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.

At this time, access to Pratt’s Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses is only open to currently registered students, faculty, and staff who have either had a recent negative COVID-19 test or have provided proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. The campuses are currently closed to the general public.

Changes to campus access are being evaluated based on Pratt’s ongoing monitoring of health and safety protocols and guidelines. Pratt looks forward to returning to public access at an appropriate time in the future. Please see the Campus Access Policy for the latest information.

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 or a COVID-19 vaccination record is accepted for meeting the requirements for coming on campus. For more information, see the “COVID Testing and Monitoring” page.

The vaccine is free to everyone who is eligible. New York State’s vaccination eligibility now includes all United States residents 12 years of age 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, you do not have to pay to be vaccinated in the United States. The US federal government is providing the COVID-19 vaccination free of charge, regardless of immigration or health insurance status.

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.

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.

Yes, Pratt Institute is requiring all students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus in fall 2021 to be fully vaccinated. All vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are acceptable. For international students, Pratt also will accept vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines).

Everyone arriving on campus will be required to submit proof of their vaccination. Pratt is offering its faculty and staff up to four hours of excused leave per injection that will not be charged against any other leave. Details can be found in the vaccination time off policy.

Pratt asks all students, faculty, and staff (including those who are currently working remotely but plan to be on campus in the fall) to 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 that our community has made towards vaccination against COVID-19. The due date for uploading your vaccine proof for the fall semester is July 30 to allow time for the information to be processed before the start of classes.

Do not wait until the last minute to be vaccinated; make a vaccine appointment at the earliest opportunity so you will meet the requirements to be fully vaccinated at the start of the fall 2021 semester.

For the latest information, visit the Back to Pratt COVID-19 Vaccine page.

The due date for uploading your vaccine proof for the fall semester is July 30. This allows for time to process the information before the start of classes. All students, faculty, and staff (including those who are currently working remotely but plan to be on campus in the fall) can upload their vaccination proof into our secure database.

Pratt’s digital IDs have been updated to reflect the new campus access guidance for summer 2021. Please follow these steps before arrival:

• Download the Pratt Safe app.
• Submit your vaccine proof (if fully vaccinated, which means that you have received the required number of doses for the vaccine and more than two weeks have elapsed since completing these doses) or a negative COVID-19 test.
• Sign a social contract. (If you have already completed a social contract this year, you don’t need to do it again.)
• Before you arrive on campus (up to four hours prior to arrival) complete the health screening questionnaire in the Pratt Safe app.
• The digital ID should show the icons for your health screening questionnaire, social contract, and vaccine status in green. If so, you are ready to access campus.

No, if you have submitted your vaccine proof online and it has been approved, it will already be recorded on your Pratt Safe app digital ID for accessing campus.

Pratt Institute is seeking to create a safe and healthy environment where we can come together on campus to have those dynamic exchanges of ideas in person that we so deeply value. The decision to require all students, faculty, and staff who are on campus to be vaccinated was not made lightly. Collectively across campus, we partnered to hear different perspectives on vaccinations during the decision-making process.

Following guidance from the CDC, recommendations from New York State, and a student survey, as well as consultations with staff and faculty representatives, Pratt made the decision to require vaccination for all students, faculty, and staff. There is now reliable evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines prevent COVID-19 illness and the spread of the disease.

In the final analysis, it became clear that requiring vaccines would be the most effective measure to ensure the safest environment for our community while on campus. For fall 2021, Pratt will continue to make safety its primary consideration in all decision-making and will rely on the most up-to-date scientific information to make informed decisions about the fall semester.

Pratt has announced its vaccine requirement months in advance of the fall 2021 semester so its community will have time to gather information, consult with their health care providers, and take other steps to inform themselves of their choices. The three vaccines that have been deemed safe and effective for Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) are the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine, and the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines).

The CDC has detailed information on the vaccines including how they are being monitored for their safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality that supports this emergency use. The benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine include prevention of serious illness, hospitalization, and death from the virus.

Pratt strongly encourages its students to make every effort to get vaccinated before they arrive in New York. If that is not a possibility, New York State’s vaccination eligibility now includes all United States residents 12 years of age and older, as well as non-residents (including international students). All students will be eligible to be vaccinated under these New York State guidelines.

The vaccine is free to everyone who is eligible. 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.

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.

Students, faculty, or staff members who cannot be vaccinated before arriving in New York, or who have only received one dose of a two-dose vaccine, or who have not met the requirements of full vaccination, must follow these guidelines:

• Submit a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival on campus or to the residence halls.
• Participate in weekly COVID-19 testing until fully vaccinated. After the initial test is completed prior to arrival, ongoing COVID-19 testing will be provided by Pratt at no cost. Detailed instructions on weekly testing will be shared with these members of the community before the start of the semester.
• Have the first vaccine dose within the first week of the semester (or arrival in the residence halls) and submit proof using your OneKey ID. Those waiting for a second dose must schedule an appointment as soon as possible based on their individual dose regimen.

The CDC recommends taking a photograph of your vaccination card as a backup copy. This will capture all your data if you lose your card. If you did not receive a COVID-19 vaccination card at your appointment, contact the vaccination provider site where you were vaccinated or your state health department to find out how to get a card.

The CDC does not have vaccination record information. Instead, they recommend contacting the operational immunization information system (IIS) in the state where you received your vaccination. It’s also recommended that you contact your vaccination site for a potential replacement and bring your ID as well as the dates you were vaccinated. If you were vaccinated at two different places, it's recommended you return to the site where you got your second dose.

Pratt’s students, faculty, and staff who have a religious or medical exemption from being vaccinated and will be accessing campus should take the following steps:

• Submit your request for exemption using the online form.
• Submit a negative COVID-19 test seven days prior to accessing campus.
• Participate in weekly COVID-19 testing throughout your time on campus.

Students in this category should contact Health Services (health@pratt.edu) with any questions while faculty and staff should contact benefits@pratt.edu.

Students with exemptions who will not be accessing campus can make progress towards their degrees online.

Do not delay vaccination if it is available to you. With the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines in New York, international students who cannot receive a vaccine before arrival will be able to do so upon entering the United States. Pratt will assist international students in complying with the Institute’s requirements as needed.

Yes. Pratt is accepting vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines) as well as those authorized for such use by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

Currently, the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC states that people who were vaccinated outside the United States with an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine and have received all the recommended doses do not need any additional doses. People who received the first dose of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses while abroad do not need to restart the vaccine series in the United States but should receive the second dose as close to the recommended time as possible.

This guidance can also be applied to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization. Pratt is closely monitoring the changes in guidance from the FDA and WHO as well as the list of accepted vaccines.

For international students, Pratt is accepting vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see the WHO site for the latest list of authorized vaccines) as well as those authorized for such use by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

At this time no other vaccines will be accepted for campus access. However, students who have received vaccines that are not approved can still access the campus by arriving with a negative COVID-19 test and adhering to a regimen of weekly testing until their vaccine is approved.

Pratt is continuing to watch WHO and FDA approval determinations and the Back to Pratt website will be updated in response to any changes in their guidance.

While there is currently no guidance from the WHO or CDC on additional COVID-19 vaccinations, Pratt is closely following these updates and will keep our community apprised.

The CDC states that there is no data available on the safety or efficacy of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine currently authorized in the United States after receipt of a non-FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine. Please see the latest information on the CDC website.

Yes, Pratt is requiring that all of its students be fully vaccinated by the time they arrive on campus, including to live in the residence halls. Any student who cannot be vaccinated prior to arrival will need to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival and test weekly until fully vaccinated.

All students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus in fall 2021 must submit their vaccination information ahead of their arrival. Deadlines will be provided soon. In the meantime, we strongly encourage getting vaccinated and submitting your results as soon as possible. The process to submit this information can be found on our vaccine page.

Yes, you can register for classes before vaccination. Proof of vaccination will be required before coming onto campus or entering the residence halls. Residence students who can not meet this requirement will follow the outlined testing process prior to vaccination.

Pratt’s vaccine requirements for fall 2021 do not apply to students who will be learning remotely in the fall. These students will be able to make progress toward their degrees through online classes.

Students choosing not to study on campus in fall 2021 and students who will not be vaccinated at that time will have remote options for making progress towards their degrees.

However, Pratt strongly encourages each member of its community, whether they are spending time on campus or not, to be vaccinated to combat the spread of COVID-19.

No, Pratt’s vaccine requirement begins in fall 2021. For spring the guidelines for a negative COVID-19 test will remain in place for accessing campus. For summer, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be accepted for campus access.

Pratt’s vaccine requirement for fall 2021 does not apply to students, faculty, and staff who are continuing to work and study remotely. However, Pratt strongly encourages every member of its community to be vaccinated to combat the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

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.

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.

Yes, Pratt’s requirement for fall 2021 is a COVID-19 vaccination. As the CDC advises, vaccinations are recommended for people regardless of their history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, including a positive antibody test.

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 when recommended, 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.

Pratt students, 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).

Please note: the due date for uploading your vaccine proof for the fall semester is July 30 to allow time for processing before the start of classes.

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.

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. The social contract holds our community members accountable with expectations for individual actions including vaccination.

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 may have student conduct repercussions.

No. If you uploaded your vaccination proof to the vaccine form and it was approved, you have met the requirements for the fall 2021 semester.

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.

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).

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 where recommended, 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.

Following the CDC guidance for institutions of higher education, on July 1, 2021, Pratt Institute decided to lift our masking requirement while outdoors on campus. While masks are still required indoors—with the exception of private offices, studios, and residence hall rooms—all faculty, staff, and students who have completed requirements for campus access can remove their masks anywhere outdoors on campus. As noted throughout the pandemic, these requirements could change. Please continue to follow all signage and directives on campus. More information is always available on the Back to Pratt website.

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 where required, 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, when to wear 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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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, 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.

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.

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.

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.