FAQs

Since April 2020, when Pratt assembled the pandemic planning committees, the Institute has assessed academic and operational needs for reopening. This included developing a mitigation plan with our in-house experts on health and safety, in partnership with Geosyntec, which includes testing, monitoring, tracing, and disinfecting protocols. Additionally, Pratt drafted social contracts for our community, consulted with and observed the decisions of local and regional government officials, health experts, and other academic institutions and organizations, and built a robust curriculum with the complex schedule and enhanced technology necessary to support it.

While Pratt has put extensive protocols in place to reduce the risks associated with working, living, and learning on campus, we cannot eliminate them completely, and we need to be ready for the possibility that the virus may put new demands upon us on very short notice.

All students, faculty, and staff returning to campus are asked to work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Extensive measures on campus are also in place to promote the safety and wellbeing of Pratt's whole community.

Pratt Institute is asking each member of our community to pledge to be accountable by signing a social contract agreeing to abide by requirements and expectations that will contribute significantly toward reducing the spread of COVID-19. Social contracts for students, faculty, and staff have been written in consultation and with input from the Pratt community. They are designed to be a temporary addition to the existing community standards, by which we all agree to abide as members of this community.

COVID-19 tests are not available from Pratt Institute. Please see the “Diagnostic Testing” section of the site for information on obtaining a COVID-19 diagnostic test, including resources on free testing sites in New York City, New Jersey, and other states. Pratt conducts regular pool testing for residential students, residential staff, and public safety staff who interact with students in the residence halls.

When to get a test is different for each member of the Pratt community who is returning to campus. A diagnostic COVID-19 (PCR) test must be completed within seven days before your return date to campus to ensure results are accurate and timely. The test result must also be submitted to the portal dated within seven (7) days prior to returning to campus. (Results may take 24-48 hours to process.)

You should work backward from the day you intend to be on campus, for example:

• If you are returning to campus on February 9, should get tested no earlier than February 2.

Please be aware that your first time on campus cannot be more than seven days after the day you were tested for COVID.
 More details on diagnostic testing and this process are available on the “COVID Testing and Monitoring” page.

No, only a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test is accepted for meeting the requirements for coming on campus. For more information, see the “COVID Testing and Monitoring” page.

Fully vaccinated means that the required number of doses for the vaccine has been received and more than two weeks have elapsed since completing these doses. If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated.

Example:

• 2 weeks after the second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

Pratt is following the guidance on vaccines from the CDC.

The vaccine is free to everyone who is eligible. New York State’s vaccination eligibility now includes all residents age 16 and older, as well as non-residents (including international students). New York State has an online tool to schedule an appointment at a New York State-run vaccination site. Appointments can also be scheduled by calling New York State’s hotline at 1-833-697-4829. Some vaccination sites are accepting walk-ins. Find a city or state-run site near you for walk-in information.

If you are outside of New York State, the CDC has information for your location as well as general guidance on the vaccine. Currently, Pratt is not distributing vaccines.

The Back to Pratt COVID-19 Vaccine page has further information including vaccination appointment tips, different methods to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in New York City, and useful websites and numbers.

No, whether you are vaccinated or waiting to be vaccinated when you arrive in New York, you are not required to quarantine. This applies to both domestic and international students as well as any arriving faculty and staff. This is based on the current New York State guidelines.

Regardless of prior infection, vaccine status, or your perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to these core health habits: Wear a mask, maintain physical distance, wash your hands, and stay home if you are sick. Follow the guidelines of the social contract that uphold the wellbeing of the whole Pratt community. More health and safety guidance is available on the Back to Pratt website.

Pool testing—or pooled testing—takes samples of saliva or nasal swabs from a group of people and combines all these samples into one laboratory test. This allows for larger groups to be tested for COVID-19 more frequently and is used only in situations where the number of positive test results is expected to be low.

If a pool tests negative, then all the samples can be presumed negative with the single test. In other words, all of the individuals who provided samples can be assumed to test negative for COVID-19.

If a pool tests positive, each of the participants in the original pool will be tested individually to determine positive cases.

At Pratt, our residential students, residential staff, and public safety staff who interact with the students in the residence hall(s) on a regular basis participate weekly in pool testing. This allows Pratt to take the next steps to quickly identify a community member with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result and separate them from the rest of occupants thereby lowering the potential of transmission. This, coupled with our standard practices of mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing, helps us keep the risk of “an outbreak” low.

Pratt and consulting and engineering firm Geosyntec have partnered on environmental testing that can monitor for positive cases even before a person feels symptoms. This includes testing on surfaces and within wastewater in the campus buildings. This testing allows for a responsive tracking system to contain infection on campus. For more information, see the CDC page on Wastewater Surveillance Testing Methods.

Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from those who are not sick. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. See the CDC guidelines for more information (PDF).

This has not yet been determined by our public health officials but Pratt will keep its community apprised of any updates.

Pratt will continue to follow the guidance of the local and national public health officials. Currently, the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (e.g. AstraZeneca/Oxford).

Following the guidance of the CDC that promotes vaccination as a way to make it harder for COVID-19 to spread from person to person, Pratt is encouraging as many people to be vaccinated as possible for the safety and health of our community both on campus and beyond. The Mayo Clinic has in-depth information on the role of vaccinations in ending the pandemic.

Vaccinations will allow us to have more in-person classes, events, and time together on campus. Each person who is vaccinated helps protect not just themselves from COVID-19 but everyone around them and helps us return to a more normal and robust academic year.

Yes, New York State’s vaccination eligibility now includes all residents age 16 and older, as well as non-residents (including international students). If you plan to live in Pratt’s residence halls or will have an apartment lease in New York, you will be eligible for vaccination. Faculty and staff are also eligible to be vaccinated in New York with a pay stub or Pratt ID.

Pharmacies participating in a federal vaccine distribution program are setting aside any residency requirements for vaccinations. This will allow college students who got their first shot in New York to get their second dose at home or elsewhere, as well as students who got their first dose in their home state to get their second dose upon arriving in New York.

Pratt faculty and staff (including those who are currently working remotely) can upload their vaccination proof into our secure database for contact tracing purposes, proof of eligibility for using the vaccination day accrual, and to aggregate data about the progress our community has made towards vaccination against COVID-19. These are the steps:

• Login to the vaccine form using your OneKey ID.

• Be prepared to upload a clear image of your vaccination proof that shows your name, vaccine information, and vaccination date.

• Select the vaccination brand you received and indicate the date(s) that you received the vaccination. If this is the first dose, you will also have to submit the second dose with proof of its administration.

• Click the submit button. You will receive a confirmation email of your submission. Once your submission is reviewed, you will receive a subsequent email about your submission status (whether approved or rejected).

Yes, Pratt is offering its staff up to four hours of excused leave per injection that will not be charged against any other leave. This is in compliance with all New York Labor Laws, including 196-C, which provides for paid time off (PTO) to receive COVID-19 vaccine injections. Read more about this policy on our vaccine policy page.

Pratt is not distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. Please see the COVID-19 Vaccine page on Back to Pratt for links to information on the New York City and State distribution of the vaccine, including the developing guidelines on the New York State Department of Health (DOH) website.

You cannot come to campus unless your negative COVID-19 test results are available.

Mobile devices are available at campus entry points including the Main Gate (200 Willoughby), Myrtle Hall, Higgins Hall, and Pratt Manhattan for community members to use to complete the daily health screening questionnaire and access their digital ID.

Community members are advised to allow a few extra minutes for the new access enhancements. To help avoid delays, everyone should be prepared to present their digital Pratt ID and the self-assessment status badge through the Pratt Safe app while awaiting a temperature screening. In order to ensure physical distance, lines with 6-foot spacing are being maintained at all entry points.

Pratt is committed to reducing the spread of COVID-19 on campus and rapidly communicating any operational changes in response to the current transmission rate with our community members. The Back to Pratt microsite has the current COVID-19 conditions indicator with color-coded guidance for the most up-to-date level of action. The indicator can also be accessed on the Pratt Safe app.

Pratt’s expert Risk Assessment & Mitigation Group is continually monitoring, assessing, and making recommendations to Pratt’s senior leadership team for changing or elevating the campus operational status. These changes would be based on maintaining a threshold criterion for testing of community members as needed, screening all community members entering campus, and conducting health audits. To promote the healthiest campus possible, Pratt is vigilantly reinforcing the consistent use of PPE, making sure supplies of PPE are available, maintaining a consistent and regular cleaning and disinfecting schedule, and providing community education on COVID-19 containment and prevention efforts.

In all of these actions, Pratt is closely complying with city and state guidance, including Governor Cuomo’s August 27 issued guidance for infection rates on college campuses and mitigation actions schools must take when the infection rate rises above certain levels.

Pratt is adhering to the strict measures and protocols based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state, and city guidelines and policies that it has put in place to promote a healthy and safe campus. This includes the social contract that holds our community members accountable with expectations for the individual actions as well as rigorous testing standards.

Regardless of prior infection, vaccination status, or perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to these core health habits: Wear a mask, maintain physical distance, wash your hands, and stay home if you are sick.

Joined with other measures like the Pratt Safe App which requires completing the daily health screening questionnaire, the Institute continues to promote these protocols that require everyone’s continuous participation for their success.

Each member of our community has a responsibility to be safe for the whole Institute and no matter the circumstances Pratt is committed to this collective cooperation for the healthiest campus possible.

All students, faculty, and staff are required to wear a face covering or mask while on campus including in classrooms, studios, shops, labs, offices, and common areas, or in those locations where social distancing measures cannot be followed in accordance with local and national guidance for social distancing.

When eating outside on campus, Pratt community members are asked to observe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for personal and social activities related to dining, including wearing a mask as much as possible, limiting contact with shared items, maintaining a social distance of six feet or more, and washing your hands often.

Community members who are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons are urged to contact the Learning/Access Center for students or Human Resources for faculty and staff.

Pratt is providing all students, faculty, and staff with a minimum of two washable face masks, as well as establishing disposable face-covering distribution points at key locations on campus, such as Public Safety posts, Pratt Health Services Office, Student Affairs Office, and Human Resources. Hand sanitizer stations are available across campus.

Faculty and staff are being provided disinfecting supplies by the Facilities Department to clean their workspaces.

The Office of Facilities Management is carefully following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to improve the indoor air quality and circulation across campus. Annual and preventative maintenance on the building equipment by Facilities is further providing the best performance of the building HVAC systems.

In campus spaces that have mechanical ventilation (HVAC), Facilities is maximizing the outside air in all these HVAC systems and increasing air filtration with the installation of high-density filters. All the systems are running at a minimum of two hours before and after occupancy. The installation of additional controls such as UV lighting is being investigated for additional disinfection.

In spaces without mechanical HVAC, but with windows and doors, Facilities has added exhaust fans to maximize the air changes in rooms to six to eight times an hour. Closed spaces like private offices are single occupancy only.

If spaces do not have mechanical ventilation and no windows, they are single occupancy or closed.

The air in bathrooms is being exhausted either through the existing building exhaust system or through the installation of a window exhaust fan. Many bathrooms are single occupancy or, if necessary, closed.

Masks may be briefly removed when you eat and drink, as long as you stay strictly six-feet apart, honor the social contract, and follow all posted instructions about where food is allowed, table capacity, and clean up.

The social contract for students, faculty, and staff is an extension of Pratt’s Community Standards and violations will be addressed by staff, faculty, RAs, security, and fellow students as usual. Any violations will be adjudicated as are all policy violations, however, it should be noted that violations where one’s actions cause potential harm to another or the community are dealt with more serious consequences/limitations. It is critical that all members of the community think through their decisions regarding the social contract as each decision will not only put others at physical risk, it will cause a student a conduct outcome.

Pratt Health Services is providing telehealth services to our students as well as limited in-person services. These in-person appointments are always subject to change so please check the Health Services site for the latest information.

The preferable way for students to request a virtual appointment is by email at health@pratt.edu or phone at 718.399.4542.

Health Services maintains a list of resources around New York City to meet students’ healthcare needs.

For information on the Aetna Student Health plan offered by Pratt, please visit the Pratt Student Health Insurance page or the Aetna Student Health website.

We encourage students who are feeling stressed or overwhelmed for any reason to contact the Senior Student Advocate and Care Coordinator, Martha Cedarholm, at mcedarho@pratt.edu, and she will work with you.

Pratt’s Counseling Center is available by phone at 718.687.5356 and email at therapy@pratt.edu. While the Center’s physical location is closed, video sessions are being offered through a secure platform.

Faculty and staff can find COVID-19 emotional health resources on the Human Resources Benefits FAQ, including free and confidential hotlines and apps.

Contact tracing is initiated by the New York City Department of Health. However, Pratt has enlisted several leaders on campus, including GeoSyntec, to enhance that effort. These leaders include, but are not limited to, members of the health, public safety, human resources, and residential life offices. Contact tracing begins with the identification of the person who tested positive followed by an interview that determines where potential transmission could be. If exposure does not meet the criteria of a “close contact,” then no further communication to others is necessary. If, however, there are close contacts who meet this criteria, those people will be contacted, interviewed, and likely quarantined.

If the case is a student, that student should notify Health Services. If the case is staff or faculty member, that person should notify Human Resources. They will then be interviewed and anyone deemed as a close contact will be notified. If you meet the outlined criteria of close contact (read the criteria carefully), you should begin symptom monitoring, quarantine, and testing if you are not vaccinated. If you do not meet the criteria, you should monitor your symptoms and continue to practice the 4 core health habits.

If you believe you had contact with someone with COVID-19, or feel sick with possible COVID-19 symptoms including fever, cough, or trouble breathing, you should follow these procedures:

• Do not report to work, class, or other activities on campus.
• Seek medical care from your healthcare provider. Call ahead and tell them about your symptoms. Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care, or other health facility without calling first as your provider may need to take special measures to protect other people. Consider using a telehealth visit.
• If it is determined you have been infected but are well enough to stay home for recovery, you should avoid contact with others. Stay at home, except when seeking professional medical care.
• Avoid further travel until the illness resolves.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Immediately discard the tissue in the trash bin and wash your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%-95% alcohol.

Pratt students can contact Health Services with medical concerns during business hours at 718.399.4542 or Public Safety at 718.636.3540 after hours.

If someone with whom you have been in close contact (determined by the Department of Health contact tracing) is found to be COVID positive, you will be asked to quarantine for 10 days if you are not fully vaccinated. Currently in New York State, once that happens, you cannot shorten quarantine with testing and cannot test out of quarantine.

A close contact is anyone who you have spent more than 10 minutes with within a 24-hour period while less than 6 feet apart. A close contact is also anyone with whom you live, have shared cups, have shared unwashed utensils, have shared toothbrushes, or have kissed. A close contact is also anyone who has directly sneezed, coughed, or spit on you.

Contact tracing begins with the identification of the person who tested positive followed by an interview that determines where potential transmission could have taken place. If exposure does not meet the criteria of a “close contact,” then no further communication will be necessary.

If, however, there are close contacts who meet these criteria, those people will be contacted, interviewed, and likely asked to quarantine. You may have been in a class, studio, or workspace with a positive case and not meet the criteria for a close contact, meaning your risk is very low.

Personal comfort levels can be different for everyone but Pratt, with the New York Department of Health, continues to follow guidance from the CDC and New York State to determine exposure notifications.

Regardless of confirmed cases, everyone on campus should maintain a physical distance of at least six feet, wear a face covering correctly, and conduct frequent hand washing. These actions dramatically reduce the risk of transmission even when a positive case is identified. We also encourage all community members to be vaccinated if eligible and participate in frequent COVID-19 testing.

The Pratt Safe app offers a discrete process for reporting your concerns related to the health and safety of the community and campus. Access the “COVID Concerns” form under the “Return to Campus During COVID” section to start this process. While this process is not anonymous, all information will be relayed to the appropriate departments and treated with discretion as we work together to promote health and safety.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a detailed guide to workplace, school, and home cleaning. The CDC also has recommendations for community facilities with suspected and confirmed cases as well as cleaning and disinfection recommendations for homes where a person has a suspected or confirmed case.

All administrative and academic staff are responsible for the disinfecting of items in single-use offices and at private workstations such as the telephone, keyboard, mouse, touchscreens, printer, desk, chairs, tape dispenser, stapler, etc. Refrigerators, microwaves, and coffeemakers should be cleaned before and after they are used. Offices are able to purchase cleaning and disinfection supplies such as wipes, gloves, sanitizer, etc. through the same process as purchasing office supplies.

Routine cleaning practices will occur in administrative and academic offices. Pratt will clean these areas once during the day or evening. The daily cleaning routine includes: removal of trash, dusting, dust mop and spot mopping as required, vacuuming as needed, and carpet cleaning upon request. A complete disinfecting and mopping of floors will occur once a week. Please see the full “Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols” for more information on these measures.

If anyone in our community has experienced, is aware of, or has witnessed any incident of bias, discrimination, or harassment, please report it to the Bias Education Response Task Force using the Bias Incident Report Form.

The risk of COVID-19 is not bound by race or nationality. We encourage the Pratt community to read the CDC anti-stigma guidelines for facts about this illness.

Check your vaccine eligibility and find a vaccination site near you. NYC Health has the latest information on eligibility in New York State, while the CDC has detailed information on the COVID-19 vaccination, including patient education for each specific vaccine.

Visit Pratt’s “Health and Safety” page for the latest guidance on slowing the spread of infection, including social distancing, wearing a mask and how to wear it correctly, and washing your hands.

The CDC recommends that everyone gets vaccinated for the flu, takes everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, cleans and disinfects frequently touched objects, and takes medications if they are prescribed. While the current flu vaccine has no impact on COVID-19, it is still advised that everyone receives the vaccine.

We encourage our community to follow the CDC’s new double-mask recommendations but do not require it. Students, faculty, and staff can pick up additional masks at public safety booths on campus.

CDC, state, and local guidelines are just that: guidelines. When new recommendations are released, Pratt thoughtfully interprets and prioritizes them for the health and well-being of our campus community. Keep a watch on the Back to Pratt website and e-newsletter for the latest updates as the pandemic and these guidelines continue to change.

There will not be dining services on campus during the 2020-21 academic year. In place of AVI’s usual food service, Pratt has some limited vending options on the Brooklyn campus. This includes a Farmer’s Fridge in the Higgins Hall lobby. The 24/7 grab-and-go fresh meal concept offers salads, sandwiches, noodle bowls, snacks, and more, with an app available to reserve items and pay with your phone.

In accordance with public health guidelines, the Student Union is open in a limited capacity from 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday through Friday. Only the main space in the Student Union is accessible; the conference rooms and Pool Lounge are closed. At this time, no other services in the Union can be accessed.

Per the social contract, please maintain a social distance of six feet while in the Student Union and remain masked at all times. Email Alex Ullman (aullman@pratt.edu) with any questions.

Student Life has posted a list of available social and work spaces on campus. While using these locations, students are responsible for following the social contract and posted instructions, including wearing masks and remaining at least six feet apart. Reservable work or teaching space is also available for faculty and staff.

Until further notice, Pratt is discouraging large in-person gatherings in order to prevent the possibility of spreading COVID-19. In-person gatherings should be limited to the very few activities that cannot be accomplished remotely. Events such as lectures, symposia, and celebrations will not be held in-person and will be planned as remote activities. Annual end-of-year events including Pratt Shows and Commencement will be held virtually.

Although restrictions will be required, opportunities for safe in-person programming and social gatherings will be provided through the enhancement of indoor and outdoor spaces. Student organizations and clubs will continue to meet virtually.

There are current opportunities for student employment both in remote and on campus positions.

All on-campus visits, including campus tours, information sessions, and counselor appointments are suspended until further notice. Virtual General Undergraduate Information Sessions for prospective students have been created to replace on-campus visits.

Pratt counselors are ready to assist vulnerable students at reslife@pratt.edu.

There will be ample parking on campus for the 2020-21 academic year. Details available on the Parking and Permits page.

Please note that all 2019-20 parking permits expired on December 31, 2020. Effective January 1, 2021, all community members wishing to park on the Brooklyn campus need to apply for a 2021 parking permit which will be sold at a discounted price of $100 each and will be valid through August 31, 2021. Anyone not currently in possession of a valid 2021 parking permit who would like to purchase a permit may do so upon their return to the Brooklyn campus.

With the exception of students living in the residence halls, overnight or long-term parking is not permitted on the Brooklyn campus.

For the spring 2021 semester, there will be no shuttle bus service running between the Brooklyn campus and the Pfizer Building. Please note there is no parking available to the Pratt community at the Pfizer Building (located at 630 Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn).

Residential Life and Housing have set up a process for all students to email reslife@pratt.edu with their name, number, and a brief summary of their question. Staff members will do their best to respond within 24 hours.

At this point, continuing students (those taking a leave) will be able to go through room selection and the deposit made for FA 2020 will be used for FA 2021. New students (those deferring) would complete their FA 2021 housing application and would be assigned with all other new students, using the original date of deposit for FA 2020 as their priority date.

The staff and faculty at Pratt are committed to building and strengthening their relationships with students and the relationships between students. Digital services and solutions have been developed to connect students with each other and with their professors and the administrative staff. Individual and group counseling is widely available to all students, and student clubs and organizations are continuing to meet and develop programs online.

For students pursuing either the remote or the hybrid option, student services, activities, and engagement are online. All support services are easy to access. There will continue to be opportunities for students to engage in campus governance and community dialogue remotely.

Students should work with Pratt’s risk managers to rectify this unfortunate situation. They can begin by emailing riskmgr@pratt.edu.

We are engaged in a challenging and stimulating academic year with the same standard of excellence in teaching, learning, and research across the creative fields for which Pratt is renowned. With our entire community’s safety and wellbeing as our priority, we have created a framework in which Pratt students are continuing to receive a world-class education from Pratt’s stellar faculty. All students, whether they join us in New York City or study remotely, are able to make full-time progress toward their degrees.

No matter where or how our students choose to take courses or access services, they are being supported by our dedicated and distinguished faculty and staff, and the enhanced robust technology needed to learn and create.

Pratt recognizes that while conducting classes online has become commonplace, these online meeting formats bring with them some privacy concerns. Our best practices guidance takes into consideration the needs and privacy of both students and faculty.

The current guidance states: Anyone who is intending to record a class or meeting should clearly inform all participants ahead of time. Recording a class is not required by the Institute—except in the case of a disability-related accommodation—but is permissible. Recorded classes should not be shared with anyone who is not a member of the class (except professional captioners). Only the faculty member teaching the class should have permission to record the class. It is acceptable to ask students to agree to this condition either verbally or in writing.

All students should be encouraged to use the Zoom background feature—if their computer meets the system requirements—to protect their privacy. While faculty members may prefer that students have their cameras on during class, students should not be required to make their faces visible on camera. Asking students to show their work or a working process on camera, for pedagogical purposes, is permissible.

The full details of this guidance are available through the Center for Teaching and Learning (PDF).

Pratt will provide online classes to all students who cannot return to New York City or choose to do all their classes remotely.

Yes, students have access to labs and studios. Required studio courses in the degree programs that depend upon access to specialized equipment and facilities are prioritized for access to labs and studios.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) FAQ has Canvas and teaching and learning-related questions and corresponding up-to-date answers. If you are a faculty member with questions about technology, please contact the Technology Desk at services@pratt.edu. If you have questions regarding course scheduling or course administrative issues, please contact your department chair or course coordinator. If you have any questions regarding teaching, course design, online best practices, or Canvas usage for teaching activities (that are not already on the FAQ page), send them to the CTL at ctl@pratt.edu.

At this time all study abroad programs for the fall semester are suspended.

International students can engage in remote classes from inside or outside the United States. Please see the FAQ questions related to international students for further information.

The U.S. is currently restricting entry of foreign nationals (including international students) who have been present in certain countries in the past 14 days. These countries are China, Iran, UK/Ireland, all European Schengen countries, and Brazil. If you are presently in one of these countries, you will not be able to enter the U.S. until the travel ban for the country you are in is lifted. For more, please see NAFSA’s updates on COVID-19 travel bans

On July 13, the Department of State tweeted that consulates were beginning phased reopening of non-immigrant visa services: “US embassies and consulates are beginning the phased resumption of routine visa services. The date for each embassy or consulate will depend on local conditions. We are unable to provide details for each location. Please monitor the embassy or consulate website for updates.”

Students should contact the local consulate and follow the instructions for visa appointment scheduling, which varies by consulate.

You can stay outside the US and take full-time classes online if that is what works best for your personal, travel, and health situation. Provided ICE’s spring guidance remains in effect, students are permitted to remain in Active status either inside or outside of the US when engaged in full-time online coursework.

If you already were issued your SEVIS I-20 for Fall, we can make an update to your current I-20 start date. Your SEVIS ID would remain the same. You may email oia@pratt.edu if you would like to change your I-20 start date to Spring, which begins in January.

If you have a transfer-pending I-20, you are in a different situation than a regular new student. Please read the content on our webpage, check your email for a message sent to you from OIA with advice, and contact oia@pratt.edu with any questions.

Yes, your existing student visa in your passport should remain valid for future use, until the expiration date printed. There is NOT a five-month rule to be concerned about regarding your visa. For reference, see the Homeland Security guidance: Do students need new visas?

Consider these deadlines:

• August 1, 2020, is the deadline to pay tuition without incurring a late fee.
• If you need to cancel or change your housing arrangements, please review the online housing information.
• Penalties apply to students with a fall 2020 registration for leave of absence eForms submitted after the first day of class, August 24, 2020.
• Penalties are applied even if you did not pay the bill.
• If you did not pay your bill, then the penalty will be applied and must be paid in order to return.

Consider that your I-20 will be terminated and that you will need to reapply for the I-20 and show a new bank statement in order to return for the spring 2021 or fall 2021 semester.

Consider that the “F-1 clock” will start from the beginning when you return to campus.

Consider how many semesters you have remaining:

• This could affect eligibility for CPT and OPT when you return to campus (read the FAQ on the impact of a leave on SEVIS status).
• If you have more than 12 credits remaining as an undergraduate student (or 9 credits as a graduate student), can you take 12 (or 9) credits in spring 2021 and the remaining credits in fall 2021? Check with your academic advisor. In this case, you would be eligible for OPT (but not CPT).
  • Consider the extra expense for this option.
• For students with one or two semesters remaining, consider that taking classes completely online in fall 2020 will keep you in F-1 status whether you are in the US or abroad. Interruption of your F-1 status with a leave of absence will cause a break in your status.
• For students with one semester left, consider that if you decide to take classes online so you will be eligible for OPT, remember that an OPT application must be mailed from the United States up to three months before the completion date.
  • If you decide to take the LOA and come back for your last semester, be aware you will forfeit CPT and OPT opportunities upon return.

If you are a current student planning to take a leave of absence, we will need to end your current I-20 for the period of leave. You will need to later apply for a new I-20 with updated financial documentation to return to the U.S. to continue your studies. You cannot stay in the U.S. during your leave. You will have to pay a new SEVIS I-901 fee for the new I-20, and your eligibility for practical training (Curricular Practical Training - CPT, and Optional Practical Training - OPT) will be reset. This means you will not be eligible for CPT and/or OPT until 1) after you return to the U.S in your new F-1 status and 2) you are re-enrolled full-time for two full semesters (one academic year) after your return. Students who are close to graduation should consider this carefully. You will not be eligible for post-completion OPT if you restart your status with less than two semesters remaining of required coursework.

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) is closed physically, but we are still providing services remotely. Travel signatures are valid for 12 months from the date signed on page two of your I-20 (six months for alumni on OPT). You can request a new travel signature by writing to oia@pratt.edu and including your name as printed on your passport and Pratt ID number. Due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Department of Homeland Security has provided us special authorization to send students I-20s electronically with e-signatures. Any new electronic I-20 you receive will remain valid for your use beyond the COVID-19 emergency, until you need an updated I-20 for another purpose. Please print your I-20 on letter-sized paper and sign it at the bottom so you have a paper copy to carry with you.

No, provided students remain full-time enrolled in good standing.

No, the F-1 visa inside the passport is only used to enter the United States at a port-of-entry. The visa expiration is not relevant to a student’s ability to study.

No, the new guidance does not affect students currently on Post-Completion OPT (Optional Practical Training) or the STEM extension in the US. You are no longer completing your academic coursework and you do not have to depart the US.

Under the new guidance, as a student in their home country taking online classes, you do not need an I-20 for the fall semester. If you want to register for online classes for the fall, please send an email to the Registrar’s office about your return at reg@pratt.edu. If you have an OIA Hold, then please fill out the International Student Form (the ISF) and make the following remark: “I am returning from a leave of absence, taking classes only online, and remaining in my home country. I do not need an I-20.” You would need to request your new I-20 for the semester you return to the United States and Pratt in-person.

If you get a visa appointment during the fall semester, you will take the I-20 that has the new spring start date. It is okay and normal that you would only be registered for online classes at that time because you are studying outside of the US. During the fall semester, you are still eligible to receive the visa to enter the US for the spring term while studying online.

We highly recommend students remain full-time enrolled or else your SEVIS record will need to be terminated. We also recommend new students be full-time enrolled in case of future work authorization eligibility.

Contact your personal SFS Counselor. They are ready to assist you and respond to your financial questions.

Taking a leave of absence or deferring enrollment will not affect a student’s eligibility for receiving their previously awarded Presidential Merit Scholarship.

Please contact Student Financial Services for the most accurate information related to your situation.

Students experiencing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19 should speak with their financial aid counselor about additional aid for which they may be eligible.

The financial aid counselors are still working during business hours: Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Students can find information online, email sfs@pratt.edu, and/or check Starfish for their financial aid counselor information.

Supporting the reopening of our campuses during the ongoing pandemic requires that all faculty and staff returning to campus for the 2020-21 academic year agree to and abide by clear standards and expectations that promote appropriate behavior and goodwill. As members of the Pratt community, accepting responsibility for our friends, family, colleagues, and the wider community will contribute significantly toward reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Faculty and staff must observe all requirements for daily self-assessment, daily temperature assessment, reporting of symptoms, and diagnostic testing. Everyone is advised to wash their hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Faculty and staff should clean their workspaces with the disinfecting supplies provided by the Facilities Department before leaving each day.

Yes, the hiring freeze continues to be in effect.

On March 19, 2021, the CDC updated its K-12 school guidance to recommend that, along with masking, students should maintain a distance of at least three feet in classrooms. However, this does not apply to higher education and Pratt will continue its guidance of six feet of physical distance between students on campus.

Faculty and staff must wear an appropriate face covering or mask, which covers the nose and mouth at all times, while on campus when not working alone in a private office. Please contact Human Resources by either calling 718.636.3787 or emailing hr@pratt.edu if you need assistance with an accommodation relating to this requirement.

Failure to comply with the requirements outlined in the Social Contract for Faculty and Staff may result in disciplinary action and/or denial of entry to Pratt campuses.

Please contact Human Resources by either calling 718.636.3787 or emailing hr@pratt.edu to discuss your work options based on your condition.

Please contact Human Resources by either calling 718.636.3787 or emailing hr@pratt.edu to discuss your work options based on your situation.

Faculty and staff are advised to hold group meetings virtually to eliminate gathering in conference rooms.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to limit nonessential personal travel; Pratt-sponsored travel is not authorized until further notice. It is advised that everyone approach any travel with ample caution and weigh the benefits against the risks to yourself and the community.

If you are traveling, check the jurisdiction you are going to for local COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements in advance. Students, faculty, and staff need to follow Pratt’s quarantine policy which is available on the Back to Pratt site.

Please see the Pratt.edu news page for ongoing coverage of Pratt’s support for its community beyond the campus gates, from production of PPE to donations of food and metrocards.