every effort has been made to make the material presented in the Student Handbook timely and accurate, the Institute reserves the right to periodically update and otherwise change any material, including policies and procedures, without reprinting or amending this handbook.

I. Social Conduct Code

A. Policies On Human Rights And Sexual Misconduct Prohibit:

  1. Harassment in any form, including sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence consistent with all local, state, and federal laws, or other Pratt policies.
  2. Discrimination consistent with all local, state, and federal laws including other Pratt policies, which apply to, but are not limited to, individuals with disabilities.

View the Complaint/Resolution procedure policy.

B. Alcohol And Substance Use Policy Prohibits

  1. The possession, sale, or use of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21.
  2. The possession, sale, or use of alcohol at Institute-sponsored events both on- and off-campus or within student-sponsored events in residence halls that do not follow the procedures for serving alcohol at events. View more information regarding Procedures for Serving Alcohol at Events.
  3. Alcohol use and/or possession of alcohol containers in Pantas, Stabile, or Cannoneer Court residence halls, regardless of age.
  4. Bulk alcohol (such as kegs) in any residence hall.
  5. Consumption of alcohol or possession of open containers in public, including but not limited to the Pratt Main Lawn, classrooms, studios, or residence hall common areas.
  6. The possession, sale, or use of marijuana.
  7. The possession, sale, or use of any controlled substance including the sale or use of prescription medications without, or contrary to a prescription.
  8. Off-campus use of alcohol and other drugs that impacts the on-campus community or affects student behavior on campus.

Note:  Although New York State law now permits the use of marijuana, federal law prohibits all use, possession, and/or cultivation/sale of marijuana at U.S. educational institutions. Federal law also requires any institution of higher education which receives federal funding to have policies in place which prohibit possession and use of marijuana on campus. Therefore, the use, possession, and/or cultivation/sale of marijuana is not allowed at Pratt.  This includes all areas of campus including, but not limited to residence halls, academic or support buildings or any public spaces within the confines of campus, both in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  No exceptions can be made for any student based on their possession of a medical marijuana certification, registry ID card, or any other proof of medical marijuana eligibility.

View more information regarding on the legal and health implications of alcohol and other substance use.

C. Community Behavior Policy Prohibits:

  1. Bullying, spreading misinformation on social media platforms or other behavior that causes disruption to a community member’s ability to learn, work, and teach.
  2. Any form of physical restriction, coercion, or altercation (fighting).
  3. Any form of verbal intimidation, coercion, or altercation (fighting).
  4. Any deliberate action that does or might cause injury to another person.
  5. Behavior deemed dangerous to self or others.
  6. Participation in or encouragement of any effort to disrupt a class or other Institute function.
  7. Creating a public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm.
  8. Theft of property or services including stealing, sequestering, or defacing of library materials.
  9. Defacement, damage, destruction, or other misuses of property not one’s own.
  10. Unauthorized use of keys or forcible entry to any Institute room or facility or restricted area including roofs.
  11. Commercial activities or soliciting including canvassing or doing business within Pratt facilities or on Pratt’s property without the written authorization of the Director of Student Involvement or the Director of Residential Life and Housing.  Solicitation of credit cards, which includes advertising, marketing, or merchandising of credit cards, is prohibited.
  12. Illegal gambling anywhere on the premises or at any official affair sponsored or sanctioned by the Institute or any of its groups or organizations.
  13. Hazing, or in any way participating in or encouraging any action or situation that endangers the mental or physical health of another person, for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization.
  14. Non-compliance with NCAA rules and regulations.
  15. Off-campus conduct that adversely affects the integrity and/or safety and security of the Institute community and its members.
  16. Violations of federal, state, and local laws committed by members of the Pratt community.

D. Computer Policy Prohibits:

  1. Unauthorized and/or inappropriate use of computers, computer networks, and/or software.
  2. Use of computing facilities contrary to local, state, and federal laws or other Pratt policies.

View more information regarding Computer Users Rights and Responsibilities.

E. Smoking Policy Prohibits

  1. The use of all smoke, vape and tobacco products on campus. This includes all Pratt buildings grounds and vehicles (including inside personal vehicles parked on campus grounds.
  2. Smoking within 25 feet of all Institute campus entrances, exits, or building exterior walls containing windows or intake vents.

F. Health And Safety Regulations Prohibit:

  1. Tampering with or misusing fire alarms and/or other fire safety equipment.
  2. Refusal to observe safety regulations or procedures including environmental regulations, including but not limited to any spray paint or spray adhesives in locations other than approved spray booths; for more environment policies, see Pratt Institute Guide to the Safe Use of Art Materials.
  3. Unreasonable noise.
  4. Irresponsible use of bicycles.
  5. Skateboarding or use of any other similar wheeled device on campus.
  6. Creating a condition that unnecessarily endangers or threatens the safety or well-being of any person.
  7. Possession or use of any firearm, explosive, firecracker, incendiary material, or other weapon.
  8. Lighting or attempting to light a fire.
  9. Reckless driving.
  10. No dogs are allowed on campus grounds except Service Dogs, those approved as an ESA (view more information) or those approved for live-in full-time staff.

G. False Representation Policy Prohibits:

  1. Providing false testimony or furnishing information to the Institute with intent to deceive.
  2. Misrepresenting oneself with the intent to obtain benefit including, but not limited to, embezzlement or fraud.
  3. Forging, alteration, misappropriation, or other misuse of academic or non-academic documents, records, or identification cards.

H. Compliance Policy

In order to ensure an orderly community, the following behaviors are prohibited:

  1. Failure to comply with the instructions of Institute personnel, acting within the scope of their duties.
  2. Failure to present valid Institute identification when requested to do so by Institute officials.

I. Alumni And Guest Policy Prohibits:

  1. Guest usage of Pratt instructional facilities without explicit written approval or presence of a current Pratt student, staff member, or faculty.
  2. Alumni access to Pratt facilities without a proper alumni ID.
  3. Violation of any Pratt policy by alumni or guests of Pratt students, faculty, or staff.

Note: A Pratt host may be held responsible for the behavior of guests.

View all policies.

II. Academic Integrity Code Prohibits:
  1. Plagiarism, as defined as using the exact language or a close paraphrase of someone else’s ideas without citation
  2. Violations of fair use, including the unauthorized and uncited use of another’s artworks, images, designs, etc
  3. The supplying or receiving of completed work including papers, projects, outlines, artworks, designs, prototypes, models, or research for submission by any person other than the author.
  4. The unauthorized submission of the same or essentially the same piece of work for credit in two difference classes.
  5. The unauthorized supplying or receiving of information about the form or content of an examination.
  6. The supplying or receiving of partial or complete answers, or suggestions for answers, or the supplying or receiving of assistance in interpretation of questions on any examination from any source not explicitly authorized. (This includes copying or reading of another student’s work or consultation of notes or other sources during examinations.)

View a full copy of the Institute’s Academic Integrity Code.

III. Procedures, Violations, And Resolution Processes

All members of the Pratt community have the responsibility to uphold the standards set forth above. Each member of the community has the right to file a complaint when he or she believes these standards have been violated. Whenever possible, however, it is recommended that conflicts between or among individuals be resolved informally (with the help of a mediator if necessary).

One should address an issue or attempt to resolve a conflict by dealing directly with the person(s) involved. When this is not possible, one may rely on the procedures that have been established (such as those noted above in relation to the Union contracts or the Student Conduct Procedures/Academic Integrity Procedures, noted below).

Appropriate sanctions, including a letter of warning, probation, restricted participation in activities and/or use of facilities, suspension, dis- missal, restitution, and outside legal action may be applied when violations of the Institute’s Codes of Conduct have been determined.

The Conduct and Academic Integrity Procedures have been established to resolve alleged violations. These procedures are not intended to be a formal legal process although fundamental fair- ness applies. They are educational processes, the goal of which is to protect the rights of individuals while at the same time providing the student with an experience from which he or she can learn.

Copies of detailed procedures are available online at www.pratt.edu/policies or in the offices of Residential Life and Housing, Human Resources, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Provost, or the Deans.

IV. Involuntary Administrative Withdrawal Policy

The procedures for involuntary administrative withdrawal of a student from the Institute are to be used only after reasonable attempts to secure voluntary cooperation for evaluation or withdrawal have been exhausted and will be used only after thoughtful consideration by members of the Student Affairs staff.

A student will be subject to involuntary administrative withdrawal from the Institute when, in the judgment of the Vice President for Student Affairs, there is a substantial and significant possibility that the student, as a result of a physical or psychological condition:

  • Is a threat to the safety, health, and well-being of members of the Institute community.
  • Will cause significant property damage.
  • Will be substantially unable to meet his or her responsibilities as a student.
  • Will be unable to care for his or her daily physical needs without assistance and has failed to secure such assistance.
  • Will directly impede the lawful activities of others.
  • Will directly and substantially interfere with the Institute’s normal operations.

If the student has engaged in an activity that subjects him or her to Institute disciplinary action, the matter will generally be handled through the Institute’s student conduct process unless the Vice President for Student Affairs determines that the student:

  • Lacks the capacity to respond to pending disciplinary charges against him or her, or
  • Did not know the nature or wrongfulness of the conduct at the time of the offense.

View copies of detailed procedures.

List of Community Standard Policies