Recent Communications to the Pratt community

From: Back to Pratt
Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: The Vaccination Low Down, Campus Access, Fall 2021, Future of Homework

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green, thanks to your continued vigilance and care for others.

• Vaccine Eligibility: New York State's vaccination eligibility now includes all residents age 16 and older—as well as non-residents who work and study in New York with proof of age and employment or enrollment. Your Pratt ID or pay stub can be used as proof of work or study.

• Vaccine Upload: All fully vaccinated faculty and staff (whether in-person or remote) are encouraged to upload their vaccination record into our secure database for purposes of contact tracing, eligibility for vaccination time-off, and data reporting on our community’s vaccination progress.

• Vaccination Time Off: Details for faculty and staff on using time off for vaccination are available on Back to Pratt.

• Fall 2021: Building on the successes of this year, fall 2021 at Pratt will offer as much in-person learning and campus life as possible. Several opportunities for international students are also planned.

• Campus Access: A reminder that our campus access protocols have not changed. Students, faculty, and staff are still required to submit a negative PCR test 24 to 48 hours ahead of their first time on campus this semester. Daily health screening, physical distancing, and face covering are also still required.

• Work-from-Home Future: A year of the pandemic has transformed an unprecedented number of homes across the globe into studios, offices, and places of study. Industrial design students in the Homework class led by Adjunct Associate Professor Linda Celentano investigated what a better work-from-home space could be. Read more on the Pratt.edu news page.

• Back to Pratt FAQ: As the vaccination rollout accelerates, we continue to revisit this question from our FAQs.

  • Do I still need to follow the same guidelines if I’ve been vaccinated or had the virus? Yes! Regardless of prior infection, vaccination status, or your perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to all guidelines while on campus and core health habits to keep everyone safe.

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Back to Pratt
Date: Fri, Apr 2, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Updated Quarantine Policy, Pratt Shows, Bridging the Gap, Vaccine Time Off, State of the Institute

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green, thanks to continued vigilance and care for others. 

• Updated Quarantine Policy: Make sure you understand Pratt’s updated requirements for students, faculty, and staff who have traveled internationally, which include self-quarantine for 10 days unless the approved NYS guidance to “test out” of quarantine applies.

• Pratt Shows Website: Explore all new projects and curated presentations on this year’s Pratt Shows website. The site is the central showcase for work by Pratt’s graduating class and the Institute’s series of online exhibitions, running through May.

• State of the Institute: President Frances Bronet addresses the Pratt community on current fall enrollment, administrative transitions, our finances, DEI efforts, partnerships, and planning for the future. Watch the video or read the transcript online.

• Summer/Fall Course Schedules: Reminder that student course schedules for the summer and fall 2021 terms are currently available for review online. Registration begins April 12 for graduate students and April 19 for undergraduates.

• Bridging the Gap: Faculty and staff are invited to an April 20 presentation on supporting international student mental health in the context of COVID, with special guest speaker Dr. Justin A. Chen.

• Vaccination Time Off: To encourage all staff members to get vaccinated, Pratt is taking NYS’s vaccination time off law an extra step and allowing it to be applied retroactively. More on this and on uploading your vaccination information are available on Back to Pratt.

• Back to Pratt FAQs: If you don’t know the answer, chances are someone else doesn’t either. We continue to update as new frequently asked questions come to the forefront. Look for answers to your questions on Back to Pratt, and let us know if something is missing.

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Human Resources
Date: Mon, Mar 29, 2021
Subject:Re: Vaccination Time off

As many have heard New York State recently passed legislation that would allow faculty and staff time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Faculty and staff would be allowed up to four hours of excused leave per injection that would not be charged against any other leave. This change takes effect immediately.  

Pratt encourages all faculty and staff who wish to get vaccinated to do so and hope that this legislation will remove any barriers to doing so. To further encourage everyone, Pratt is taking the new legislation one step further and any staff member who used accruals prior to the March 12, 2021 date will be able to switch the accrual used for the new “Vaccination Day”. 

What you need to know:

• Faculty should consult with their chair if their appointment is during a class.

• For staff - If your vaccination appointment is scheduled during your normal work hours you should request the time from your supervisor in Kronos and use the Vaccine Day in the time off type using up to four hours for the vaccination.

• Using the Vaccine Day accrual will not count against your balance.

• If you have used accruals prior to this announcement please see the Back to Pratt page for more details on how to exchange for the Vaccination Date.

• If you received your vaccination during the weekend or before or after you work you are not eligible to use the vaccination time. 

• We are requesting that you submit your vaccination proof even if you are not eligible for the vaccination leave using this link.

More information about the Vaccination time off and the process to upload your vaccination documents can be found on Back to Pratt.
 

Stay Safe,

Steve Riccobono

AVP of HR

From: Back to Pratt
Date: Fri, Mar 26, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Vaccination Time Off, Stop Asian Hate, Libraries, and Snail Mail

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green, thanks to continued vigilance and care for others.

• Vaccination Time Off: To encourage all staff members to get vaccinated, Pratt is taking NYS’s new vaccination time off law an extra step and allowing anyone who has already used accrued hours to get vaccinated to apply the vaccination time off retroactively. More on this and uploading your vaccination information are available online.

• Stop Asian Hate: On Tuesday, March 30 from noon to 1 PM, the Center for Equity and Inclusion will host a Community Dialogue: Stop Asian Hate. We join in solidarity with victims, their families and friends, and all of our Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander students, faculty, staff, and community members experiencing fear, grief, and pain. We reiterate the commitments made in President Bronet’s Statement against Anti-Asian Racism, and hope you will join us for this important conversation.

• Snail Mail Brings Pratt Students Together: In addition to virtual platforms, some Pratt community members are using a slower-paced way to connect: the mail. From handcrafted mail art to science kits and rare books, the USPS is delivering experiences of collaboration and hands-on learning.

• Libraries: Pratt Libraries celebrated and recapped an exciting year of expanding online collections and resources. Since August, they have scheduled over 400 contact-free pickup appointments and have provided over 2,400 article and book chapters to Pratt researchers. 

• Summer/Fall Course Schedules: Reminder that student course schedules for the summer and fall 2021 terms are now available for review online. Registration begins April 12 for graduate students and April 19 for undergraduates.

• Back to Pratt FAQ: This week, we added a new question in response to updated physical distancing guidance. 

  • Does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for physical distance between students in classrooms change Pratt’s guidelines? 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.

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Back to Pratt
Date: Fri, Mar 19, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Course Schedules and Campus Housing for Fall, Vaccine Eligibility, CTL Resources

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Continue to maintain six-feet physical distance, follow all posted signage on campus, and stay alert for continued changes through email and the Back to Pratt website.

• Vaccine Eligibility: New York State's vaccination guidance has been updated to include “in-person college faculty and essential in-person staff,” among others. Community members working on campus are encouraged to fill out the NY State “Am I Eligible” form and follow the guidance provided. You do not need additional documentation from Pratt to complete the form. If eligible, your Pratt ID or pay stub can be used as proof of employment.   

• Vaccine Info Session: Want to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine? Join us on Tuesday, March 23, for a presentation from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on vaccine safety, side effects, and to ask your own questions.

• Fall Course Schedules: Starting Monday, March 22, student course schedules for the summer and fall 2021 terms will be available for review online. Registration begins April 12 for graduate students and April 19 for undergraduates.

• Fall Campus Housing: New information has been posted for all continuing/returning students currently living on or off campus, who are planning to live in the residence halls next fall. See the recent communication from Residential Life for more information on submitting a housing deposit and preparing for room selection in April. Don’t hesitate to reach out to reslife@pratt.edu with any questions.

• Center for Teaching and Learning: The CTL continues to offer events, resources, and support for online and hybrid education. Explore upcoming programming, including a new Faculty Learning Community, “Seeding and Growing Your Radical Pedagogies.” Faculty can drop in on a CTL Coffee Chat or join a Canvas Office Hour session.

• Wellness Days: A reminder that spring Wellness Days continue next week. No classes are held Tuesday–Thursday, March 23–25. Administrative offices are open.

• Back to Pratt FAQ: This week, we’re revisiting a popular question from our FAQs. Remember, if you have a question, there’s probably an answer on Back to Pratt.

  • Why are some of Pratt’s policies different from other guidelines I read? CDC, state, and local guidelines are just that: guidelines! When new recommendations are released, the Institute must thoughtfully interpret and prioritize them for the health and well-being of our campus community. 

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Back to Pratt
Date: Fri, Mar 12, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Wellness Days and Travel, Free Museums, Accessibility and Networking During COVID

Current campus COVID-19 conditions continue in the “green,” as spring is around the corner. Here are the latest updates:

• Wellness Days: A reminder that beginning this Monday, a series of wellness days have been scheduled in place of spring break for 2021. The dates are: 

  • Monday, March 15: no classes and all offices closed

  • Tuesday–Thursday, March 23–25: no classes

  • Friday–Saturday, April 2–3: no classes

• Spring Travel Advisory: No matter what your plans are for these wellness days, we strongly encourage you to remain diligent and continue following both CDC and New York State (NYS) COVID-19 guidelines to protect your health and that of our larger community. For community members who choose to travel, please be sure to follow the NYS Travel Advisory information.

• Museum Memberships: Looking for safe wellness activities around the City? As of March 1, Pratt has renewed memberships to select museums where social distancing precautions are in place. A valid Pratt ID is required for museum admission.

• Vaccine Eligibility: As of March 10, 2021, New York State's vaccination guidance has been updated to include “in-person college faculty and essential in-person staff,” among others. The NYS website continues to be the most up-to-date resource for eligibility.

• Accessibility in the Age of COVID-19: In honor of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and as part of the Advancing Access campaign, join the Center for Equity and Inclusion, the Learning/Access Center, Human Resources, and Information Technology on Wednesday, March 17, for a Pratt community dialogue from 12 to 1 PM ET. Learn more and RSVP online.

• Students and Alumni Forge Professional Connections Online: The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) has found new digital networking opportunities for Pratt students and alumni.

• Connect with the Counseling Center: Wellness and healing opportunities are available for all students, including those from marginalized backgrounds with regard to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and socioeconomic status. We see you and are here for you. For more information about our services, please call us at 718.687.5356 or email us at therapy@pratt.edu. Crisis counseling is also available 24/7 by calling 718.687.5356. 

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Residential Life and Housing
Date: Mon, Mar 8, 2021
Subject: Planning for Fall 2021

As we continue to grapple with the impact of the pandemic, we are working hard on a plan to open the residence halls for the Fall 2021 semester. To build on the success of maintaining a low risk residence hall environment, our plan maintains a de-densified approach (no triple occupancy rooms, limited double occupancy rooms in upper class halls and limited occupancies on each floor in first year halls). 

In the meantime, in order to be ready for these decisions and to plan as best as possible for Fall housing, we will be proceeding with the room selection process according to the following procedures.

New students preferences application submission: Currently all deposited new students have access to the housing preferences application. Shortly after making an admissions deposit, students are emailed a link to complete the application. We plan on housing all new first year students in double occupancy rooms but plan to limit the number of rooms available on each floor. We hope to have assignments finalized in July. New Transfer and New Graduate students will be housed in Willoughby and the Townhouses.

Returning Students Room Selection: We are set to begin our returning students room selection process in April. Similar to last year, this virtual process will include the traditional grouping for doubles and double/doubles and will include more single and semi-private single room options available to students. Room options for returning students are doubles and singles in Willoughby Hall and single spaces in the Townhouses. As always, grouping for singles will also be available in the Townhouses. We hope to know soon whether Grand Avenue and ELJ can be added to the list of options.

Sophomore Community: In an effort to help make the transition to campus more comfortable and intentional, we will be offering all current first year students the opportunity to apply for housing with preferences (roommate preferences, lifestyle preferences) to a block of rooms in Willoughby Hall.

Social Contract/Testing/Arrival Quarantines: We will have an updated Social Contract that all students will need to agree to uphold. It will include details of testing, pre/post-arrival quarantines and the like. Some adjustments and changes may need to happen, as what is accurate today may not be accurate in August.

For more detail about all of the above, visit our housing pages at www.pratt.edu/roomselection and by regularly checking your @pratt.edu email!

All continuing students who fully participate in the room selection process will be guaranteed housing.

All students who made deposits as either a student participating in last year’s room selection OR made a housing deposit as a new student for FA 2020 will not need to make a new deposit.

From: Dennis Mazone
Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2021
Subject: COVID-19 Travel Advisory for Spring 2021

Pratt Wellness Days Advisory:

As we approach Pratt’s upcoming Wellness Days, we recognize that each of you will choose to spend your time off differently.  For some community members this may involve travelling home or visiting local destinations.

No matter what your plans are, we strongly encourage you to remain diligent in preventing the spread of the virus.  We urge you to continue following both CDC and New York State (NYS) COVID-19 guidelines to protect your health and that of our larger community.  

For community members who choose to travel, please be sure to follow the NYS Travel Advisory information. Please, continue to read email communications from the Institute and check the Back to Pratt website regularly for updates.

Sincerely,

Dennis Mazone
Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety & Preparedness

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Mar 5, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Health Services, Fall 2021 Planning, Zoom Transcription, Pool Testing

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green, thanks to everyone’s continued adherence to safety protocol and commitment to one another’s well-being, which gives us confidence for a successful return to campus in the fall!

• Fall 2021 Planning: On Wednesday, Pratt announced its plans to welcome new and continuing students, staff, and faculty back to our campuses for the fall 2021 semester, to learn and engage in campus life in a safe and meaningful way. The well-being of our students and the vibrancy of our campuses are at the heart of our planning. If you missed that email, read it here.

• Live Zoom Transcription: The Learning/Access Center and the Center for Teaching and Learning announced that live speech-to-text transcription is now available in Zoom meetings and webinars. This feature must be enabled by the host of the meeting or webinar once it begins. 

• Health Services Hours: Beginning the week of March 7, in-person visits can be scheduled by appointment on Wednesdays only. Please contact Health Services with any special needs for your in-person visit, so a provider can assist you. Health Services continues to be available for telehealth appointments Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM.

• Pool Testing: COVID-19 pool testing at Pratt is an ongoing low-cost and effective way to monitor the health of our residence hall students and staff. Learn more about how pool testing works. 

• Quarantine Policy: A reminder that Pratt’s quarantine policy has been updated to follow CDC guidelines for the 10-day duration and test-out eligibility for travel or exposure to COVID-19. Pratt students, faculty, and staff must continue to follow the self-quarantine procedures as outlined by the Institute at the above link.

• Periodic COVID-19 Retesting: To prevent the spread of COVID-19, Pratt encourages community members to get retested for COVID-19 periodically, whether or not they have symptoms. Free testing is available widely in NYC. Free testing is also available in New Jersey and other states.

• Contact Tracing: Contact tracing is initiated by the New York City Department of Health and begins with identifying the person who tested positive followed by an interview to determine potential transmission locations. Read more details about contact tracing in Health and Safety. 

• Vaccine Eligibility: As New York City and State guidelines develop, here are the best resources to decide if you’re vaccine eligible and how to register to get a vaccine. If you are outside of New York State, the CDC has information for your location as well as general guidance on the vaccine. 

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Kirk E. Pillow, Cathleen Kenny, and Helen Matusow-Ayres
Date: Wed, Mar 3, 2021
Subject: Fall 2021 Planning

Dear Pratt Community,

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 virus instantly changing how we lived, studied, and worked in our city and on our campuses, we wish to recognize how much we have accomplished this year and to announce some of Pratt’s exciting plans for Fall 2021.

Fall 2021

Relying on all that we have learned from this year, Pratt is planning to welcome new and continuing students, staff, and faculty back to our campuses for the Fall 2021 semester, to learn and engage in campus life in a safe and meaningful way. With the well-being of our students and the vibrancy of our campuses at the heart of our planning, we look forward to being back in person as much as possible.

Building upon what we put in place this past year, classrooms and offices will be configured to maintain physical distance, schedules and remote opportunities will help stagger density, and we will once again utilize the most up-to-date safety protocols to reduce risk of transmission of the COVID virus.  

Course Modalities

Students can expect that they will have a course load that includes a variety of modalities, with an emphasis on delivering as much in-person instruction as possible to students who are able to access the campuses. Courses will be offered in a blend of three basic modalities to meet student and curricular needs. These modalities include: 

• in person 
• fully remote 
• hybrid (a mixture of online and in person)

Emphasis will be placed on matching learning goals to modalities: learning that is best suited to in-person instruction will be held in person to the extent possible. Remote instruction options will remain available for the fall to students who are unable to attend in person, including international students. Course schedules will be made available to continuing students on March 22.

Residence Halls

The residence halls will be open with reduced density and guaranteed housing for all first-year undergraduate students who choose to live on campus, who deposit by May 1. Continuing students will be contacted in March about retaining their rooms and continuing students who want to change their room assignments will be able to begin selecting new rooms for the 2021-22 academic year during room selection in April 2021.

Remote Work

An updated interim remote work policy will be announced in May 2021 to allow supervisors and staff members to create schedules conducive to their team’s work and responsibilities, while remaining flexible and protecting the safety of our community members.

Planning

Planning for the fall will continue throughout the spring and summer months. As departments complete fall course schedules, the Provost’s Office will continue to work with Facilities Management and the Registrar’s Office to optimize space use and, when needed, to identify new spaces in which courses can be offered. The Provost’s Office will also work with IT to survey school and department needs and to roll out an updated classroom technology plan and implementation strategy in preparation for the fall.

As we continue to navigate the current semester shaped once again by the pandemic, we see one another creating and accomplishing substantial work with much greater proficiency than we could have imagined last year at this time. Even still, just as we faced each new and unexpected challenge in 2020, this year continues to introduce its own challenges, such as new variants of the virus and uneven vaccine distribution, requiring each of us to remain vigilant, flexible, and resilient as we face an immediate future that is as uncertain as it is hopeful.

It is heartening to foresee returning to campus, to work and learn together once again, even within the limitations that the fall may present. Please continue to be attentive to all emails coming from the Institute. We will share more information as planning continues through communications like this and the Back-to-Pratt website. 

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

Cathleen Kenny
Vice President for Finance and Administration

Helen Matusow-Ayres
Vice President for Student Affairs

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Feb 26, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Quarantine Policy Change, Processing COVID Tests, Personal Workout PODs, FAQs

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Continue to maintain six-feet physical distance, follow all posted signage on campus, and stay alert for any changes. Concerns can be reported through the PrattSafe app.

• Changes to quarantine policy: Pratt’s quarantine policy has been updated to follow CDC guidelines for the 10-day duration and test-out eligibility. Even as city, state, and federal procedures change regularly, Pratt students, faculty, and staff must continue to follow the self-quarantine procedures as outlined by the Institute at the above link on the Back to Pratt website. We will continue to alert the community to any further changes in this weekly e-newsletter.

• COVID-19 testing for campus access: A PCR test must be completed within seven (7) days before your return date and submitted to the portal, allowing 24–48 hours for processing. Test results are processed Monday–Friday only, so plan carefully—especially if you need to return to campus on a Monday morning. Results are not processed over the weekend or overnight. 

• Personal workout space: Did you know that students can reserve a workout POD at the ARC? We know many of you have limited living space and may not be comfortable working out in the common areas. Pratt Recreation and Wellness has several workout PODs that can be customized with the equipment you need. Students can simply reserve a spot and email us at recreation@pratt.edu with your POD interest.

• Back to Pratt FAQ: The past two issues of this e-newsletter focused on answers to the most frequently asked questions. Here are three popular entries from last week. Remember, if you have a question, there’s probably an answer on Back to Pratt.

  • How can I eat and drink safely on campus? Masks may be removed briefly 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.

  • With mask guidelines changing, what does Pratt recommend? 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.

  • Do I still need to follow the same guidelines if I’ve been vaccinated or had the virus? Yes! Regardless of prior infection, vaccination status, or your perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to all guidelines and core health habits to keep everyone safe. 

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Q&A Continued: Masks, Eating and Drinking, Changing Guidelines, and Vaccines

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Staying safe during the pandemic takes community effort, adherence to guidelines, and most of all a sense of responsibility from each of us to protect one another and ourselves. Here’s Part II of our COVID and Campus Access Q&A:

• How can I eat and drink safely on campus? Masks may be removed briefly 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.

• With mask guidelines changing, what does Pratt recommend? 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.

• Why are some of Pratt’s policies different from other guidelines I read? CDC, state, and local guidelines are just that, guidelines! When new recommendations are released, the Institute must thoughtfully interpret and prioritize them for the health and well-being of our campus community. Keep a watch on the Back to Pratt website and e-newsletter for updates as the pandemic continues to change.

• Do I still need to follow the same guidelines if I’ve been vaccinated or had the virus? Yes! Regardless of prior infection, vaccination status, or your perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to all guidelines and core health habits to keep everyone safe. 

• How do I reserve a space to work or connect on campus? 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.

• What do I need to do before coming to campus? Review the access checklist so you don’t miss a single essential requirement, which includes the COVID-19 test, social contract, PrattSafe app with digital ID, the daily Health Screening Questionnaire, and more. 

• When should I take the COVID-19 test? Figuring out when to get tested is required for your return to campus, and different for each person. The required COVID-19 PCR test must be completed within seven (7) days before your return date and submitted online, allowing 24–48 hours for processing. Learn more.

• How do I know it’s safe to be on campus? Current COVID-19 conditions can be found on the color-coded indicator on the Back to Pratt website and the PrattSafe app. Pratt is committed to the health and safety of our community and will communicate any changes to conditions and response as quickly as possible. 

Visit our FAQs for answers to many more questions, including vaccine, cleaning and disinfecting, quarantine, and more. 

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Feb 12, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Campus Access Requirements - Your Questions Answered!

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green, but we’re still in a pandemic! Staying safe takes community effort, guideline adherence, and most of all a sense of responsibility from each of us to protect one another and ourselves. This Q&A can help. 

• What do I need to do before coming to campus? Review the access checklist so you don’t miss a single essential requirement, which includes the COVID-19 test, social contract, PrattSafe app with digital ID, the daily Health Screening Questionnaire, and more. 

• When do I need to take a COVID-19 test?  Figuring out when to get tested is required for your return to campus, and different for each person. A COVID-19 PCR test must be completed within seven (7) days before your return date and submitted to the portal, allowing 24–48 hours for processing. Required? YES! Complicated, yes, but not impossible. Learn more.

• What type of COVID-19 test do I need? A negative COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test is required. Pratt does not accept rapid tests, antibody/antigen tests, or self-administered PCR tests without medical supervision. Be clear with your provider and ask for a PCR test!

• How do I submit my test results? Results should clearly indicate the testing date, the type of test taken, your name, and the result. Review your document for these four items before uploading clear and complete results to the results form.

• I’ve been vaccinated or have had a prior COVID-19 infection. Do I still need to follow these guidelines? YES! Regardless of prior infection, vaccination status, or your perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to all guidelines and core health habits to keep everyone safe.

• Is it safe to be around other students, faculty, or staff on campus? Each member of our community is responsible for the safety of the whole Institute, no matter the circumstances, for as long as the pandemic continues. Pratt is committed to our collective cooperation for the healthiest campus possible and has established testing standards, a social contract, a daily health screening, and other procedures to help us each do our part.

Visit our FAQs for answers to many more questions, including vaccine, cleaning and disinfecting, quarantine, masks, and more. 

Be mindful of your responsibilities during the pandemic and watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Feb 5, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Retesting, Quarantine, Vaccine, and Equity and the Pandemic

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green, and here are this week’s updates.

• Retesting Previously Positive COVID Cases: Continuously low levels of detectable COVID-19 may appear in subsequent testing for up to 90 days after someone first tests positive. Pratt has found a practical way to address this complex question with this new policy. 

• Quarantine Policy: Students, faculty, and staff must continue to follow Pratt’s 14-day self-quarantine policy outlined for domestic and international travel. Review the quarantine page for important details for our community. 

• Vaccine Eligibility: As New York City and State guidelines develop, here are the best resources to decide if you’re eligible and how to register. If you are outside of New York State, the CDC has information for your location as well as general guidance on the vaccine. 

• Equity, Mental Health, and the Pandemic: People of color have been disproportionately affected by trauma and disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic. To address mental health challenges from both the pandemic and structural racism, on February 12, New York’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will host a free virtual presentation on mental health, resilience, and equity, for students, faculty, and staff.

• Farm to Campus: Farm to Campus is back for the spring semester! Students, faculty, and staff can sign up to get fresh produce from local farms from a convenient pick-up location on the Brooklyn campus.

• “Arts researchers can help America overcome its toughest challenges.” Pratt and RISD co-authored an op-ed in The Art Newspaper: “In addition to being creative thinkers and makers, many artists, designers and architects are also researchers whose work reveals new insights and approaches to solving some of the most complex challenges facing our world.” 

• Daily Hub: Stay connected! See new ideas and innovative work from faculty, students, alumni, and more in this weekly roundup of news from our virtual and physical campus. 

• Reporting COVID-19 Concerns: Keeping campus healthy requires everyone's cooperation and diligence. If you have concerns about unsafe behavior, the enforcement of policies and guidance, physical distancing measures, or anything related to health and safety on campus, you can report issues discreetly through the PrattSafe app.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Jan 29, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Libraries, ARC, Student Engagement, and Space!

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green, and some in-person classes begin on Monday. If you’re returning to campus, follow the guidelines in the campus access checklist to prepare. It includes information about testing, the social contract, the PrattSafe app with digital ID, and the daily health screening questionnaire.

• True to the Core: Regardless of prior infection, vaccination status, or your perceived safety around classmates or coworkers, all students, faculty, and staff must adhere to the core four health habits:

  • Wear a mask

  • Maintain physical distance

  • Wash your hands

  • Stay home if you are sick

• More health and safety guidance is available on the Back to Pratt website.

• Pratt Libraries: The libraries welcome students back for the spring semester with extensive resources for hybrid and remote learning. Books, DVDs, and equipment are available to check out through contact-free pickup on the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses. “Mask required, dinosaur costume optional.”

• Activity Resource Center: The ARC will open for the spring semester on Monday, February 1, for student use only, with limited capacity via reservations.

• Need Space? A list of social and work spaces on campus is now available. While using these locations, students are responsible for adhering to all aspects of the social contract, including wearing masks and remaining at least six feet apart. Reservable work or teaching space is also available for faculty. 

• Launchpad: Available again this semester, Launchpad gives students anywhere, on any computer, access to a range of licensed software, like Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk, ArcGIS, Rhino, and Fusion 360. (Yes, even on your old laptop.) Read more about how students used Launchpad last semester.

• Student Engagement: Explore a list of Pratt clubs and organizations along with upcoming virtual events hosted by student groups and the Office of Student Involvement during the spring semester. Keep an eye out for some in-person events too!  

• Leadership Week: For students, February 1–5, Leadership Week includes Building Your Personal Brand this Monday and a Pratt alumni-facilitated workshop on Creating Passive Income for Artists. More events and detailed information can be found on Engage.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Jan 22, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Incomplete Boot Camp, Student Involvement, Student Union Hours, Wellness

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Whew! What a week! Congrats on making it through the start of the semester. Here are several important reminders and updates for the coming week.

Did you read these important emails?

Beginning the Spring 2021 Semester with You: President Bronet’s reflections as classes begin.

Commencement 2021 and Other End-of-Year Events: Provost Pillow announces plans for year-end events.

• Student Involvement Fair: Wednesday, January 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM EST. RSVP online to meet the leaders of our clubs and organizations. Can’t attend? Find a list of events and organizations to connect with on Engage. 

• Student Union: The Student Union is open in limited capacity, 8 AM–8 PM, Monday–Friday, following public health guidelines. Only the main space is accessible. The conference rooms and pool lounge are closed, and no other services in the Union are available in person. 

• Returning to Campus? Follow the guidelines in the campus access checklist to prepare. It includes information about testing, the social contract, the PrattSafe app with digital ID, and the daily health screening questionnaire.

• Cleaning and Disinfecting: Cleaning protocols have been updated to include processes and procedures for Willoughby Hall and residence life. The web page also includes a detailed cleaning schedule.

• Incomplete Boot Camp! Still working on an incomplete from a previous semester? The Learning/Access Center is offering a “boot camp” on Zoom this Saturday, January 23, 3–6 PM EST, to provide guidance and peer support. RSVP for more information and the Zoom link. If you would like to set up individual tutoring or time management appointments, please contact the L/AC at lac@pratt.edu. 

• Well-Being: This semester, the Resilience, Wellness and Well-Being Council will continue to offer a wide variety of programs to help you flourish and thrive.

 Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Kirk E. Pillow, Provost
Date: Thu, Jan 21, 2021
Subject: Commencement 2021 and other End of Year Events

Dear Pratt Community:

I write to announce, as I do every year, the date and format for Pratt's 2021 Commencement Exercises. Yet, just as this academic year has been unlike any other, this year’s Commencement promises to be uniquely different. With Pratt unable to host any large, in-person events for the spring semester, we will need to plan our year-end events with pandemic safety as a defining priority.

Because health officials predict that we will not be able to hold large gatherings safely until well after the close of this academic year, we cannot schedule in-person events for May. And considering that many Pratt graduating students will be completing their final work this spring from all around the country and all over the world, it would not be equitable to hold in-person events, even if we could, for the limited number of graduates who happen to be in the New York City area.

This year’s Commencement ceremony fittingly will be a hybrid online experience, combining live broadcasts of selected speakers and pre-recorded content, along with opportunities to celebrate within your schools and with your friends. A virtual Commencement will allow our students who are all over the world to participate fully in the experience. Efforts are underway to create an engaging and memorable experience for all.

Commencement

The live online broadcast of Pratt’s 2021 Commencement Exercises will be held on the morning of Saturday, May 22. As the semester progresses, we will continue to update the Commencement page (www.pratt.edu/commencement) with the information graduates need. 

Celebrations and Awards

In addition to Pratt’s live online Commencement broadcast, all degree programs will organize virtual gatherings of graduating students to celebrate their accomplishments, and present departmental awards. These events will occur at the program-, department-, or school-level in the weeks before May 22, on a schedule determined by the schools. Students will learn more about these events from their programs or schools in the weeks ahead.

Pratt Shows

The Pratt Shows season begins in just a few weeks. Presentation and celebration of final student work will be conducted in a variety of ways by departments and programs. We will proudly showcase the outstanding work of our graduating students despite the limitations created by the pandemic, the prohibition on large in-person gatherings, and the closure of Pratt’s campuses to visitors. More information about Pratt Shows will be provided next week.

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2021 on May 22!

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Fri, Jan 15, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Spring 2021 Dates, Testing Requirements, Vaccine Eligibility

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Remote learning starts next Tuesday, and there’s so much you need to know. Again, this semester we’ll bring together everything you need to know on the Back to Pratt website and in this weekly newsletter.

Here are this week’s reminders and updates:

• Vaccine Eligibility: NY City and State guidelines change rapidly. Here are the best resources to decide if you’re eligible and how to register. 

• Testing Requirements: Make sure you have the right test results for campus access and submit them correctly. See instructions for faculty, staff, students, and residents. 

• Spring Semester Timeline: Move-in, remote start date, in-person classes—we’ve put together this inclusive timeline for the semester to help you know where and when to show up! 

• Office Hours: All campus services are available for remote office hours M–F, 9–5, with some in-person appointments starting February 1. Here’s a collated list of office contacts and schedules.

• Expanded Creativity and Community through Technology: The pandemic may have accelerated it, but hybrid learning is rooted in Pratt’s long-standing commitment to technology and accessibility.

• Center for Teaching and Learning: The CTL will continue many of the supportive and informative weekly and monthly online gatherings from the fall semester, with some brand new special topics.

• Learning/Access Center: The Learning/Access Center provides comprehensive academic support services, including assistance with remote learning, to all Pratt students.

• International Quarantine: Here’s the latest information on quarantining and the CDC’s three-day testing requirement before boarding a flight to the US. 

• PrattSafe App: Returning to campus? The PrattSafe app is required for access to campus. Download it to complete your daily health questionnaire and view your digital ID.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Human Resources
Date: Tue, Jan 12, 2021
Subject: Evolving NY State Vaccine Guidelines

Dear Faculty and Staff,

New York City and State have begun to move into the next phase of vaccine distribution, and guidelines are rapidly changing even as they are being announced.

You can follow the developing guidelines on the New York State Department of Health (DOH) website at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/phased-distribution-vaccine. 

The state has also provided the following form to help residents determine eligibility at https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov. Eligible Pratt employees do not need anything further from the Institute to complete this form. According to New York State and City DOH websites, your Pratt ID, pay stub, or appointment letter for the semester should suffice as proof that you are a college instructor.   

As the vaccination rollout continues, we are actively seeking guidance from our government agencies and from the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU), and will provide updates on any Pratt-specific concerns. We encourage you to refer to your city and state health departments for current instructions.

Even as eligible members of the community are vaccinated throughout the coming months, especially as new strains of the virus are discovered, we all must continue to practice proper PPE regardless of vaccination status: wear your mask, wash your hands, and maintain a safe distance of six feet. Testing and campus access protocols for spring 2021 will continue as planned.

Sincerely,

Steve Riccobono, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Jan 8, 2021
Subject: Back to Pratt: Updated COVID-19 Testing Requirements, Spring 2021 Info, and Pandemic Puppets!

Happy New Year! Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. As you turn your attention back to Pratt, please review all important information to ensure your transition to the new semester is smooth. Please note that if you are returning to campus, you must update all required documents in advance.

Here are this week’s reminders and updates:

• COVID-19 Testing: All students, faculty, and staff are required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test result within 7 days prior to entering campus, regardless of previous testing for the fall semester. Pratt does not accept rapid tests, antibody/antigen tests, or self-administered PCR tests that are done without a medical provider supervising.

• Academic Calendar: The spring semester begins Tuesday, January 19, and all classes are remote. In-person components of hybrid classes may begin on or after February 1. Faculty members should plan accordingly and students should consult individual course schedules for details. 

• Campus Access: Review information on what you can expect when you arrive on campus, including a complete checklist of required steps to take before your visit.

• Social Contract: All students must review and sign the updated Student Social Contract before returning to campus in 2021, regardless of the social contract they signed in the fall. 

• Cleaning and Disinfecting: As faculty and staff members plan their return to campus, review the instructions for reporting schedule changes, ordering supplies, and daily cleaning protocols. 

• Residence Life: Detailed services and protocol have been announced for residential students who will return to campus for spring. Learn more about how we are protecting our students’ and staff’s health and safety.

• FAQs: Visit our frequently asked questions for new answers on many topics including testing, campus access, cleaning and disinfection, vaccine guidance, and more.

• Pandemic Puppets: Students recently brought some magic to campus with two inflatable puppets. The puppets completed a temperature check and donned masks before exploring! Watch their adventure in “Austin and Ray Visit An Art School during the Pandemic.”

 Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Thu, Jan 7, 2021
Subject: Important Info for Spring 2021 on Campus

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Happy New Year! We hope you have enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating break. 

As you turn your attention back to Pratt over the coming days, please review the following important information to ensure your smooth transition to the new semester. Please be aware that individuals who are returning to campus must update all required documents. 

Semester Timeline

The first day of classes for both online and hybrid classes is January 19, 2021. 

However, the in-person component of hybrid classes will not begin before February 1, 2021. Please check with your instructor for details specific to your course. 

Beginning January 19, campus will be open from 7 AM to 12 midnight, and shops and labs will be available for use following campus access requirements. A full listing of important dates is available on the Back to Pratt website.

Campus Access Checklist

The safety of our community continues to be our top priority, and campus access will be managed as strictly and carefully as it was in the fall semester. The access system was reset after December 24, 2020, and everyone returning to campus in 2021 must update requirements. 

Information on what you can expect when you visit campus, including a complete checklist of required steps before your visit, upon arrival, and while you’re on campus is outlined in detail on the Back to Pratt website. Please review the online checklist carefully, so as not to impede your access to campus.

Required Testing

Everyone is required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test result prior to entering campus in 2021, regardless of previous testing for the fall semester. Pratt does not accept rapid tests, antibody/antigen tests, or self-administered PCR tests that are done without a medical provider supervising.

For faculty, staff, and non-residential students, the COVID-19 PCR test must be taken within seven (7) days prior to returning to campus and produce negative results. Students, faculty, and staff should submit test results using the online COVID Test Results form.

Students living in the residence halls for spring 2021 should confirm COVID-19 test result submission dates with Residential Life and Housing staff. Complete information for spring 2021 residents is available on the Pratt website.

Social Contract

All students must review and sign the updated Student Social Contract before returning to campus in 2021, regardless of the social contract they signed in the fall.

Quarantine

Any Pratt community member who comes in contact with someone infected with the virus, or who test positive for the virus, must follow the isolation and quarantine requirements established by the CDC and New York City and State. For the most up-to-date resources for New York and for Pratt’s residential students, visit the Back to Pratt website.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

As faculty and staff members plan their return to campus, the Facilities department has provided instructions on the Back to Pratt website for reporting schedule changes, ordering supplies, and daily cleaning protocols. 

Residence Life

The Office of Residential Life and Housing has spent several months preparing detailed services and protocol for the select group of residential students who will return to campus for spring 2021. Learn more about how we are protecting our students’ and staff’s health and safety.

Accessibility Needs

If you have an existing or temporary mobility condition that requires alternate routes, use of elevators, or alternate entrances, please contact L/AC at lac@pratt.edu ahead of time to make arrangements.

Finally, keep in mind that the pandemic continues to evolve and regulations from city, state, and Pratt Institute will therefore also develop as needed. Again, this semester, as in the fall, we will consolidate all information and updates associated with the virus and campus operations on the Back to Pratt website and in the weekly Back to Pratt newsletter. 

We know that your attentiveness, patience, and cooperation will make spring 2021 another safe and successful semester.

Sincerely,

Dennis Mazone, Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Preparedness
Steve Riccobono, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Wed, Dec 23, 2020
Subject: Stay Safe Over Winter Break

You have worked very hard this semester and you deserve to have a long break from the stresses of the past several months. Unfortunately, this pandemic isn’t likely to be giving us a break in the immediate future. COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise at alarming levels. New vaccines are seen as light at the end of the tunnel, but it is not time to lower our guard.  Keep taking precautionary measures seriously. Wear masks, stay socially distant and avoid large groups, stay home if you are ill and get tested.

In the meantime, you will still be faced with making decisions. Some will want to visit friends and family or just travel to get away from it all. Others may choose to do nothing at all or just relax. Whatever you decide, we hope it is the best decision for you and your loved ones that leaves you feeling connected. 

If you have questions related to staying safe over the break, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at health@pratt.edu or call 718-399-4542. 

Health Services sincerely wishes you a healthy, happy and fun-filled holiday season.

From: Office of International Affairs
Date: Wed, Dec 23, 2020
Subject: End of Year Email for SEVIS Transfer Students Studying Remotely

Dear international transfer student, 

You are receiving this message because you transferred your SEVIS I-20 to Pratt this past Fall, and you have been studying online from abroad. This message contains a complicated explanation, so please read carefully and let us know if you have questions.

We now can officially confirm that the guidance from ICE from the Fall remains the same for Spring 2021. For reference, you can see the email we sent Dec. 14, 2020 here. 

Your personal F-1 immigration situation requires that we follow a specific procedure with ICE to reactivate your current SEVIS record, since it was transferred this Fall. We are currently reactivating records for students who plan to arrive for Spring following this procedure. The current ICE procedure for reactivation only allows us to reactivate SEVIS transfer records within 60 days of the start date of the term you plan to arrive for.

We have asked students to notify us if they plan to arrive for Spring. If you actually intend and will be able to arrive in person to the U.S. for Spring, please contact us right away, because we would need to contact ICE to reactivate your I-20 immediately. Spring semester begins on January 19, 2021, and the latest date possible to physically arrive to the U.S. using your Spring I-20 is February 1. In this case, you also need to register for a hybrid (in-person) class for Spring. Please contact koberhei@pratt.edu if you are interested/able to arrive for spring at this point in time, need activation of your SEVIS I-20 for spring, and/or need a hybrid class.

You are receiving this message because our current understanding is that you plan to continue studying online during the Spring semester. Many students are staying online for spring due to travel bans affecting entry from particular countries, or other personal reasons related to the pandemic. Some students have inquired when you will get a I-20 with the new start date for attending in person in the Fall 2021. Some of you need a new F-1 visa and are anxious to get your new I-20 for visa application purposes. 

Please note that according to the current procedures from ICE, we can only prepare the new I-20 for you within 60 days of the start date of the semester you will arrive, because we can only request SEVP to correct your record 60 days before the start date. The start date of the Fall semester will be Aug. 22, 2021, so 60 days before that is June 23, 2021. Therefore, according to the current ICE procedure for reactivation of transfer records, we will be able to start the process to reactivate your record and issue you an I-20 for Fall only as of June 23, 2021. 

We are not sure if the ICE procedure and requirements will change in 2021. It is very possible the procedure will change by June with the new presidential administration’s future decisions. We will communicate updates and instructions to follow later in spring for how to get your new I-20 for Fall. For your part, we expect the process should be fairly simple, with you providing an updated bank statement at that time, but please await those instructions next year. Thank you for your patience in this exceptionally unusual situation. 

Please note that the OIA will be officially closed for winter break as of December 23. We resume normal office operations on January 4. 

OIA wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year. Congratulations on completion of your first semester at Pratt in a very challenging circumstance and we look forward to meet you in 2021! Enjoy your well-deserved break!

Warmest season’s greetings,

Allison, Elizabeth, Kristin, Mia, Saundra, and Zoila

From: Office of International Affairs 
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2020
Subject: End of Year OPT Information

Dear international alumni on Post-completion OPT or STEM OPT, 

Happy Solstice! The days will be getting longer and more sunny from here. Please read below for important information on our Winter break office closure, travel signatures, STEM validation, ICE’s temporary relaxation of the 20+ hour requirement, and resources for help.

OIA Closed

Please take note that the OIA will be closed for winter break as of this Wednesday. We will not be able to provide any services after Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 until we return Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

Travel Signature

Don’t panic if you do not get a travel signature before we close. You only need a travel signature to return to the US, and travel signatures are quicker now that they are digital and we send them to you via email. One silver lining of 2020 is that we can make electronic I-20s now rather than paper. Travel signatures are valid only for six months on OPT. Please email us at oia@pratt.edu if you need a new travel signature, and specify your date of re-entry to the U.S.

STEM Validation

STEM OPT only: If you need us to validate your STEM OPT for OPT reporting, please contact us immediately before we close for winter break. If your validation is due while OIA is closed, that’s okay! You still have plenty of time because your information must be reported to OIA within 10 business days of your due date, and OIA then has 21 days to report your participation. To help us validate your participation faster, please email us the following information to oia@pratt.edu:

• Your full name and Pratt ID and/or SEVIS ID

• Current US address

• Current US phone number

• Name of employer (or if you are currently unemployed)

• Employer address

Note that if you are submitting your 12- or 24-month STEM validation, you also need to send us page 5 of Form I-983 (top section for 12-month reporting, bottom section for 24-month reporting).

Temporary Relaxation of 20+ hours Requirement

The Department of Homeland Security has temporarily relaxed the employment requirement on OPT. Normally you must work 20 hours/week minimum to be maintaining status while on OPT. ICE has confirmed that during the COVID-19 emergency, if you are working less than 20 hours a week, you are still engaged in OPT. Relevant ICE guidance excerpt:

Q. Must students cease engaging in OPT if they are now working fewer than 20 hours a week due to the economic impacts of COVID-19? 

A. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, SEVP considers students who are working in their OPT opportunities fewer than 20 hours a week as engaged in OPT.

The above is the only official statement on the topic. It is clear that part-time employment less than 20 hours per week is acceptable. They do not directly state that unemployment or zero hours per week is acceptable. At the same time, they chose this language carefully and do not specify an exact hour requirement for students to maintain status. It appears from this statement they are allowing flexibility and understanding about under-employment during COVID-19 for those on OPT.  

We recommend it is best to engage in training/employment to the fullest extent you can, for at least some number of hours per week. This a temporary relaxation of the 20 hour/week requirement; regular requirements are expected to resume when the COVID-19 emergency is deemed over. We do not know when that will be. You do NOT need to update OIA if you are furloughed, working remotely, or working less than 20 hours per week. 

During post-completion OPT, the regulations allow you to start your own business or volunteer as employment. Remember to report any new employment positions in your SEVIS portal yourself. Either option must be in your field of study and should be reported in the SEVIS portal. 

If you are on the STEM extension, regulations still require you to have paid employment with an E-Verify employer and they do not allow you to start your own business. Any new employer on STEM requires a new I-983.

Resources for Help

For all alumni, don’t forget the CCPD is a fantastic resource to help you find a job.

If you have a question related to this information, we invite you to stop by our Zoom Open Office Hour for OPT on Wednesday, December 23 at noon EST (12:00pm-1:00pm). 

OIA wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year. 

Warmest season’s greetings,

Allison, Elizabeth, Kristin, Mia, Saundra, and Zoila

From: Office of International Affairs
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2020
Subject: End of year message for students with Initial status I-20

Dear international students, 

Happy Solstice! The days will be getting longer and more sunny from here. This email is for students with initial status I-20s for Spring semester.

The guidance from ICE is out now, and as we anticipated, the guidance from Fall 2020 remains the same for Spring 2021. For reference, you can see the email we sent Dec. 14, 2020 here. 

Please take note that the OIA will be closed for winter break as of this Wednesday. We will not be able to provide any services after Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 until we return Monday, Jan. 4.

Pratt I-20 and Plans for Spring 2021

If you still need an I-20 for the Spring 2021 semester, please contact OIA immediately at oia@pratt.edu. Please note that you only need an I-20 if you are arriving to the U.S. for the Spring 2021 semester or you are transferring your SEVIS I-20 record to Pratt from your previous institution. 

If you have not yet informed us of your plans to remain online for Spring 2021 from your home country, please do so immediately by emailing anicho14@pratt.edu with your Pratt ID and your stated intent to take online courses from outside the U.S. Otherwise OIA will expect your U.S. arrival for Spring 2021.

Please note that you do not need an I-20 for Spring 2021 if you are studying online from your home country. If you have started an application for the I-20 with OIA, there is no need to finish it if you will be studying online, since the I-20 is only needed to get the F-1 Visa and for entry to the U.S.

Still have questions? Please join us for I-20 Tuesdays on Zoom, 9:30 am to 10 am EST 

(Next sessions: December 22 and January 5)

Feel free to connect with us on Instagram: @pratt_oia

Hybrid Class

If you are still interested and able to enter the U.S. this spring, and your department is not offering a hybrid class in your curriculum, please let us know by emailing koberhei@pratt.edu. Pratt is developing a one-credit elective hybrid class that we expect to be available for any interested students. Do keep in mind, when deciding to arrive in the U.S. or not, that in-person engagement on-campus will be extremely limited this spring for public health and safety reasons.

Arriving in the U.S.

The latest U.S. arrival date would be EITHER February 1, 2021 the drop/add deadline at Pratt, OR at least 14 days before the first date your hybrid class meets, whichever is earlier. The 14-day marker is to allow you time for quarantine and COVID testing before attending your hybrid class in person. Unfortunately, entry to the U.S. after February 1, 2020 is not permitted due to SEVIS registration deadlines. As mid-semester entry is not permitted, the next semester you could arrive would be for Fall 2021.

Pratt Orientation & OIA Special Info Sessions (includes students returning from leave of absence)

1. New Student Orientation -  Save the Date - January 14-15, 2021

   Student Involvement will be sharing more information about Orientation. Pratt highly recommends utilizing the app “Guidebook” to help you plan your orientation schedule. There may be sessions specific to your academic program that you will need to attend as well.

2. *Required OIA Info Sessions During Orientation* 

Session #1: Outside U.S.: Thursday, January 14, 2021, 10-11 am EST via Zoom
For students who will begin their studies at Pratt online from outside the U.S. for Spring 2021 semester

Session #2: Inside U.S. or Arriving to U.S.: Friday, January 15, 2021, 1-2 pm EST via Zoom
For students who have already arrived or will arrive in the U.S. for the Spring 2021 semester, beginning their F-1 student status

If you are a new student or a student returning from leave, you MUST attend the session above that pertains to your situation. 

As the U.S. government has given new guidance during COVID times, the OIA info session is going to be very important for you to attend. We will address critical details about F-1 student status that would be specific to your situation.

Please add your session to your calendar now. The Zoom link will be available in the Guidebook app (orientation schedule). For reference, the web version of the guide is available here: http://guidebook.com/guide/178082

3. Required Immigration Check-In 

For students who will be in the U.S. for the Spring 2021 semester, you must submit check-in documents so you can be registered in SEVIS. This is ONLY for students who will be inside the U.S. We will send you instructions for this process in January. It is extremely important that you complete check-in in a timely manner or your SEVIS record will be automatically terminated by the system. Check in is due February 2, 2021.

OIA wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year. 

Warmest season’s greetings,

Allison, Elizabeth, Kristin, Mia, Saundra, and Zoila

From: Office of International Affairs 
Date: Fri, Dec 18, 2020
Subject: End of Year Email for Continuing Students

Dear continuing international students, 

The guidance from ICE is out now, and as we anticipated, the guidance from Fall 2020 remains the same for Spring 2021.  For reference, you can see the email we sent Dec. 14, 2020 here. 

Please note that the OIA will be closed for winter break and cannot provide any services to students from Dec. 23, 2020 5:00 p.m ET to Monday, Jan. 4, 9:00 a.m. ET. 

Don’t panic if you do not get a travel signature before we close. You only need a travel signature to return to the US, and travel signatures are very quick now that they are digital. We send them to you via email. 

If this was your last semester and you will need to apply for OPT, there is still a small window to apply after we return from winter break. 

If next semester is your last semester, please see the email for details on when to start applying for OPT. 

If you applied for OPT, remember the CCPD is a fantastic resource to help you find a job. 

If your I-20 expires Dec. 2020, but you need more time to finish your last credits, contact OIA immediately regarding a program extension. 

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year. 

Sincerely,

OIA Staff-Kristin, Saundra, Mia, Allison, Elizabeth and Zoila

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Dec 18, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Campus access, testing, services, and an ode to Our Resilient Brooklyn.

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green—even though the campus is blanketed in white at the moment! Enjoy your winter break and watch for important email instructions about returning to campus for spring 2021!

Here are this week’s reminders and updates:

• Winter Break: Access to campus will be restricted to essential staff only during the winter break from December 24 through January 6. Visit the new campus access section of Back to Pratt for more information. 

• Required Testing: All students, faculty, and staff must submit a negative COVID-19 test result to be able to access campus in the spring semester. Tests must be taken and results submitted no earlier than 7 days before you arrive on campus. Return-to-campus dates will be unique to each individual's needs. Work backwards from the day you intend to first be on campus to ensure you schedule your testing date appropriately. 

• Academic Calendar: The spring semester begins on Tuesday, January 19, and all classes are remote. In-person components of hybrid classes may begin after February 1. Faculty members should plan accordingly and students should consult individual course schedules for details. 

• Campus Timeline: See the start of the spring semester in a simple timeline! View access requirements, plan your return date, and plan for a COVID-19 test.

• Stay Vigilant: Students, faculty, and staff are asked to do their part to help prevent community spread during the winter break. There will be an urge to see friends, visit family, and “get away” but we must continue to take precautionary measures seriously.

  • Wear a mask, stay physically distanced, and avoid large groups.

  • Nonessential travel and indoor gatherings are strongly discouraged.

  • Individuals who need to travel or are returning home are encouraged to check the jurisdiction for local testing and quarantine requirements in advance. Policies and guidelines can change quickly.

  • Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms, stay home if you are ill, and get tested.

• Year in Review: As the year draws to a close, Pratt takes a look at how our community transformed—how we came together, reached out, innovated, and imagined a new way forward.

We’re off for winter break! Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt on January 8.

From: Helen Matusow-Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2020
Subject: Campus Access for Students During Winter Break and Spring Semester

Dear Students,

As we prepare for the Winter Break and the new semester, please keep the following important information in mind.

Winter Break Access

Student access to campus will be restricted to student employees only from December 16 until December 24 and restricted to essential staff during the winter break from December 24, 2020 through January 6, 2021. 

Returning to campus in January

Required Testing

All students will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test result (not a rapid test) prior to entering campus after January 6, 2021, regardless of previous testing for the Fall semester. 

For non-residential students, the COVID-19 PCR test must be taken within seven (7) days prior to returning to campus and produce negative results. Students should submit test results using the online COVID Test Results form. 

Students scheduled to reside in the residence halls for Spring 2021 should confirm COVID-19 test result submission dates with Residential Life and Housing staff. 

Please note that Pratt Health Services will not begin processing test results until January 4th and your results may not appear in the system for up to 48 hours after you have submitted them. As a result, students and non-essential staff members will not be able to return to campus until January 6, 2021. Please plan your return to campus accordingly.

Social Contract

All students must review and sign the updated Student Social Contract, as well, before returning to campus after January 6, 2021. Please note that the access system will be reset after December 24, 2020 and all students who wish to return to campus will be required to sign the updated contract before they will be authorized to return.

Requesting Campus Access

Students needing campus access between January 6 and January 19, 2021 to meet with faculty and staff or to drop off and pick up items must have prior approval from a faculty or staff member and Public Safety. Students should ask faculty or staff members to email publicsafety@pratt.edu to request campus access. 

After January 19, 2021 all students who have completed all campus access and quarantine requirements may freely access the campus simply by completing the daily health questionnaire on the Pratt Safe app.

Spring Semester Classes

The first day for both online and hybrid classes is January 19, 2021. Please be aware, however,  that the in-person component of hybrid classes will not begin before February 1, 2021. Please check with your instructor for details specific to your course. A full listing of important dates is available on the Back to Pratt website.

Accessibility Needs

If you have an existing or temporary mobility condition that requires alternate routes, use of elevators, or alternate entrances, please contact L/AC (lac@pratt,edu) ahead of time to make arrangements.

We encourage you to monitor local COVID-19 testing turnaround times, as these may vary depending on demand for testing, and factor this into your planned return to campus. Please continue to read your emails and visit the Back to Pratt website for additional details about the timeline for submitting test results and other updates for Spring 2021. 

Sincerely,

Helen Matusow-Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dennis Mazone, Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Preparedness

From: Office of International Affairs 
Date: Sun, Dec 13, 2020
Subject: New Initial I-20 International Students: Spring 2021

Greetings,

We hope this email finds you well! We are reaching out to you from the Office of International Affairs (OIA) regarding the upcoming Spring 2021 semester. Important arrival and immigration details follow, so please review this email carefully.

Based on the information we have, you are in possession of an I-20 from Pratt with a January 2021 start date, reflecting an expected in-person arrival to the U.S. for the Spring 2021 semester. If this is not the case and you will continue with online courses for spring from abroad, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing anicho14@pratt.edu with your Pratt ID and the remark “Continuing with online courses for Spring 2021.” This is very important. Your I-20 will be updated to reflect a future semester start date, and you will need to re-apply for it beginning in April 2021. If you will be taking online courses from your home country during Spring 2021, you will not be able to use your current I-20 with the Spring 2021 start date. Mid-semester entry is not permitted.

Entry to the United States for Spring 2021 & Hybrid Course

While we have not received updated guidance regarding the spring semester entry from ICE, we expect that students with January 2021 I-20 start dates will need a hybrid course to be granted entry to the U.S. for Spring. This was the guidance during Fall, and without further guidance, we will continue to follow it.

If you are interested in entering the U.S. this spring, and you need a hybrid course, please let us know by emailing koberhei@pratt.edu . We are currently developing a one-credit elective hybrid class that we expect to be available to students who are interested. Do keep in mind, when deciding to arrive in the U.S. or not, that in-person engagement on-campus will be extremely limited this spring for public health and safety reasons.

U.S. Travel Ban in place for certain countries

Please note that travel to the U.S. for the spring semester may not be possible for certain students, regardless of the structure of your academic program and the forthcoming ICE guidance, because a travel ban may still be in place for your country. Travel bans are still in effect for foreign national entry to the U.S. from China, Iran, Brazil, UK, Ireland, and European Schengen countries. Europeans may apply for an exception waiver of the travel ban. Further, U.S. consulates and embassies around the world may be experiencing COVID-related delays or closures that inhibit your ability to secure the F-1 Visa, making travel to the U.S. impossible for Spring 2021.

We are hopeful that these circumstances will change this spring and the travel bans will be lifted, so that we can welcome you in person for the Fall 2021 semester. Please let us know if due to the travel ban or for any reason, you intend to remain in online courses for Spring 2021 by emailing anicho14@pratt.edu as soon as possible with your Pratt ID and the remark “Continuing with online courses for Spring 2021.”

We understand that it is a challenging time and also difficult to make decisions in light of these challenges. If we do receive new ICE guidance or updates to this information, we will let you know and update the OIA website.

Please email the OIA if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to connect with us on Instagram (pratt_oia) and join us for I-20 Tuesdays (Zoom), 9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. EST.

We look forward to working with you, from wherever you are, on your journey as an international student at Pratt!

Sincerely,
OIA

From: Office of International Affairs 
Date: Sun, Dec 13, 2020
Subject: OIA Info for Active International Students: December 2020

Greetings!

We hope all is well with you. It has been an adjustment for all of us and a time that we shall never forget. This email is for international students with active SEVIS records. If this was your first semester, congratulations. You made it. If you are somewhere in the middle, also, congratulations. You had to adapt to a new format of learning, and you made it too.

If fall 2020 is your final semester at Pratt, extra congratulations! The time to apply for OPT is now. Here’s guidance from our website on how and when to apply for OPT. Please submit your OPT request to oia@pratt.edu in pdf format ASAP if you are completing in December 2020. Completing in May 2021? Apply for OPT between February 12 and April 9, 2021.

All students should read the below information carefully. Contact oia@pratt.edu if you have questions.

ICE guidance and travel ban reminder

While we have not yet received updated ICE guidance regarding the spring 2021 semester, we expect it to remain the same as it was for fall 2020. You can review this guidance on the OIA website . If you have questions or concerns about your situation, please contact OIA.

Please also note that travel to the U.S. for the spring semester may not be possible because a travel ban may still be in place. Travel bans are still in effect for foreign national entry to the U.S. from China, Iran, Brazil, UK, Ireland, and European Schengen countries. Europeans may apply for an exception waiver. Further, U.S. consulates and embassies around the world may be experiencing COVID-related delays or closures that impact your ability to renew your F-1 Visa, if applicable to you.

If we do receive new ICE guidance or updates to this information, we will let you know and post it on the OIA website. We are very hopeful that these circumstances will change this spring and the travel bans will be lifted in the coming weeks or months, so that we can welcome you back to campus.

Travel signature

If your travel signature is older than 1 year or if you don’t have one on the I-20, page 2, please email OIA@pratt.edu with your name, Pratt ID number and SEVIS number to request one. Travel signatures are not needed to leave the US, only to enter the US.

Quarantine policy

Research the quarantine policy of your winter break destination if you are choosing to travel. Know the quarantine policy for returning to Pratt.

Five (5) Month Rule and your F-1 visa

The five (5) month rule is temporarily suspended during this COVID era. So if you are worried about your F-1 status, or your F-1 visa, please know that you are still in status and your F-1 visa will still be valid to travel into the US even though you have been out of the country more than five (5) months.

Full time and Exception forms

As a reminder for students continuing their studies in Spring 2021, in order to maintain your F-1 status you must be registered full-time (12 credits for undergraduates, 9 credits for graduates, or 18 clock hours per week for certificate students). If you have fewer credits remaining to finish your degree than would be needed to be considered full-time, you will need to submit a completed Exception to Full Course of Study (PDF) form along with a clean degree audit to OIA@pratt.edu in pdf format for approval. Students registered below full-time without approval from OIA will have their SEVIS records terminated and fall out of F-1 status.

Student guide to scams and fraud

Unfortunately, international students are vulnerable to a host of scams and fraud. We do not wish for you to become a victim of con artists. Beware of the signs of a scam, how to avoid being taken advantage of and who to report to. Please read the Student Guide to Scams and Fraud.

Reminder about PISA and connections

The Pratt International Students Association (PISA) is a student-run club that is always available for you as a way to meet other students, connect virtually, get advice from peers, and have fun. Meetings are open to all students, held bi-weekly, and will resume in January 2021. You can find PISA and many other clubs and events listed on Pratt Engage. Follow PISA on Instagram @prattpisa or feel free to email pisa@pratt.edu with any questions or ideas.

Connections is a fantastic opportunity for students offered during the Spring 2021 semester. It is an interactive and fun five-week class for students to learn about themselves, meet other like-minded students and get involved at Pratt. It is a free, not for credit class that addresses: communication skills, organizational skills, identity and diversity awareness, decision-making and problem solving. Students must attend Connections to apply for many student leadership positions on campus including: RA, Orientation Leader, SGA, Program Board, CBoard, Student Union staff or Career Advocate.

Sign up for Connections before December 14th. If you have any questions about Connections or difficulties with the sign-up form, please contact reslife@pratt.edu or involvement@pratt.edu.

Whew, that’s all for now. Now that the semester is over, do something special for yourself, but remember to be safe.

We are so proud of you! We wish you all the best and a very happy holiday season and school break.

Best,
The Staff of International Affairs

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Dec 11, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Testing, Res Life, Coffee Chat, Connections, and Campus Access

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. We’ve made it! Our campus conditions have remained green the entire fall 2020 semester because of everyone’s cooperation and care for one another. Enjoy your winter break and watch for important email instructions about returning to campus for spring 2021!

Here are this week’s reminders and updates:

• COVID-19 Testing: After January 4, all students, faculty, and staff will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test result (not a rapid test) prior to entering campus for the new semester. Visit our detailed testing page for more information on when to plan your test based on your individual return date and how to submit results.

• Residence Halls: The application process for students interested in spring 2021 limited housing has been completed. If a student feels their situation has changed and they now meet the criteria outlined, please email reslife@pratt.edu. For those who have been assigned, important information has been announced. Please be sure to review and respond to emails from the ResLife staff.

• Connections: Remember, student applications are due December 14 to join the Connections program. The program addresses communication skills, identity and diversity awareness, and decision-making and problem-solving, and must be completed before applying to many student positions such as Student Government, Program Board, RA, or Orientation Leader. Apply today!

• Faculty Coffee Chat: As this historic semester is coming to an end, the Center for Teaching and Learning invites faculty to a celebration during the final Coffee Chat of the fall, Dec 14 at 10 AM. Reflect on the semester, discuss the challenges, and celebrate the successes!

• Winter Break: Faculty and staff are reminded that access to campus will be further restricted to essential staff only during the winter break from December 24 through January 4. Please plan accordingly and retrieve any needed materials by December 23. Visit our new campus access section of Back to Pratt for more information. 

• Daily Hub: Stay connected between semesters! See new ideas and innovative work from faculty, students, alumni, and more in this weekly roundup of news from our virtual and physical campus. 

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Dennis Mazone, Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Preparedness and Steve Riccobono, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
Date: Mon, Dec 7, 2020
Subject: Campus Access During and After Winter Break

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As we prepare for the Winter Break and the new semester, please keep the following important information in mind.

Winter Break Access
Access to campus will be restricted to essential staff during the winter break from December 24, 2020, through January 4, 2021. If you need to be on campus during this period, your supervisor must make arrangements in advance with Public Safety (publicsafety@pratt.edu). Please plan accordingly and retrieve any needed materials by December 23. Appropriate planning will minimize the number of non-essential staff on campus during the break and the amount of cleaning and disinfecting that our essential Facilities staff will be required to perform.

Returning to Campus after January 4, 2021
All students, faculty, and staff will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test result (not a rapid test) prior to entering campus after January 4, 2021, regardless of previous testing for the fall semester. The negative COVID-19 PCR test result must be dated within seven (7) days prior to returning to campus. Faculty and staff should submit test results using the online COVID Test Results form. (* Students scheduled to reside in the residence halls for spring 2021 should confirm COVID-19 test result submission dates with Residence Life staff.)

Please note that Pratt Human Resources will not reopen until January 4 and your test results may not appear in the system for up to 48 hours after you have submitted them. Supervisors should plan accordingly with their staff for remote work while test results are being processed.

We encourage you to monitor local COVID-19 testing turnaround times, as these may vary depending on demand for testing, and factor this into your planned return to campus. Please continue to monitor Back to Pratt for additional details about the timeline for submitting test results and other updates for spring 2021. 

Sincerely,

Dennis Mazone, Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Preparedness
Steve Riccobono, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Dec 4, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Campus access, testing, services, and an ode to Our Resilient Brooklyn.

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Please continue to watch your email and the Back to Pratt website for information that is important to you.

Here are this week’s reminders and updates:

• Campus Access: Campus is now closed to students. Faculty and staff access hours have changed to 8 AM to 6 PM daily. 

• Winter Break: Access to campus will be further restricted to essential staff only during the winter break from December 24, 2020, through January 4, 2021. If you need to be on campus during this period of time, your supervisor must make arrangements in advance with Public Safety at publicsafety@pratt.edu.

• Prepare for Spring!: All students, faculty, and staff will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR diagnostic test result (not a rapid test!) prior to entering campus after January 4. Visit our detailed testing page for more information on when to plan your test and how to submit results.

• Library Service: Pratt Libraries will continue to provide contact-free pickup of books and DVDs through December 18. Follow the contact-free pickup instructions or special equipment request form . All equipment will be due Friday, December 11.

• Our Resilient Brooklyn: Members of the Pratt community reflected on what life is like in Clinton Hill, how being here has helped inform their work, and where they have found hope in a year of uncertainty.

• Connections: Want to get involved at Pratt? Connections is a five-week, not-for-credit class addressing communication and organizational skills, identity and diversity awareness, and decision-making and problem solving. Students must attend Connections to apply for student leadership positions, including Student Government or Program Board. Applications are available now and are due December 14.

• Mindful Pratt: Join Mindful Pratt as they share meditation, mindfulness, and breathing practices. Sessions are offered weekdays through December 18 for both the Pratt community and the public. RSVP for a virtual community gathering on December 16 or learn more about weekly events.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Nov 20, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Thanksgiving Travel, Testing, ...and an SGA Thank You!

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Pratt will remain open for scheduled in-person classes, including shop, lab, and studios, through Tuesday, November 24, as planned. All safety precautions and protocols we have successfully followed thus far this semester remain in place. Please continue to watch your email and the Back to Pratt website for information that is important to you.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Campus Access: Campuses will be closed to students after November 24 and all instruction for the final two weeks of the semester will be online. Students are reminded to plan accordingly and gather their personal belongings. Students will not have access to campus again until the spring semester begins in January.

• Office Closure: Pratt offices will be closed Wednesday, November 25, through Friday, November 27, for Thanksgiving break.

• New Campus Hours: Beginning November 25, hours for faculty and staff access will change to 8 AM to 6 PM. All community members on campus will continue to complete daily requirements outlined in the campus access checklist.

• Travel: Students, faculty, and staff are asked to do their part to help prevent community spread of COVID-19 during the upcoming holiday season. Nonessential travel and indoor gatherings are strongly discouraged. Read the “Thanksgiving Testing and Travel Guidelines” message for additional guidance.

• COVID-19 Testing: Individuals who need to travel or are returning home during Thanksgiving break are encouraged to obtain a COVID-19 test prior to departure. Free COVID-19 testing is available widely in NYC, New Jersey, and other states.

• Connecting with…: Pratt is physically distant but still socially connected. In the latest video from the Connecting with... series, President Bronet connects with School of Architecture faculty member Jerrod Delaine in a short conversation on equity and integrating neighborhoods, and using housing as a catalyst to make communities better for everyone.

• Saying Thanks: Pratt’s Student Government Association recognizes the incredible work that Public Safety and Facilities have done keeping campus open, safe, and clean this semester in a short video. A special thank you to these important members of our community from SGA and all of us at Pratt!

We’re off next week. Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week thereafter.

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Wed, Nov 18, 2020 
Subject: Pratt’s Operations as NYC K-12 Schools Shut Down

Dear Pratt Community,

As you may be aware, the Department of Education announced this afternoon that New York City’s public schools will temporarily halt in-person learning beginning Thursday, November 19 in response to the City-wide rise in COVID-19 infection cases.

Please know that, as of now, Pratt Institute will remain open for scheduled in-person classes, as well as shop, lab, and studio use through Tuesday, November 24, as planned. Students are reminded to gather their belongings for the post-Thanksgiving campus closing by the previously announced Tuesday deadline. All safety precautions and protocols that we have successfully followed thus far this semester remain in place.

Just as in the spring and summer, managers are asked to be mindful of and flexible with employees who may be facing added responsibilities for school-age children who will now require supervision at home. 

Please stay vigilant with health and safety practices, and watch your emails and the Back to Pratt website for updates. 

Sincerely,

Pratt Administration

From: Dennis Mazone, AVP for Campus Safety and Preparedness and Debbie Scott, Director of Health Services
Date: Mon, Nov 16, 2020
Subject: Important Thanksgiving Testing and Travel Guidelines

Dear Pratt Community,

As we near the three-month mark of the fall 2020 semester, we thank you for your cooperation and dedication to keeping the Pratt community and our neighbors safe and healthy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud of your efforts and our success, which you can monitor on the New York State COVID-19 Report Card for higher education and K–12 schools.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we encourage you to remain diligent in preventing the spread of the virus, and we offer the following guidelines.

Avoid Nonessential Travel

With COVID-19 cases on the rise again across the country and worldwide, we strongly discourage nonessential travel and indoor gatherings, and encourage you to be mindful of your loved ones’ safety and your own. As much as we miss grandma, especially during the holidays, in most cases visiting her is not only not essential, it may put her health and life at risk.

Prior Testing

Individuals who need to travel or are returning home during Thanksgiving break are encouraged to obtain a COVID-19 test within 10 days prior to departure and follow quarantine guidelines to ensure the safety of those you will be visiting.

Local Guidelines

Requirements differ state to state and worldwide. Check in advance the local COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements of the jurisdictions to which you are traveling. 

Also, check the New York State website for the latest COVID-19 travel advisory information and current reopening guidelines. Policies and guidelines can change quickly. As of Wednesday, November 4, 2020, new protocols for testing and mandatory quarantine requirements were released.

COVID-19 Testing Sites 

Free COVID-19 testing is available widely in NYC, including mobile testing sites. No appointment is needed. Free testing is also available in New Jersey and other states. 

Stay Informed!

Once again, we remind you to watch your Pratt email for immediate updates and visit the Back-to-Pratt website regularly at www.pratt.edu/backtopratt. 

We have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season, especially the hard work and dedication we’ve all shown to our studies and one another. Stay wise and safe so that we can continue to be even more grateful in 2021.

Sincerely,

Dennis Mazone, Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Preparedness
Debbie Scott, Director of Health Services

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Nov 13, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Prep for Thanksgiving, End of Semester… and Spring 2021!

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Just a few short weeks until Thanksgiving and then the final weeks of the semester. Please continue to watch your email and the Back to Pratt website for information that is important to you.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Residence Halls: Willoughby Hall will reopen for spring 2021 with limited occupancy. This decision has been made after careful consideration of how to minimize risk and support students whose learning is significantly challenged by being away from campus. Read the full announcement for more details.

• Completing the Fall Semester: Remember, our campuses will be closed to students after November 24 and all instruction for the final two weeks of the semester will be online. Please plan accordingly.

• Thanksgiving Guidance: As COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, students, faculty, and staff are asked to do their part to help prevent community spread during the upcoming holiday season. Keep you and your loved ones safe—especially grandma!

  • Nonessential travel and indoor gatherings are strongly discouraged.

  • Individuals who need to travel or are returning home during Thanksgiving break are encouraged to obtain a COVID-19 test within 10 days prior to departure.

  • Check the jurisdiction you are traveling to for local COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements in advance.

  • Check the New York State website for the latest COVID-19 travel advisory information and current reopening guidelines. Policies and guidelines can change quickly.

• COVID-19 Testing: Free COVID-19 testing is available widely in NYC, including mobile testing sites. No appointment needed. Free testing is also available in New Jersey and other states.

• COVID-19 Report Card: How’s it going? Pratt reports COVID-19 testing results daily to New York State and a summary is published in a public report card along with other higher education institutions and K–12 schools.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Helen Matusow-Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs
Date: Mon, Nov 9, 2020
Subject: Spring 2021 On-campus Housing

Dear Pratt Community,

The senior administration and Board of Trustees have reviewed the current conditions as they impact reopening the Pratt residence halls for the Spring 2021 semester. We have decided that we will be able to open one residence hall for Spring 2021 with a limited occupancy of about 200-250 students who have the greatest need for on-campus housing. All students will be assigned single occupancy spaces in Willoughby Hall with kitchens, as no food service will be available. 

This decision has been made after careful consideration of how to minimize risk of COVID-19 infection for everyone in the Pratt community, and support students whose learning is significantly challenged by being away from campus,  including but not limited to the following:

1. Significant limitations to your current learning environment (space, internet availability, privacy, home responsibilities)

2. Necessary access to facilities for curricular reasons that can not be effectively addressed in a future semester (including, but not limited to the ability to effectively take hybrid courses, use particular equipment)

3. Health condition that would be supported or improved by access to campus  (mental or physical health condition, or a diagnosed learning disability)

4. Financial challenges (inability to access sources of financial aid that could support the cost of off-campus housing)

All students who are currently signed-up for Spring 2021 housing will be eligible to apply. Links to the application form have already been sent to all qualifying students. A committee of health, counseling, safety and academic professionals has been created to review and approve applications for Spring 2021 housing. Applications will be accepted until November 29 and reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Students accepted for Spring 2021 housing will be required to quarantine according to NYS quarantine regulations and they will participate in “pool” diagnostic testing for COVID-19 upon arrival and every week thereafter for the duration of the semester. All Spring 2021 residents will also be required to obtain an Influenza vaccination.

Pratt will be following the best practices that our colleague institutions have found to be successful to ensure the safety of the students, faculty and staff. All resident students are required to sign an updated Social Contract, which outlines expectations for living on campus including prohibitions, restrictions, course expectation, testing, and quarantine.

We are committed to keeping the residence halls open once they have reopened, barring any unforeseen conditions or mandates. If students commit themselves to following all protocols, we can keep outbreaks from occurring and under control, through quarantine, testing and contact tracing. 

We understand that some of our students may be disappointed by these restrictions. We appreciate everyone’s continued understanding and support. Unprecedented circumstances require that we take these steps in order to protect the well-being of the Pratt community. We urge everyone to remain focused on protecting their health and supporting each other, while completing the spring semester successfully and virtually.

Sincerely,

Helen Matusow-Ayres
Vice President for Student Affairs

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Nov 6, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Wellness Support, Spring Registration, ARC Update, Digital Foundations Lab, Virtual Gallery Tour

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. We are looking ahead to the rest of the fall semester and what’s in store for the spring. Please continue to watch your email and the Back to Pratt website for information that is important to you.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Message from Pratt Institute President Frances Bronet: “I know this is a trying period, one that is testing us all in different ways, but I encourage everyone to be patient while the election process is underway.” Read the full text.

• Emotional Wellness: View our civic action hub for information about post-election events, emotional aid, and health and wellness support.

• Spring 2021 Registration: Registration will begin on November 9 for graduate students and November 16 for undergraduate students. Find your registration time by logging in to Student Self-Service and clicking on “Plan & Schedule Courses.” Students may only register for courses approved by their academic adviser.

• ARC: Following the success of the outdoor fitness area, Athletics and Recreation opened the ARC for indoor activities this week. The ARC will be open for students only through November 19. Learn more about new rules and policies and reserve a timeslot.

• Flu Shots: Health Services will continue to offer on-campus flu shots for students through November 24. Contact Health Services at 718.399.4542 to schedule an appointment.

• Wellness in Creative Practice: In times of uncertainty, taking control of what you can is crucial for both mental and physical wellness. Here are five tips to make wellness a daily part of your creative practice, with resources from across the Pratt community to connect and collaborate for better health.

• Digital Foundations Lab: Explore the natural world from home! The Foundations Lab is now offering an online image library of specimens for students, faculty, and staff to access remotely.

• Gallery Tour: The Pratt Photo League shared a video tour of a recent exhibition in the Photography Gallery featuring students who were studying abroad in Berlin last semester. The work includes reflections on that experience when it was disrupted by COVID-19.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Oct 30, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Your Voice! Your Vote! Your Fall and Spring Semesters!

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. We are looking ahead to the rest of the fall semester and what’s in store for the spring. Please continue to watch your email and the Back to Pratt website for information that is important to you.

Here are this week’s reminders and updates:

• Your Vote: Pratt is closed Tuesday, November 3, for Election Day. No classes will be held and offices are closed to encourage students, faculty, and staff to use the time to vote. View our voter education and civic action hub for information about early voting, Pratt events, and emotional wellness support.

• Your Voice: Dialogue and collaboration are important at Pratt. As we plan for a new semester, our community is invited to listen to one another, share feedback, voice concerns, and celebrate successes.

  • Students can speak with Student Government Association representatives weekly during open office hours. Also for students, the SGA is hosting an Open Forum/Town Hall with the Vice Presidents on Saturday, October 31, 10–11:30 AM. Students can RSVP and submit questions to be answered. 

  • Faculty are encouraged to connect with Pratt Senate, contact their senators, and participate in weekly events through The Center for Teaching and Learning. 

  • Staff can reach out to Staff Council through email with feedback or ideas for this advisory group.

• Spring Announcements: Last week, in an email from the Provost, a series of announcements were made regarding the spring semester. For important details, read the letter in full and see a follow-up from Student Government. 

• Completing the Fall Semester: Remember, our campuses will be closed to students after November 24 and all instruction for the final two weeks of the semester will be online. Please plan accordingly. Faculty and staff will continue to have access, as well as student employees who have scheduled work hours on campus.

• Need Work Space?: The Rose Garden tents are now closed but reservable indoor space is still available. Temporary work locations are available for remote teaching and learning to complete the semester. 

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Oct 23, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Fall and Spring Updates, International Students, Prattler, Prattfolio, and More Flu Shots!

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. We are looking ahead to the rest of the fall semester and what’s in store for the spring. Please continue to watch your emails and the Back to Pratt website for information that is important to you.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Fall Semester: Following the Thanksgiving break, all instruction for the final two weeks of the semester will be online and our campuses will be closed to students after November 24. Faculty and staff will continue to have access, as well as student employees who have scheduled work hours on campus. Please plan accordingly.

• Spring Semester: For the spring semester, Pratt will continue to offer our current blend of online and hybrid courses. During the November pre-registration for the spring semester, students will be able to identify online and hybrid course sections while constructing their schedules. Undergraduate students can make an appointment with their academic advisor through Starfish now.

• Academic Calendar: In an effort to reduce risk-prone travel, Pratt will no longer have a weeklong Spring Break. Opportunities for rest and recuperation are important during the long stretch of the next semester, and the academic calendar will now have six wellness days on March 15, 23–25 and April 2–3.

• International Students: The Department of Homeland Security has not given guidance for international student statuses for the spring semester yet. International students should refer to the Office of International Affairs for the most current information.

• Prattler and Prattfolio: In their fall issues, two of our Pratt publications explore the topics of adaptation, transition, and response in new digital formats as a reflection of change and innovation across the Institute.

• Flu Shots: There is still time for students to get flu shots on campus! Additional dates have been added on October 27 and 28. Make an appointment or find a location for a flu shot near you.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Kirk E. Pillow, Pratt Provost
Date: Thu, Oct 22, 2020
Subject: Academic Updates for Spring 2021

October 22, 2020

Dear Pratt Community,

I write to share with you information regarding the final weeks of this Fall semester and our plans for the Spring 2021 semester.

Completing the Fall Semester after Thanksgiving

As communicated previously, all in-person components of hybrid courses will be completed no later than Tuesday, November 24, so that, following the Thanksgiving Break, all instruction for the final two weeks of the semester will be online. Student access to the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses for instruction, facilities usage, and office visits will cease after November 24, so please plan accordingly. Faculty and staff will continue to have access to campus after November 24, as will student employees who have scheduled work hours on campus.

Spring Semester Course Format

Pratt will continue, for the Spring 2021 semester, to offer our current blend of online and hybrid (partially in person) courses. Given the arc of the pandemic, there is just no prospect of returning to fully in-person education for the Spring semester. Our world won’t be ready yet. At the same time, we have all learned a great deal about how to continue to teach and learn truly well, though by changed means, while this is necessary.

Faculty teaching schedules will be determined in coordination with their departments and programs as per usual.

During the November pre-registration for the Spring semester, students will again be able to identify online and hybrid course sections while constructing their Spring schedules. International students should refer to the Office of International Affairs webpage for the most current information on ICE guidance.

Because many students may return to Pratt for the Spring semester from US states that remain on Governor Cuomo’s high-COVID 14-day quarantine list, as well as from international locations, faculty are advised to schedule the in-person components of hybrid courses to begin no earlier than the third week of the semester.

Residence Hall Decision

Please note that a decision has not yet been made regarding whether the residence halls will remain closed for the Spring semester. A decision regarding this will be communicated separately, by early November.

Study Abroad

The ongoing pandemic also requires that we continue the current hiatus on study abroad programs through the Spring 2021 semester. Surges of coronavirus infection around the world, along with travel restrictions and bans of various kinds, as well as budgetary restrictions, make study abroad unfeasible this year. I look forward to our resuming Pratt’s study abroad programs as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so.

Academic Calendar

The Spring 2021 semester will begin as indicated in the Academic Calendar, on Tuesday, January 19; and will end as scheduled on Tuesday, May 11.

There will need to be one significant change made to the Spring semester, regarding Spring Break. Recall that this Fall, all end-of-semester instruction will be fully online after the Thanksgiving Break. All of the travel associated with Thanksgiving presents unmanageable challenges for keeping the campus safe and healthy afterwards. For similar reasons, we cannot accommodate a weeklong Spring Break of risk-prone travels and returns to campus.

But we know how important opportunities for rest and recuperation are during the long stretch of the Spring semester. So instead of the week of Spring Break, previously scheduled for March 15-21, we will build into the Spring schedule six wellness days replacing Spring Break.

Specifically, the following dates have been added to the Spring Academic Calendar to replace Spring Break:

• Monday, March 15: Wellness Day - No Classes
• Tuesday–Thursday, March 23–25: Wellness Days - No Classes
• Friday–Saturday, April 2–3: Wellness Days - No Classes

This will provide all students and faculty shorter breaks from the weekly march of class meetings, and will help to discourage travel that could compromise campus safety. Faculty should organize their Spring course syllabi to skip a week in accordance with the dates just described.

End-of-Year Events

Because we cannot know now what the pandemic will be like in April and May of next year, we are not yet able to reach conclusions regarding end-of-year events such as the Design Show, Awards Convocation, and Commencement. We will consult the community and keep you apprised while we hope to be able to hold these events live in late spring.

Students who are completing their degrees in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 need to apply for graduation during the Fall semester. Eligible students will receive an email with instructions and the deadline to apply for graduation.

As we find our way through challenging times, I am heartened and inspired by the creative spirit and collective resolve of all in the Pratt community.

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2020
Subject: Spring 2021 Planning - international students and ICE guidance Statement from the Office of International Affairs (OIA) 

The Department of Homeland Security has not given guidance for international student statuses for the spring semester yet. If the guidance remains the same as it was for fall, then the following would be true:

Continuing international students with active SEVIS I-20 records may take 100% online classes to maintain their valid status. An active SEVIS I-20 record means that the student has already previously entered F-1 status in the United States using the I-20, maintained their legal standing since then, and the status of that I-20 record in the SEVIS system is active.

International students who have not previously entered the United States using their I-20 would not have an active SEVIS record; the I-20 would be in initial (new) status. If an international student holding an initial SEVIS record intends to arrive in  the US for Spring semester for the first time using that I-20, they would need an in-person component in their program of study during spring (i.e. a hybrid class).

Again, if the guidance stays the same for spring, the students who intend to arrive in the US for the first time on their I-20 should be registered for a hybrid class prior to arrival. 

We are also still waiting for DHS guidance regarding Spring 2021 OPT. If the guidance for spring remains the same as it was for fall, students in their final semester at Pratt may apply for OPT even if their courses are fully online, provided they apply for OPT while within the US.

Ref: "Nonimmigrant students in New or Initial status after March 9 will not be able to enter the United States to enroll in a U.S. school as a nonimmigrant student for the fall term to pursue a full course of study that is 100 percent online." https://www.ice.gov/doclib/coronavirus/covid19faq.pdf

The Office of International Affairs will provide updates to international students and academic leadership as soon as more information is available.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Need a work space? A flu shot? Wellness support? Learning resources? We gotcha covered!

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Since Pratt’s campuses reopened for hybrid classes in August, the Pratt community has wholeheartedly cooperated and helped keep our students, faculty, and staff safe and healthy.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Flu Shots: New dates have been added and flu shots for students will now be available on campus on October 20 and 21. All members of the Pratt community are encouraged to get one as flu season approaches. Find a location for a flu shot near you.

• Wellness Support: The Resilience, Wellness and Well-Being Project and Council celebrates a holistic approach to education and success by expanding awareness of the pathways, support, and opportunities to build and sustain resilience, wellness, and well-being for Pratt faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Learn more about how you can engage virtually and in person.

• Need Work Space?: Reservable space is now available for students, faculty, and staff who need a temporary work location or private space for remote and hybrid teaching and learning when on the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses.

• Center for Teaching and Learning: CTL continues to offer events, resources, and support for online and hybrid education. Explore upcoming programming, including Conflict Avoidance and Wicked Problems in the Online Classroom on October 21, or faculty can drop in on a CTL Coffee Chat each Monday at 10 AM.

• Launchpad: Have you tried Launchpad? Students anywhere, on any computer, can access a range of licensed software like Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk, ArcGIS, Rhino, and Fusion 360. (Yes, even on your old laptop.)

• Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols: We’re keeping it clean! Review protocols from our facilities team including your responsibility in cleaning personal space in conjunction with Pratt’s daily cleaning rituals and how to order supplies.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Oct 9, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Staying Vigilant, Making It Work, Flu Shots, Emotional Health—and a Founder’s Day Announcement

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. Since Pratt’s campuses reopened for hybrid classes in August, the Pratt community has wholeheartedly cooperated and helped keep our students, faculty, and staff safe and healthy.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Stay Vigilant: City and state guidelines and COVID-19 conditions can change rapidly. Stay informed and stay vigilant!

• Home Now: From the Fall/Winter 2020 digital issue of Prattfolio, experience work by Pratt photography students reconsidering notions of “home” in this time of transition.

• Making It Work: So much great student work is happening virtually and in person. Keep up with what Pratt students and faculty are doing on Pratt’s Daily Hub. And if you have a story of your own to share, contact Pratt’s editorial team.

• Virtual Founder’s Day: In a special 15-minute video address, President Bronet shares plans and hopes for the Institute to celebrate this Founder’s Day—including an exciting announcement.

• Flu Shots: Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020–2021 and all members of the Pratt community are encouraged to get one as flu season approaches. Flu shots will be available on campus for students on October 13 and faculty and staff October 14 and 15 or find a location near you.

• Emotional Health: Feeling anxious or worried? Faculty and staff can find assistance through Human Resources. Students can contact Pratt’s Counseling Center.

• Breath Breaks: Mindful Pratt is continuing to offer virtual Breath Breaks this fall semester. The drop-in practice provides a moment of pause for all members of the Pratt community.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Dennis Mazone, AVP for Campus Safety and Preparedness 
Date: Wed, Oct 7, 2020
Subject: Continuing safety precautions on campus through rise in NYC Cases

Dear Pratt Community,

Since Pratt’s campuses reopened for hybrid classes in August, the Pratt community has wholeheartedly cooperated and helped keep our students, faculty, and staff safe and healthy. 

Earlier this week, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio and New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo released directives curtailing operations for specific area schools and businesses, because of the recent dramatic increases in COVID-19 cases. While, in the Governor’s plan (which supersedes the Mayor’s original plan), there are no restrictions for Pratt’s neighborhood, the heightened concerns in nearby communities provide an important reminder that we must continue to remain vigilant as cooler weather moves us indoors and take even greater precautions both on campus and elsewhere in our personal lives. 

Maintain Precautions

We encourage you to keep up the good work: stay home and get well if you are sick; always wear a mask or face covering in public (fully covering your mouth and nose); maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from others; wash your hands with soap and warm water or use hand sanitizer often; and avoid large gatherings of 20 or more people. Pratt will continue to provide outdoor spaces in the Rose Garden until Friday, October 30th, and safe indoor spaces that are outfitted to meet indoor air quality standards, are carefully cleaned and sanitized daily, and are furnished to promote physical distance.

Coming to Campus

Campus access will depend on further directives from the City and State, but for now Pratt’s campus remains open, following the guidelines we established at the beginning of the Fall semester. Please continue to monitor the Current Campus Condition indicator on the Back to Pratt website and on the Pratt Safe app. To access campus, you still will need to have completed the required documents, filled out the daily health screening survey on the Pratt Safe app, and submitted to temperature screening.

Athletic Facilities

Pratt’s indoor athletic facilities will remain closed at this time, as we wait for more guidance from the City and State authorities. Outdoor activities sponsored by Pratt Athletics will continue for as long as the weather permits. Please visit the Pratt Athletics website for regular updates.

Thanks ... and Stay Informed

We are grateful for the cooperation of our entire Pratt community. For more information and continued updates, please remain vigilant, read your Pratt emails, and visit the Back to Pratt website at pratt.edu/backtopratt. 

Sincerely,

Dennis F. Mazone, M.A., CEM, CBCP
Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety & Preparedness

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Oct 2, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Free Flu Shots, Write to Voters, Help Save Energy

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. With precautions in place, campus is a safe place for creative practice and innovative thinking. Pratt may look and feel different today, but our community is keeping momentum, imagining, building, and creating in the classroom, the studios, and online.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Flu Shots:

  • Students: Free flu shots for students with campus health clearance will be available on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus on Tuesday, October 6, from 10 AM to 2 PM and Wednesday, October 7, from 10 AM to 3 PM in the Rose Garden. Registration is required for this free service. Please register at pratt.medicatconnect.com to schedule an appointment.

  • Faculty and Staff: Vaccinations for faculty and staff will be available on campus on Wednesday and Thursday, October 14 and 15. Faculty and staff should watch for an email with sign-up information and additional times. And, of course, other free flu shot locations are available near you.

• Write to Voters! Join us to write letters and postcards encouraging traditionally underrepresented voters in Texas to vote. Multitask while you get your flu shot at this physically distanced event on Tuesday, October 6, and Wednesday, October 7, from 10 AM to 1:30 PM in the Rose Garden. Anyone can participate, and Student Involvement will mail out as many as we make together. This non-partisan effort is managed via Votefwd.org.

• Virtual Events: We’re physically distant but still socially connected! View a growing list of virtual Pratt events including lectures, panel discussions, virtual exhibitions, and film screenings.

• Studio and Classroom Energy Saving: In an effort to conserve energy in accordance with our carbon reduction goals, Facilities Management has launched the following energy initiatives:

  • Building lighting (except emergency lights), air conditioning, and fans will be shut off each evening after midnight. All systems will be returned to normal operation at 7 AM.

  • Once heating season begins in early October, temperatures will be reduced a few degrees each night, returning to normal at 7 AM.

• What Can You Do to Conserve Energy?

  • If you are the last to leave a classroom, studio, or office space, please turn off any lights and fans.

  • Choose stairs over elevators, if you can.

  • With increased ventilation, we anticipate temperature fluctuation. We recommend that you dress in layers for temperature swings.

• Health Services: We’re here to help! In-person office hours are by appointment only with virtual appointments running Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM. Health Services can provide general medical care, women’s health care, and referrals as needed.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

Please view this letter on Pratt's Intranet.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Sep 25, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: COVID-19 Report Card, Flu Shots, Virtual Events, Vote: Art in Action!, Telework

Current campus COVID-19 conditions are green. With precautions in place, campus is a safe place for creative practice and innovative thinking. Pratt may look and feel different today, but our community is keeping momentum, imagining, building, and creating in the classroom, the studios, and online.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• COVID-19 Report Card: In accordance with reopening guidelines, Pratt reports COVID-19 testing results daily to New York State and a summary is published in a public report card along with other higher education institutions and K–12 schools.

• Flu Shot: Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020–2021 and all members of the Pratt community are encouraged to get one as flu season approaches. Flu shots are available for students on October 6 and 7. Information for on-campus vaccinations for faculty and staff will be available soon or find a location near you.

• Virtual Events: We’re physically distant but still socially connected! View a growing list of virtual Pratt events, including lectures, panel discussions, virtual exhibitions, and film screenings.

• Take Action for the Vote: Meet outside in the new Rose Garden tents on September 29 and 30 for a physically distanced event writing friendly, handwritten reminders to voters in close, key races. Also, registration is open for Vote, Vote Again: Art in Action with artists Amy Khoshbin and Karen Finley on October 1.

• Telework and Equipment Policy Update: The guidelines for temporary telework for faculty and staff were updated this week to include specifics on equipment usage.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Sep 18, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: RAs Are Back, Faculty Forum, Counseling Available, Social Contract Required

With precautions in place, campus is a safe space to return to creative practice and innovative thinking. Pratt may look and feel different today, but our community is keeping momentum, imagining, rebuilding, and retooling in the classroom, the studios, and online.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Campus COVID-19 Conditions: Current campus conditions are green. Continue following physical distancing protocols, follow all posted signage on campus, and stay alert for any changes. Concerns can be reported through the PrattSafe app.

• Social Contract: Reminder that students, faculty, and staff must agree to and sign a social contract if you are returning to campus. These guidelines will help keep everyone safe on our campus and in our community.

• Counseling Center: Counseling can help with any mental health concerns you might experience, including stress, anxiety, alcohol or drugs, eating, depression, family issues, suicidal thoughts, and more. Students can call or email to make a virtual appointment today.

• RA at Home: Missing residence hall life? RAs are back! The new RA@Home program can help you connect with classmates and make friends while you are not on campus.

• Faculty Fall Forum: The Fall Forum will take place virtually September 22–25 with a focus on Canvas training. Faculty can now RSVP through the Center for Teaching and Learning.

• Reimagining Teaching and Learning: As Pratt innovates during this time of incredible transformation, read about how faculty are taking advantage of technology and the flexibility of different modes of course delivery to achieve academic goals, foster collaboration among students, and more.

• COVID-19 Testing: Did you know that a negative COVID-19 test is required for all students, faculty, and staff returning to campus this semester? Make a plan to get tested and find a free testing site near you.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Reporting Concerns, Faculty Forum, Learning/Access Support, Campus Photos

How’s your fall 2020 going? We’re watching and listening, and will update www.pratt.edu/backtopratt with new or changing information.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Reporting COVID-19 Concerns: Keeping campus healthy requires everyone's cooperation and diligence. If you have concerns about unsafe behavior, the enforcement of policies and guidance, physical distancing measures, or anything related to health and safety on campus, you can now report issues discreetly through the PrattSafe app.

• Missing Campus? Our gorgeous campus is a busy resource for those who have made their way safely back to Pratt. Connect with Pratt on Instagram to see new photos from students, faculty, and staff.

• Faculty Fall Forum: Save the date! The Fall Forum will take place virtually September 22–25 with a focus on Canvas. Faculty can find more information at the Center for Teaching and Learning.

• Learning/Access Center: Need support? The Learning/Access Center provides comprehensive academic support services, including assistance with remote learning, to all Pratt students.

• Academic Catalog: The 2020–21 academic catalog is now digital! Find a comprehensive list of course descriptions, look up program requirements, browse minors and advanced certificates, and review academic policies.

• On-Campus Dining: A Farmer’s Fridge is now available in the Higgins Hall lobby! The 24/7 grab-and-go fresh meal concept offers salads, sandwiches, and snacks. An app is available to reserve items and pay with your phone.

• Cleaning Personal Space: Faculty and staff are responsible for disinfecting high-touch items in single-use offices and workstations in conjunction with Pratt’s daily cleaning rituals. Learn more details about protocol and how to order cleaning supplies.

• New Policy Updates: Policies for field trips and internships are now available, as well as updated guidance for recording and using cameras (PDF) in online classes for faculty.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Thu, Sep 3, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Steps to get on campus; Software access equity; ARC fitness; and more

The fall 2020 semester is underway! As the semester continues, we will update www.pratt.edu/backtopratt with new or changing information.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Returning to campus for the first time next week? Follow the guidance in the campus access checklist to prepare, including testing, social contract, COVID-19 training video, and the PrattSafe app with digital ID.

• ARC: The ARC is open for outdoor fitness! Make a reservation for the new outdoor fitness area, group classes, or personal training sessions, and review the new hours of operation.

• Launchpad: Have an older computer? Students anywhere, on any computer, can access a range of licensed software like Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk, ArcGIS, Rhino, and Fusion 360 with the new Pratt Launchpad.

• Milanote: All students and faculty can now access Milanote, an easy-to-use tool to organize your ideas and projects into visual pin-up boards. With Milanote, you can share work in real time, collaborate, and organize feedback.

• Outdoor Space: To help de-densify campus, new tented areas have been added near the Rose Garden for classes and student activities. Faculty can reserve space through 25Live.

• Daily Hub: Stay connected! Get inspired by new ideas and innovative work from faculty, students, alumni, and more in this weekly roundup of news from our virtual and physical campus.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Aug 28, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Student Involvement Fair, Learning Tools, Campus Access Requirements

The fall 2020 semester is underway! As the semester continues, we will update www.pratt.edu/backtopratt with new or changing information.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Building Community: Meet leaders of Pratt’s clubs and organizations at the student Virtual Involvement Fair on September 1! Can’t attend? Find a list of events and organizations to connect with on Engage.

• PrattSafe App: Returning to campus? The PrattSafe app is required for students, faculty, and staff to access campus. Download it to complete your daily health questionnaire and view your digital ID.

• Campus COVID-19 Conditions: The Campus Conditions indicator will alert you to current COVID-19 levels and campus operations. Learn what actions Pratt is taking and your own responsibilities to help keep our campus healthy.

• New Campus Hours: To ensure time for proper cleaning and disinfection, campus access, including studios, is limited to 7 AM to midnight. Remember to cover or store your work overnight and follow all posted signage.

• Prattfolio: Miss picking up a copy of Prattfolio magazine on campus? Take a look at the complete Spring/Summer 2020: Action issue.

• OnePratt: Want your academic tools in one place? onePratt, a new digital console for students and faculty, aggregates links for Canvas, e-Portfolios, Google Suite, advisement and registration tools, financial services, safety and wellness apps, and student life resources.

• COVID-19 Testing Reminder! Students, faculty, and staff must have a negative COVID-19 test result before returning to campus. Find a testing site near you.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt President Frances Bronet 
Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2020
Subject: The Start of the New School Year

Dear Pratt Community,

Here at the start of a new academic year like no other we have experienced, I am excited to welcome you back to Pratt, in the many ways we will return to the Institute this semester.

Our Pratt community was made for this extraordinary moment, a time of transformation that calls upon the innovators, rigorous thinkers, and creators among us to keep momentum, imagine, retool, and rebuild.

To our exceptional students: What you start here at Pratt will propel us into a newly defined future. Pratt faculty will work alongside you to develop modes of aesthetic analysis, critical making, professional knowledge, collaborative skills, and technical expertise. You will blend theory with creative application as we challenge you to achieve your full potential with significant impact on the world we share.

The intersecting crises of the global pandemic and the devastating effects of systemic racism have deeply impacted our lives, amplifying social fractures and inequities that are our charge to confront. At the same time, we are grappling with economic disruptions colliding with the painful loss of loved ones. This month, that loss hit particularly close to our hearts, as we have mourned the passing of one of Pratt’s strongest champions, Vice President for Enrollment Judy Aaron.

We will call on compassion, ingenuity, and collaboration to adapt to the shifting terrain around us, and draw courage from the fact that these qualities are trademarks of our faculty, students, and staff.

With the health and safety of our community as paramount, the Institute has relied on us all to adapt to new models of education. Fortunately, Pratt faculty and administrators were ahead of the curve, already developing curricula and virtual methods of teaching and learning before COVID-19 upended our everyday practices. The academic community is leveraging emergent tools and resources, positioning us for success as more sophisticated technologies continue to develop; this agility has galvanized us. Our community has also worked diligently to transform Pratt’s campus into an environment that supports safe, sustainable conditions for in-person teaching and learning, based on a social contract for all who come to campus.

As we all unite, advocate, and work for social justice and equity, we also reflect on Pratt’s founding principles. Building pathways to education for all was as fundamental to the mission of the Institute 133 years ago as it is today. A few weeks ago, we proudly announced that Trustee Kathryn Chenault, together with her husband Kenneth, has committed $1 million to establish scholarships to support diversity in the School of Architecture. Meanwhile, among the class of 2024, the Institute is thrilled to welcome four Pratt Young Scholars, from our college-preparatory program for high schoolers that provides access to art and design education. In addition, thanks to generous funding from Trustee Emeritus Bruce Newman and support from Blick, we have assembled and distributed free starter kits with essential materials to incoming students across the globe.

This is a pivotal time for Pratt. We will meet online and in physical space. We will shape this transformation in higher education, from the infrastructure of delivery platforms to the social, economic, environmental, and cultural content we are collectively reimagining for equity and access.

Thank you for making this happen.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Aug 21, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Get Tested! New Digital IDs and Tools, as classes begin

Dear Pratt Community,

The fall 2020 semester begins on Monday! Good luck! Be patient with yourselves and one another, and stay informed. Follow the testing and social distancing instructions, and give yourself extra time when coming to campus. As the semester continues, www.pratt.edu/backtopratt will be updated with new and changing information.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Testing: All students, faculty, and staff must have a negative COVID-19 test result if they are returning to campus. Limited testing is available on the Brooklyn campus the week of August 24th. Make an appointment on our testing page or find a testing site near you.

• Digital ID: The new digital ID, available through the Pratt Safe app, is your key to campus. Get yours and review your progress through the campus entry requirements on the campus access checklist.

• OnePratt Community: This new digital console for students and faculty aggregates all academic and support tools like Canvas, e-Portfolios, Google Suite, Launchpad, advisement and registration tools, financial information, safety and wellness apps, student life resources, and social spaces to connect with your peers.

• Canvas: Faculty can prepare for virtual and hybrid learning with Pratt’s new Learning Management System. Guides, tutorials, and training are available for faculty and students through the Center for Teaching and Learning.

• Maintaining a Creative Practice: Revisit our spring story on tips for maintaining a creative practice, even if home is now your studio.

• Telepresence: Find additional tools for hybrid learning and remote work in Pratt’s Telepresence Cloud Kit. It includes guidance on sharing and accessing files, video conferencing, sharing lectures, collaborating on the cloud, and links to the tools you need.

• Important Policy Updates: Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols, Campus Access Policy, and Hours of Operation.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Aug 14, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Prepare for Reopening, COVID Testing, Hours of Operation, Library Services, Foundation Kits, and more

Dear Pratt Community,

Preparation work for fall 2020 at Pratt Institute continues to move ahead toward classes beginning on August 24. If you are planning to return to campus, review the campus access checklist for detailed instructions. Weekly updates continue to be posted to the Back to Pratt section of our website at pratt.edu/backtopratt.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Testing: A negative COVID diagnostic test is required to return to class or work. Make an appointment to be tested on campus or find a free testing site near you.

• Fall Reopening: Students, faculty, and staff who are returning to campus this fall will be supported by both scientific and social measures to promote community health, success, and safety. See what’s different on campus.

• Hours of Operation: Campus access and offices serving students will have adjusted hours of operation in fall 2020. Review updated hours and make appointments.

• Masks: Pratt will be providing all community members with two cloth face coverings upon their return to campus. Masks are required on campus in the social contracts for students, faculty, and staff.

• Outdoor Space: To help de-densify campus, new tented areas will be added near the Rose Garden for classes and student activities.

• Libraries: Pratt’s libraries are adapting and improving services to meet the research needs of the Pratt community with no-contact pickup of books, dvds and equipment, information literacy instruction, reference services, and Canvas integration.

• New Faculty Orientation: All new faculty are welcome and encouraged to attend this fun and informative session on August 24, from 10 to 11 AM. Find more information at the Center for Teaching and Learning.

• Foundation Kit: Trustee Emeritus Bruce Newman, BFA Interior Design '53, learned about Blick's initial generosity and decided to make the Foundation Starter Kit completely free.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From:  Learning Access Center L/AC
Date: Aug, 10, 2020
Subject: Orientation for Students with Accommodations

Tuesday 8/11 @ 1pm EST is the L/AC Orientation for students with accommodations. Contact L/AC for Zoom log-in details.

The L/AC provides academic coaching and tutoring services to all Pratt students at both the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses. Due to the COVID-19 situation, students will need to email LAC@pratt.edu to request an appointment for coaching or tutoring.

ACADEMIC COACHING

Need help figuring out how to fit in all your academic work, studio work, your job, and your social life? Want to know the best way to memorize facts for your Art History test? Trying to figure out how to get through all the articles you have to read? Wondering where to get started on your studio project? The L/AC can help! 

Academic coaching is a holistic approach to academic support to ensure students develop the skills they need to succeed in college—and beyond! Academic coaches can help with time management, study skills, reading skills, and brainstorming and planning out projects (and more!). 

SUBJECT/CONTENT TUTORING

The L/AC has peer and professional tutors who can give you guidance in your academic, studio, and technical work. Their eclectic backgrounds ensure that L/AC tutors can support you in a variety of classes. Also, since many L/AC tutors are Pratt professors, graduates, and upper-class students, they are familiar with the demands and expectations of Pratt assignments. 

HELPFUL SOFTWARE

The L/AC has helpful software available to all Pratt students, including Kurzweil. Kurzweil is a text-to-speech software that has amazing reading and writing tools to make your academic work easier, including:

• Tools for reading text out loud to you;

• Highlighting and annotating tools for digital reading; 

• Templates to guide brainstorming and paper outlining.

This tool is FREE for Pratt students! Contact us at LAC@pratt.edu to learn more about Kurzweil or to get set up with your own Kurzweil account.

Accommodations for Students With Disabilities

Did you receive accommodations or classroom adjustments in the past (including 504 Plans and IEPs)? Would you like to explore accommodations for a learning disorder, ADHD, mental health condition, chronic illness, physical/mobility condition, blindness, low vision, hearing loss, etc.? 

The L/AC coordinates access for students with disabilities at both the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses. We recommend and encourage that students enroll with the L/AC over the summer so that we can notify faculty of your classroom accommodations by the first week of classes. L/AC staff are also available to meet with you virtually throughout the summer of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 situation, we have taken our intake and enrollment process fully online.

Please contact us as 718.802.3123 or LAC@pratt.edu to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you!

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Aug 7, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Student Clubs & Organizations, New LMS, Testing, Crits, and more

Dear Pratt Community,

Extensive planning and preparation continue to go into fall 2020 at Pratt Institute. As new information becomes available and things change, updates will be posted to the Back to Pratt section of our website at pratt.edu/backtopratt.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Building Community: Clubs and organizations will continue to meet virtually, giving you the opportunity to connect with your classmates from anywhere in the world.

• Canvas: Get familiar with Pratt’s new Learning Management System! Resources are available for faculty and students, including guides, video tutorials, and self-paced training.

• Foundations Remote: Hear specifics on remote learning from Foundation Chair Leslie Mutchler.

• Critiques at a Distance: Pratt faculty members rethink reviews in the digital space.

• Testing: A negative COVID diagnostic test is required before returning to work or in-person classes. Use our testing page to find a free testing site near you.

• Reopening Plan: Read our formal plan for reopening, submitted to New York State.

• Searchable FAQs: New answers to many questions, from air quality to fees, have been added to this searchable resource.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Helen Matusow-Ayres Vice President for Student Affairs
Date: Aug, 5, 2020
Subject: Submitting Your COVID-19 Test Results and Signing Your Social Contract

It is hard to believe that the Summer Break is almost at a close. This has been far from a normal Summer. The COVID-19 Pandemic has challenged each and every one of us with loss of many kinds. However, we also have a lot to be grateful for. The talented and hard working staff and faculty at Pratt have created both hybrid and remote learning experiences that will challenge and engage you. In addition, the Pratt staff have and are continuing to work hard to create a safe and healthy environment on campus for those students who are able to join us for in-person education. In order to participate in these experiences (including use of studios and labs) each student, staff and faculty member must read and sign a social contract and provide a negative COVID-19 Test taken no more than seven days prior to their first day back on campus. Please go to these web locations to sign the social contract and upload your test documentation:

• Social Contact

• COVID Results

Remember, it is important to follow all of these steps so that your access to campus can be facilitated.

From: Pratt Institute 
Date: Fri, Jul 31, 2020
Subject: Back to Pratt: Housing FAQs, Digital Tools for Students, Faculty Resources, and More

Dear Pratt Community,

Extensive planning and preparation continue to go into fall 2020 at Pratt Institute. As new information becomes available and things change, updates will be posted to the Back to Pratt section of our website at pratt.edu/backtopratt.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Expanded access to digital tools: Students anywhere, on any computer, can access a range of licensed software like Adobe Creative Cloud, Autodesk, ArcGIS, Rhino, and Fusion 360 with the new Pratt Launchpad.

• Guiding Principles and Best Practices Guidelines for faculty teaching online: The Center for Teaching and Learning is offering a set of recommendations, using research-based best practices, to Pratt faculty who are planning their online or hybrid courses.

• Resilience and Wellbeing Resources: Visit a growing collection of resources, articles, and practices to support Pratt faculty who are committed to integrating wellbeing practices more intentionally into classroom and studio content.

• Residence Halls: This week, Pratt announced the decision not to reopen the residence halls this fall. Visit our housing FAQs to find answers to some of the most common questions.

• Campus access: Find current procedures, timelines for reopening, and a detailed checklist to prepare for your return to campus and what to expect when you get there.

• COVID-19 testing: View the updated requirements for testing before planning your return to campus.

• Geosyntec: See how our environmental mitigation partner, Geosyntec, is working with Pratt on testing, monitoring, tracing, and disinfecting protocols.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: The Office of International Affairs (OIA)
Date: Thu, Jul 30, 20M
Subject: Update for new international students (Initial I-20)

Greetings incoming international students,

We are writing to update you that on July 24, ICE released information about new student entry for Fall. The new ICE guidance document indicates that new students with initial I-20s may be permitted to receive a visa and enter the United States for Fall semester if the student will engage in hybrid coursework. 

Since hybrid coursework has in-person components, if you take a hybrid class in Fall it will potentially allow you to enter the US for Fall. You would also need to have a valid F-1 visa to enter the U.S. and not be traveling from a country currently under COVID-19 U.S. travel ban. Please keep in mind the latest international arrival date of August 24, 2020. Students who will be taking all online coursework with no hybrid classes will not be able to enter the U.S. 

Students who were in the US as of March 9, 2020 are allowed to stay and take classes fully online. This would pertain to students who were in high school or another school in the US, in F-1 status, for example. See answer to #3 in the ICE guidance document.

Students who are in a program that is fully online, but are abroad and want and are able to come to campus may request special arrangements for registering for a hybrid course by contacting their academic advisor. 

In light of this information, please consider your plans for Fall. If you have not yet submitted your response to this short online Google form about whether you plan to arrive for Fall or wish to change your I-20 start date to Spring, please do. If you wish to amend your response, you may resubmit your response now.

We also wanted to correct a typo in the Spring semester start date in our previous message below. The start date of Spring semester classes is January 19, 2021.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We are updating our OIA website with guidance as it becomes available. We continue to invite you to our weekly I-20 Tuesday session via Zoom to get your I-20 questions answered, 9:30–10:00 am EST on Tuesdays. Convert your time zone here. 

Sincerely,
The Office of International Affairs (OIA)

From: The Office of International Affairs (OIA)
Date: Thu, Jul 30, 2020
Subject: Update for new international transfer students (TRANSFER I-20)

Greetings F-1 transfer students,

We are writing to update you that on July 24, ICE released information about new student entry for Fall. The new ICE guidance document indicates that new students with initial I-20s may be permitted to receive a visa and enter the United States for Fall semester if the student will engage in hybrid coursework.

Since hybrid coursework has in-person components, if you take a hybrid class in Fall it will potentially allow you to enter the US for Fall. You would also need to have a valid F-1 visa to enter the U.S. and not be traveling from a country currently under COVID-19 U.S. travel ban. Please keep in mind the latest international arrival date of August 24, 2020. Students who will be taking all online coursework with no hybrid classes will not be able to enter the U.S.

Students who were in the US as of March 9, 2020 are allowed to stay and take classes fully online. This would pertain to students in F-1 status, who were in high school or another school in the US, or even on OPT, for example. See answer to #3 in the ICE guidance document.

Students who are in a program that is fully online, but are abroad and want and are able to come to campus may request special arrangements for registering for a hybrid course by contacting their academic advisor.

In light of this information, please consider your plans for Fall. If you have not yet submitted your response to this short Google form about your intentions for the Fall semester, please do. If you wish to amend your response, you may resubmit your response now.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We are updating our OIA website with guidance as it becomes available. We continue to invite you to our weekly I-20 Tuesday session via Zoom to get your I-20 questions answered, 9:30–10:00 am. EST on Tuesdays. Convert your time zone here. 

Sincerely,
The Office of International Affairs (OIA)

From: Residential Life & Housing
Date: Wed, July 29, 2020
Subject: Pratt Housing Plans
 
Hello, 
 
The Residential Life and Housing staff know how challenging and difficult the news that our halls won’t be open for Fall semester has been for all. Our staff will continue working to prepare for a safe Spring Semester and look forward to the day when we can welcome you home. 
 
As you discuss the difficult decisions about your plans for the Fall semester with your family and friends, look for the latest information regarding campus life and academic schedules at www.pratt.edu/BackToPratt. There is a specific link for residence hall FAQs to help as well. We’re sad that you cannot join us on campus for the Fall semester, however, we hope you can study remotely and move your housing contract to join us on campus in the Spring semester. You also have the options to join us in Fall 2021 or cancel your housing without penalty. 
 
Review the information and let us know your decision about your housing assignment via this Google Form. If you have already let a Residential Life and Housing staff member know this information, we ask that you still complete the form to ensure that we have the most up to date information.
 
Additionally, we know this situation has created many questions for students who have belongings still on campus. The form asks more information from you so that we can follow-up effectively.
 
Please complete this form by Friday, August 14th, 2020.
 
We are collectively facing disappointing, frustrating, and confusing times. Our Residential Life & Housing staff remains dedicated to assisting and supporting you - no matter where you are. Don’t hesitate to ask questions in the form and someone will get back to you within 24 hours Monday-Friday.
 
Sincerely,  
Residential Life & Housing

From: Pratt President Frances Bronet
Date: Mon, Jul 27, 2020
Subject: Residence Halls: Fall 2020 Decision to Remain Closed

Dear Pratt Community,

Pratt’s senior administration and I have made the difficult, yet what I believe to be most prudent, decision not to reopen the residence halls this fall.

We have made this decision mindful of the current state of COVID-19 globally and after a thorough and extensive assessment of what Pratt is committed to and capable of doing to protect the safety and health of our students, faculty, staff, and our neighboring community.

First and foremost, we have decided that we can provide the safest conditions by keeping the residence halls closed and attending to a much more contained use of campus. At this point, unless local officials decide otherwise, students living within commuting distance of New York City this semester can still have regulated access to campus facilities and to classes offered in hybrid form.

The ways in which we live and study through this pandemic continue to evolve rapidly. This is a moment once again where students and their families must review the options for their course of studies and make wise decisions according to their circumstances. All options will provide the excellent education for which Pratt is renowned. Additional details are provided below.

PLANNING AND CONSULTATION THAT LED TO THIS DECISION

Since April, when we assembled the pandemic planning committees, we have assessed academic and operational needs for reopening. We developed a mitigation plan with our in-house experts on health and safety, in partnership with Geosyntec, which includes testing, monitoring, tracing, and disinfecting protocols. We 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.

We had anticipated that, by now, virus tests would be widely available, test results would be returned quickly, and that the infection transmission rate would substantially decline. But as we know, this is not the case. While New York City has brought its number of COVID-19 cases down significantly, cases in most of the rest of the country, and in other parts of the world, are continuing to rise and spread rapidly. As of this week, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has identified 31 states that meet the requirements for travelers to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New York. Additionally, delays in receiving test results severely hamper effective contact tracing, and further increases in these delays are anticipated as more employers and schools require testing, and as more individuals return to regular medical and hospital appointments.

Considering the lack of a uniform national approach to testing and prevention, and mindful of the potential risk of creating our own infection hotspot, our experts have advised us that we could quickly reach the maximum amount of COVID-19 cases on our campus, which would require us to close down the residence halls once again, as we did last spring.

We find that the above circumstances prevent us from meeting the minimum requirements that we established at the outset for ensuring the safety of the residence halls, and we cannot in good conscience put our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors at risk.

THE CURRICULUM AND COURSE OF STUDY

Pratt is committed, as always, to delivering a world-class education with our renowned faculty. There are two options for attending Pratt this fall. One is fully online. With the other, roughly 70% of courses will be offered fully online, while 30% will occur in a hybrid format, meeting sometimes online and sometimes in person. These percentages will vary by degree program. Additionally, how much of a hybrid course occurs in person or virtually will vary by the course. More information about the academic curriculum is available online.

All students, whether they join us in New York City or study remotely, will be able to make full-time progress toward their degrees. Pratt's degree programs educate students in a wide range of fields and ensure that students achieve the outcomes specific to their fields. Achieving those outcomes is ultimately what it takes to complete a degree, and there can be more than one path to that end.

This semester we are asking students to do some of their learning online, some of it in a hybrid form. In other semesters, they may do more in-person learning. All of this learning, in all of these modalities, constitutes progress towards completion of a degree.

Overall, the education we offer is as excellent as ever. The form in which we offer it is changing, becoming (of necessity) more flexible, and we are committed to being flexible as we support our students through their years at Pratt and to graduation.

THE IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE

While the educational experience and the learning goals achieved will be of the same quality, students and their families must be aware that the overall in-person social experience will be radically different and dramatically constrained in comparison to our previous experiences.

The in-person components of hybrid courses, in order to meet health and safety standards, will involve physical distancing, and limited numbers of students in any given space, with regulated and limited access to specialized equipment and facilities, including studios and labs. We will not be able to offer long stays and unlimited access to studios as we normally would.

Keeping the residence halls closed does not change the academic curriculum that has been developed for the fall. Schools, departments, and individual faculty have been working through the summer to ensure that the fall semester’s course offerings will be of the highest quality in all modes of delivery. No matter where or how our students choose to take courses or access services, they will be supported by our dedicated and distinguished faculty and staff, and the enhanced robust technology needed to learn and create. We are committed to providing an excellent and equitable Pratt educational experience online, as well as safely in hybrid courses where faculty and staff will use campus facilities, albeit in a highly monitored, time-limited, and regulated way.

The registration period that was announced last week remains open and students are still able to change their schedules, as they see fit. Again, students and their families must review the options for their course of studies and make wise decisions according to their circumstances.

For students who decide to shift their study entirely online, we will work with them to ensure that their semester’s work is satisfying and advances their progress toward their degree.

BUILDING COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT REMOTELY

The staff and faculty at Pratt are also 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 will be widely available to all students, and student clubs and organizations will continue to meet and develop programs online. For students pursuing either the remote or the hybrid option, student services, activities, and engagement will be online. All support services will be easy to access. There will continue to be opportunities for students to engage in campus governance and community dialogue remotely, including Town Halls like the one scheduled for tomorrow evening, Tuesday, July 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Please continue to visit www.pratt.edu/backtopratt for the most up-to-date information and answers to frequently asked questions. The online information includes housing option information for those students intending to reside within commuting distance and pursue a hybrid academic program or access campus facilities; it includes access to counselors, with availability to help our students, including those who are most vulnerable at reslife@pratt.edu or online.

PRATT INSTITUTE’S DECISION

We know that this decision presents difficulties and deep disappointments. We are prepared to respond and provide assistance.

Pratt Institute has made its decision to keep the residence halls closed in the best interests of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors’ health and wellbeing, given the current reality and conditions we are now facing for the coming months. Our decision is based on our own unique capacity and resources. Pratt has asked students, faculty, and staff to commit to a social contract that prioritizes our collective agreement to community health and safety. The Institute is similarly committed to reducing the risk of spreading the virus on campus and beyond.

We are in a pandemic. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality Pratt education during a time that is unprecedented and are asking for your partnership in doing so—to study together, to solve critical problems together, to design our collective future together.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President

Dear Pratt Community,

Extensive planning and preparation continues to go into fall 2020 at Pratt Institute. As new information becomes available and things change, updates will be posted to the Back to Pratt section of our website at pratt.edu/backtopratt.

Here are this week’s additions and updates:

• Student Registration Guide: Redesigned course offerings are now available to accommodate a mix of in-person and online instruction. Log into Colleague Self Service System to view your schedule, and adjust accordingly.

• Student Town Hall: Register for a virtual Town Hall meeting, hear a message from President Bronet, and get answers to your questions, including the social contract.

• The Center for Teaching and Learning: CTL is committed to supporting faculty in online and hybrid teaching. Learn more about Canvas and enroll in our Resilient Teaching Online series.

• Tuition Payments are due August 1. Contact Student Financial Services with questions about scholarships and award packages.

• Have more questions? Visit our searchable FAQs to find answers to a variety of topics for students, faculty, and staff, including COVID-19 testing, cleaning and disinfecting, indoor air quality, health services, international student guidance, and more.

Watch for a new email update from Back to Pratt each week.

From: Office of International Affairs
Date: Fri, Jul 24, 2020
Subject: Current student updates about Fall - July 24

Dear current international students, 

We write with two updates related to Fall and immigration. 

One update is about Pratt’s quarantine policy, which is relevant if you are planning on traveling to return to the Pratt campus in-person for the Fall term. Please be aware that per CDC guidelines, all community members arriving to the U.S. from international locations should self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus. Our Fall semester begins Monday, August 24. 

We recommend all current students arrive from any international location by August 9 leaving ample time to self-quarantine for 14 days before classes begin on August 24. Students who are already present in the US in a different state than New York should follow the domestic quarantine policy for return to campus. 

The latest possible date to arrive to the U.S. from an international location to self-quarantine is August 24. You must be present in all in-person academic engagements after the drop/add deadline, September 7. Keep in mind that there may be academic implications to absence in hybrid classes if you self-quarantine late. You should communicate with your professors directly about your situation.

A second update is that we have not received any further guidance from ICE yet after the rescission of the July 6 guidance. ICE has reverted their online FAQ document to the Spring term FAQ as of July 15. We were advised to expect a follow-up broadcast message from ICE shortly thereafter. As of now, we are unsure if and when we are going to receive further guidance. So as of July 24, the old guidance remains in effect without a known date to expect further update.

According to this older guidance - the same one we had for Spring operations - students with active status SEVIS records can be considered in status during Pratt’s modified COVID-19 operations, so long as you are full-time enrolled in good standing. Being inside or outside the US is irrelevant. Whether you are taking all online classes, one hybrid, or all hybrid classes should not matter. Also, any five month rule regarding absence does NOT apply with this guidance version. Your eligibility to apply for CPT or OPT should not be impacted, although OPT applications to USCIS should be submitted from within the United States.

If you did not attend our webinar last Friday on this topic, you can still view it now on our website, since the guidance we gave in it is still relevant at this time. If ICE does issue further Fall guidance in the coming days or weeks, it would replace this previous Spring guidance. We will of course let you know if that happens. We understand all this guidance adjustment is a lot to understand and tolerate amidst all the world happenings. 

As usual, we are updating our website information with new information when it becomes available. We are still here for you remotely, and appreciate your good questions and patience.

Warm regards,
Office of International Affairs (OIA)

From: Office of International Affairs
Date: Wed, Jul 22, 2020
Subject: Important fall arrival update for new international students: action needed

Dear incoming international students:

This message is going to students who have received new (initial status) SEVIS I-20s from Pratt Institute for Fall 2020. As you know, Pratt is providing options for international students who are unable to arrive in the United States due to visa or travel restrictions to enroll in fully online classes during the Fall semester. We also are providing hybrid (in-person and online) coursework options for students who are able to attend Pratt in-person. 

Recently there were many updates to how these online and in-person options relate to international students’ immigration status. On July 6, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch of the Department of Homeland Security announced updated guidance for the Fall semester. On July 14, this guidance was rescinded. As of July 22, we are eagerly awaiting a broadcast message from ICE to notify us of official instructions and guidance for the fall 2020 semester. Unfortunately, it is still unclear whether new (initial status) international students will be able to enter the U.S. for hybrid coursework. We are hopeful ICE issues more guidance in the coming days to clarify initial status student entry to the U.S. 

Please be aware of several important dates. Our Fall semester begins Monday, August 24. Due to the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation for a 14 day self-quarantine after international arrival, students enrolled in hybrid coursework should prepare to enter the United States no later than the actual start date of classes, August 24. This will allow time to safely self-quarantine and be present for in-person classes after the drop/add deadline on Monday, September 7. Students who are already present in the US should follow the domestic quarantine policy.

New students who cannot arrive for Fall semester may begin study remotely from abroad with all online classes during Fall. In this case, we will need to change your SEVIS I-20 start date to accommodate in-person arrival for the Spring 2021 term. The Spring semester start date is January 11, 2021. Your SEVIS ID would remain the same, so you can keep any standing visa appointment you may have scheduled at the consulate. Mid-semester entry to the U.S. is not an option for new students with initial I-20s, due to the I-20 start date being fixed at the beginning of the semester. You may arrive up to 30 days before the start date of Spring term if you receive an updated I-20 for Spring arrival.

If you already anticipate that you will be taking the Fall semester fully online and plan to arrive for Spring term, please complete this short online Google form to request your I-20 start date be changed to Spring 2021. To initiate the process of your I-20 start date change, please answer “yes, I wish to change my I-20 start date to Spring.” If you would like to still try to arrive for Fall in-person at this time, you may complete the form by answering “no, I wish to keep my I-20 start date for Fall.” We ask that you submit the form so that we can be aware of your intention at this time.

We will start preparing your updated I-20 if you are ready to change the start date, but if you are not, we will maintain your current I-20 version with your current start date. If you cannot access the online Google form due to a firewall, please email us with the subject line “I-20 start date change” instead to request the change. Please note if you are a student who is transferring F-1 status from another institution in the US and your I-20 says “transfer pending,” different guidance applies to you. Please email OIA@pratt.edu with the subject line “transfer pending,” if you are in this F-1 status transfer circumstance to receive further guidance.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We are continually updating our OIA website with guidance and frequently asked questions as they become available. Thank you for your patience as the information evolves. We know that it is difficult to understand all of the guidance and information has come out so suddenly. We are here to help you through this and excited you are joining Pratt Institute. We continue to invite you to our weekly I-20 Tuesday session via Zoom to get your I-20 questions answered, 9:30 a.m -10:00 a.m. EST on Tuesdays. Convert your time zone here. 

Sincerely,
The Office of International Affairs (OIA)

From: Office of the Registrar
Date: Tue, Jul 21, 2020
Subject: Fall Scenario Registration Guide

Dear Student,

Thank you for your continued patience as we redesigned our course offerings for the fall to accommodate a mix of in person and online instruction. We are pleased to announce you may log into SSSPRO, view your schedule, and adjust accordingly.

Link to Self Service: https://ssspro.pratt.edu/Student/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fStudent

We have designed courses in a manner that allows for maximum flexibility for students who may not be able to travel to New York City to attend classes. Options available are detailed below:

1. HYBRID courses combine an in-person learning component that is integral to achieving course goals, and an online learning component that is also essential.  The proportion of in-person to online learning will vary by course.  Instructors will provide details about the technology platforms and tools for the class.

   Note: to enroll in a HYBRID course you must be in NYC or vicinity for the fall 2020 term in order for you to access the in person facilities.

   Example in Student Self-Service:

   

2. ONLINE courses are offered online in their entirety, with class meetings at the designated time and day on your schedule.  No access to campus is required.   Instructors will provide details about the technology platforms and tools to be used in the course.

   Example of an online class in Student Self-Service is listed below:

   

Note there are a selected number of ONLINE courses in which you will join an in person/hybrid class virtually This type of section will be designated by a V on the section designation.  An example is below; joining section 01V of PLAN-600 will register you for the same course PLAN-600-01, however you will be attending virtually. Contact your instructor for more details.

Students who study 100 percent remotely will not be charged the fees typically associated with on-campus learning and instruction.

For complete information on tuition and fees for the 2020/21 academic year please refer to the July 9th email to the community. 

Please contact your advisor with any questions about which classes would be best for your particular situation. 

Contact reg@pratt.edu with any questions on navigating or selecting classes for registration.

Thank you so much for your dedication to Pratt Institute; we are here to help you complete a successful and productive semester in these challenging times.

Sincerely,
Office of the Registrar

From: VP for Student Affairs Helen Matusow-Ayres
Date: Tue, Jul 21, 2020
Subject: Safe Return to Campus Student Town Hall

Dear Pratt Student,

You are invited to a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, July 28, from 6:30-8 PM (EST). As part of this Town Hall we will be reviewing the preparations being made for a safe return to campus and discussing the Student Social Contract with members of Senior Staff and representatives from Campus Preparedness, Facilities, and Student Affairs. Please read the Social Contract now in preparation for signing the document in the coming weeks. All students will be required to sign before arriving on campus.

Please complete the RSVP information and submit questions by 4 PM on July 27 to receive the Zoom link to the Town Hall. The link to RSVP is below.

Link to RSVP

This Town Hall will be recorded for those unable to attend.

Helen Matusow-Ayres
Vice President for Student Affairs

From: The Office of International Affairs
Date: Wed, Jul 15, 2020
Subject: Current students with active SEVIS records

Dear current international students,

Yesterday we heard the ICE guidance from last week will be rescinded. We will be updating you with more official information when we have it and updating the webpage. As always, we have to wait for guidance in writing to provide additional advice to you with confidence.

We’ve been updating the Back to Pratt OIA page with more questions and answers on the current situation for the Fall semester and ICE guidance. Please make sure you are checking this page as information is updated regularly and we have new information up as of this morning.

We appreciate your understanding that the information is changing rapidly. Sometimes our best answer to some very important questions is that we don’t know yet, and it is safer to wait to give an answer that we do not know, until we have the actual information. Do note that as soon as we receive more information from ICE and can further interpret it, all the information about what we know and don’t know will be updated on our Back to Pratt OIA page. We look forward to providing you with more information in the coming days. 

We know information has been changing so rapidly and it may be hard to sort out and make plans. If you are feeling uncertain about your plans for Fall and how they relate to your immigration status, you are invited to attend an OIA advising briefing on Friday (July 17) at 10am via Zoom. In this group session we will review what we know and don’t know for current students with active SEVIS records at that time. Please RSVP to this session as space may be limited. 

Thank you for your patience and strength in enduring the ambiguity of this situation. We look forward to continue to serve you in OIA and overcome this stressful time in your educational experience together.

Sincerely,
The Office of International Affairs

From: Vice President for Student Affairs Helen Matusow-Ayres
Date: Wed, Jul 15, 2020
Subject: Students from Quarantined States

Dear Pratt Community,

As you may be aware, Governor Cuomo has instituted a quarantining requirement  for individuals traveling to New York State from states with a high number of COVID-19 cases. This policy is subject to change, and individual states may be removed or added to this list. New York State Colleges are still waiting for the Governor to rule as to whether or not students from other states could quarantine in their home states. At this time we are required to follow these regulations as they stand.

Because we do not have the capacity or ability to provide quarantine housing on campus, students coming to Pratt from a state that is on this list will have three choices for enrolling in the Fall 2020 semester: 

1. Arrive in New York State and quarantine according to NYS guidelines for two weeks (14 days) before moving into the residence halls or attending class (non-residents). Students can stay with friends or family or at a hotel. A limited number of hotel options may be available at no cost for eligible students. Please contact Martha Cedarholm, the Senior Student Advocate and Care Coordinator @ studentadvocate@pratt.edu for more information about this option.
   
   Resident students will be tested for COVID-19 on the day that they move into their residence hall space. Non-resident students will be required to either submit a negative test result from a COVID-19 test taken no more than 96 hours before their arrival or take a test upon arrival on campus with a goal of the results being returned in 48 hours. Result turnaround time is subject to change.

2. Delay your arrival until your state is removed from the quarantine list  and begin the semester learning remotely. This option is only available until September 7.  If your state is removed from the quarantine list before September 4, you can begin learning remotely and switch to hybrid learning after your return to NY. Students will be permitted to move into the residence halls and/or return to class for hybrid learning anytime before the end of the drop/add period, no later than September 7, 2020.
   
   Students will be required to either submit a negative test result from a COVID-19 test taken no more than 96 hours before their arrival or take a test upon arrival on campus with a goal of the results being returned in 48 hours. Result turnaround time is subject to change.
   
   Students who choose this option will be required to inform Residential Life and Housing @reslife.pratt.edu and their instructors of their planned remote start.

3. Learn remotely. Students in states on the NYS quarantine list could choose to stay in their home and enroll in remote-only course sections.

Students who need assistance navigating these options should email the Senior Student Advocate and Care Coordinator @ studentadvocate@pratt.edu.

Please be advised that all links in this letter can be found on the Back to Pratt website.

This letter was edited on August 11th to provide more details about fee reductions if classes switch to 100% remote.

From: VP for Finance and Administration Cathleen Kenny
Date: Thu, Jul 9, 2020
Subject: Adjustments to Fees and Tuition for 2020/21 Academic Year

Dear Pratt Community,

This is a summer of planning like none of us have ever experienced before. While students and their families assess the options available for fall 2020 coursework, the faculty and administration are designing a variety of engaging new formats for delivering a quality Pratt education, through even more effective technology, in the safest and healthiest way for everyone.

While we await further details about the fall semester, Pratt Institute is pleased to announce a reduced tuition and fee structure for the 2020/21 academic year that recognizes the varied modes in which students will experience their Pratt education.

Tuition, Room, and Board Freeze

As you may already be aware, to ease the financial challenges families may be facing during the overall pandemic, Pratt’s Board of Trustees has voted to rescind the increases to tuition, room, and board that they had approved in December, freezing tuition, room, and board at 2019/20 rates.

Fee Reduction for 100% Remote Study

Whether a student chooses to take classes 100 percent remotely, face-to-face, or a combination, plenty of opportunities to engage with faculty and fellow students will be provided.

We recognize, however, that students who choose to study 100 percent remotely online will not have the same access to services as the students who will be on campus. Therefore, in addition to the tuition, room, and board freeze, students who study 100 percent remotely will not be charged the fees typically associated with on-campus living and instruction.

The following chart provides a comparison of the originally approved tuition, fee, room, and board charges for the 2020/21 academic year versus the revised fee structure for 100 percent remote instruction for undergraduate students. In addition to saving on room and board charges, this represents an additional reduction of 7.5 percent.

Reduction for Face-to-Face and Hybrid Learning

Pratt’s facilities will be accessible to students who participate in face-to-face instruction this fall. While many of the fees remain the same, the student activity fee, room, and board will be reduced, in addition to the tuition, room, and board freeze described above. This represents a four percent reduction in the cost of attendance for students who will participate in face-to-face instruction.

NOTE: Please read below about further reductions in the event that all teaching and learning must be completed 100% online, as was required in the Spring 2020 semester. *

Graduate Programs

Similar to costs for undergraduate students, along with the freeze of tuition, room and board to 2019/20 rates, graduate students taking courses 100 percent remotely will not be charged the fees normally associated with on-campus instruction. These changes represent an average savings of approximately eight percent.

Graduate students who elect to take classes in the hybrid or face-to-face format will also receive the benefit of frozen tuition rates, representing a 3.5 percent reduction in the cost of attendance.

NOTE: Please read below about further reductions in the event that all teaching and learning must be completed 100% online, as was required in the Spring 2020 semester. *

*Additional reduction if classes switch to 100% remote

If pandemic circumstances require Pratt to close the campus as it did during the Spring 2020 semester and deliver all teaching and learning 100 percent remotely, students enrolled in hybrid courses will receive a prorated refund of fees, based on the above charts for undergraduate and graduate face-to-face and hybrid courses. No other costs (such as travel or off-campus housing) will be covered or reduced.

Financial Aid

We encourage students or families who are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic to contact their financial aid counselor for guidance and assistance.

We truly hope that these reductions will help students and their families as they weigh decisions for the 2020/21 academic year. More information about returning to Pratt for the fall is being added daily to the Back to Pratt website. Whether we see one another face-to-face or online this fall, we look forward to helping everyone continue and achieve the Pratt education to which we are all committed.

Sincerely,

Cathleen Kenny
Vice President for Finance and Administration

From: Pratt President Frances Bronet
Date: Wed, July 8, 2020
Subject: Advocating for Our International Students

Dear Pratt Community,

Over the course of the last few months, our international students have faced many hardships as travel bans and visa office closures have interfered with their access to the United States. On Monday the Department of Homeland Security announced guidance that requires all international students who are in the United States to take at least one in-person course. Students who are studying 100 percent remotely will not be permitted to remain in the US. Further, those students who are studying remotely in their home country may have their international student statuses deactivated while they are away from the United States.

With the continuing threat of the coronavirus pandemic, it is highly probable that remote learning will be the only option for many college students. The enforcement of this regulation could mean that many of the estimated 1.1 million international students in the US will be forced out of the country this fall semester.

Pratt welcomes students, staff, and faculty from around the world into our community of learners. This policy change is in complete opposition to our commitment to support global education and to provide students with options that best meet their needs and requirements for a safe and comfortable learning environment. We are deeply concerned about the impact this could have on Pratt’s over 1,900 international students, disadvantaging these hardworking, creative scholars we are proud to call an integral part of the Pratt community.

We are in contact with our international students to offer ongoing support and guidance. Pratt is making every effort to proceed with our plans to reopen in the fall and provide hybrid instruction options for all students. We will also continue to work with our elected local and federal officials, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York (CICU), peer and New York City institutions, and national associations to advocate aggressively in all of our spheres of influence for reconsideration of this misguided regulation.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President

Hello and hope this finds you well,

I am writing to follow up on the application you submitted for on-campus housing for Fall 2020. We are preparing to make assignments but wanted to reach out to you to reiterate your choices for Fall housing:

• If you are planning on coming to Brooklyn for in person instruction, we will assign you the week of July 20 and give you full instructions on a move in appointment for a time between August 19-21 via email shortly thereafter. We look forward to seeing you Aug! If ever you have questions, don’t hesitate in contacting us, reslife@pratt.edu

• If you have made the decision to remain at home and complete the semester on-line (or are unable to travel to Brooklyn), we can cancel your request for the Fall and move your application forward to the Spring semester when we all hope things will have improved ‘pandemically’ speaking. Please contact reslife@pratt.edu and we’ll take it from there. We will look forward to seeing you in the Spring!

• If you have made the decision to defer your application to Fall 2021, make sure you’ve been in touch with Pratt Admissions (admissions@pratt.edu) to defer your enrollment. Pratt Admissions will notify us and we will move your application forward to Fall 2021.

• If you are undecided, you are more than welcome to contact reslife@pratt.edu and we can schedule one of our very competent staff members to reach out to you to discuss housing options. Everyone at Pratt is looking forward to you becoming a member of our community but want you to make the right decision for you and your family given your circumstances.

Please note that we have again updated the housing cancellation penalty: there is no cancellation penalty assessed for cancellations prior to August 1, 2020. We want to make your eventual transition to the Pratt campus as problem-free as possible.

In any case of the above decisions you have made or are thinking about, we would like to know. Complete the simple questionnaire by July 15...it will help us ensure we are assigning students appropriately or moving applications forward to the semester you plan on moving on-campus. A few things to note:

• We are not having learning communities for the Fall but are working to provide gender inclusive housing for the Fall

• We are not having triple rooms on campus for the Fall, but will assign triples as doubles with the triple rate

• All students living on campus will need to electronically sign the final Social Contract, sent with late July assignment email

We do look forward to seeing you soon, whether that be in August, Spring or next Fall. To stay up to date on progress toward re-opening, regularly check the Back to Pratt website. You can find many resources including the Q/A from the June 30 Town Hall Meeting.

Sincerely,

Christopher Kasik | Director – Residential Life and Housing/Student Conduct
PRATT INSTITUTE
www.pratt.edu/reslife

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Thu, July 2, 2020
Subject: Limited Return of Non-Essential Staff to Pratt on July 6th

Dear Faculty/Staff,

If you are returning to Pratt on Monday, July 6th:

• You must have been tested, received a negative COVID test result and sent documentation of your results to fscovidresults@pratt.edu

• Be prepared to show your Pratt ID. Note that at this time, only faculty and staff are permitted on campus (no guests or visitors). If you do not have an ID please have your manager contact PublicSafety@pratt.edu

• Have the Pratt Safe App downloaded to your smartphone and be prepared to use the health screening questionnaire before coming to campus, which will ask several basic health questions, related to COVID-19. If you do not receive a green QR code after completing the questionnaire, you should not come to campus. Contact your healthcare provider, your immediate supervisor and Human Resources at covidhsq@pratt.edu

• All faculty/staff are required to participate in temperature screenings at one of the following locations:

  • Main Gate 200 Willoughby Ave (for the Brooklyn Campus)

  • PMC Lobby (for entry into PMC)

• You must email the office of facilities management facility@pratt.edu by noon daily to ensure your area is cleaned each day. If you work in Higgins, Myrtle or Willoughby Hall, you should sign in with the Public Safety officer on duty at the entrance to your building. This information will be provided to the office of facilities management and trigger the cleaning of your office space - no need to send an email.

• Hours of the campus operation will be posted on the Back to Pratt Campus Access webpage.

We thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we manage through this process.

Sincerely,

Christopher Gavlick
Chief Facilities Officer

Dennis Mazone
Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Preparedness

Steven Riccobono
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources

Hello and hope you are well!

This has been a very challenging four months for all of us, and I very much look forward to the day when we are all able to return to campus. As the most recent email from Provost Pillow and Vice Presidents Matusow-Ayres and Kenny described, a tremendous amount of planning is being focused on how to return to some form of in-person instruction in the Fall. While we are dependent on state and local guidelines, and required to ensure all necessary campus safeguards, we are committed to bringing all resident students back to campus housing who are able to return.

However—and I don’t mean to sound like the evening news—if we return, we will not be returning to the campus we knew in January. It will be a different experience.

In the residence halls, it will take all of us collectively to succeed at limiting risks and creating the safest possible environment for living and learning. Testing, social distancing, wearing face coverings, and de-densifying spaces will be required both on campus and in the residence halls, just as they are now in society as a whole.

Our ability to live and learn together on campus will depend upon our shared agreement to look out for one another. In preparation, we are developing a Social Contract that all members of the Pratt community will need to uphold in order to make campus as safe as possible for everyone. All students, faculty and staff who intend on returning to campus will need to commit to these shared contracts.

So, I am sharing the current draft of this Social Contract with you now, because it is the most transparent view into what living on campus may look like in Fall 2020. I encourage you to look at the Contract, excerpted from the all-student Social Contract, in the link below—read it, think about it, and take the time to process it. The contract remains a draft until we receive state and local guidelines, and we may not be able to answer all of your questions until then. When academic decisions are finalized, and we get some indication of when we can “reopen,” we will send a final Contract for all to sign and provide venues for you to get the answers you need.

It is important to bear in mind that this Contract is based on what we know now in June 2020. Much may change between now and August 24 that would allow us to adjust this Contract. But, as we all recall from those dark days of late March, being prepared and “in the know” is far better than having to make decisions on short notice.

While this will be a challenge for all of us, we know that living on campus positively contributes to and enhances your academic experience. The Residential Life staff is committed to maintaining this experience in every way possible, despite the limits we must put in place, and we are also exploring ways to make those limits more livable. For example, the Institute is exploring the use of outdoor spaces around and near the residence halls that can serve as gathering points for students. We are looking to safeguard dining with an app that makes it possible to order meals from the dining halls online—imagine Seamless-like pick up at Pratt! The creative possibilities are endless, and I so very much look forward to pioneering this new frontier with you.

Again, I invite you to take a look at the current contract that includes expectations for all students with a section devoted to residential students. As indicated in the recent email, use this information to help you make the best decision for yourself given your individual circumstances whether or not to return to the residence halls. Make note of the special conditions regarding cancellation of housing/Leave of Absence due to the pandemic on our website.

We are planning a Town Hall meeting for students and their families to ask questions and clarify areas of concern. You will also have the opportunity to speak to someone one-on-one by emailing the request to reslife@pratt.edu, include in the subject line: Residence Hall Social Contract.

As I said, I am very much looking forward to seeing each of you back on campus at some point in the future and working with you to provide the safest and most rewarding experience possible.

Chris

Christopher Kasik | Director – Residential Life and Housing/Student Conduct
PRATT INSTITUTE
www.pratt.edu/reslife

From: Pratt Institute
Date: Thu, Jun 25, 2020
Subject: Announcing Fall 2020 Semester Plans

June 25, 2020

Dear Pratt Students, Faculty, and Staff,

After a great deal of study and consideration, we are excited to announce our general plans for how Pratt will convene the Fall 2020 semester. As much as all of us have been eager for these decisions to be announced, we must remember that they are dependent on City and State guidelines, the timing of Governor Cuomo’s approval of Phase 4 reopening, and most of all, the continued unpredictable trajectory of the pandemic itself.

Our planning for Fall 2020 is guided by our commitment to providing the highest quality education, the health and safety of our community, and our awareness that the experience will be very different from the one we knew before the pandemic began. Even as we have focused our best academic and creative resources on this planning, we know that what will happen between now and the start of the semester remains uncertain. Although this can be very unsettling, it is the reality and opportunity we are facing everywhere, and will require a great deal of flexibility, patience, and resilience from all of us. While Pratt is putting extensive protocols in place to reduce the risks associated with working, living and learning on campus, we cannot eliminate them altogether, and we will need to be ready for the possibility that the virus may put new demands upon us on very short notice.

With this in mind, we invite students and their families to review the following plans and to decide the course of action that is right for them based on their circumstances, their preferences, their goals, and their judgment of the risk. All of us who will be facing this challenging opportunity look forward to doing so together.

FALL 2020 CLASSES

We intend to offer the opportunity to convene in person to all students who can gather in person, with large portions of the non-studio curriculum offered virtually to ensure adequate social distancing on our campuses. We will also provide online classes to students, whether domestic or international, who cannot return to New York City. Further information for international students is available online. Additional intensive planning will continue throughout the summer, and further details are forthcoming from various offices in the weeks ahead, as we prepare to launch in August, circumstances permitting. New information will be shared regularly on the website at www.pratt.edu/backtopratt.

CAMPUS SAFETY

In order to convene safely during the pandemic, each and every community member must agree to commit themselves to follow new safety policies and behavioral guidelines while on campus. Each of us will be required to sign a Social Contract agreeing to follow the best infection protection practices. The social contract describes behaviors and practices all members of the community will be expected to follow. These include complying with requirements related to an initial diagnostic test, as well as completing a daily health assessment online, and temperature screening.

While safety protocols differ throughout the country and the world, we have established Pratt’s safety guidelines using the best advice available for how to reduce risk in the college environment. Although restrictions will be required, opportunities for safe in-person programming and social gatherings will also be provided through the enhancement of indoor and outdoor spaces. Further information about health and safety requirements, returning to campus, and more is available online at www.pratt.edu/backtopratt.

SEMESTER CALENDAR

As described in the June 11 email from Provost Kirk E. Pillow, Fall semester classes will begin on Monday, August 24. In-person instruction will conclude on Tuesday, November 24, before the Thanksgiving Break. Following the break, in order to eliminate the heightened risk of infection from holiday travel and family gatherings, the final two weeks of the semester will be completed virtually, with the last day of the semester being Friday, December 11. Please reference Pratt’s Academic Calendar for additional information.

COURSE OFFERINGS

To accomplish the necessary distancing on our campuses, more than two-thirds of courses and course sections will be offered entirely virtually, while some courses will meet partially in person and partially online. Required studio courses in the degree programs that depend upon access to specialized equipment and facilities will be prioritized for in-person meetings, whether throughout or for parts of the semester. Most non-studio, academic courses will be run virtually.

For courses that are offered in numerous distinct sections, some sections will be offered virtually to ensure that students who are not able to convene in person, or do not wish to, can enroll in virtual course sections. Students who wish to complete the semester entirely online will be able to. Again, all courses, whether in person, virtual, or a blend of the two, will finish the semester virtually following Thanksgiving Break.

STUDENT PLANNING

Continuing students who have pre-registered for Fall 2020 will need to revisit their Fall course schedule given these changes to calendar and course formats. Through the Student Self-Service Portal, students will be able to learn which courses have been designated for in-person or virtual delivery, and will be able to adjust their schedule as needed. All of these designations will be visible via the Student Self-Service Portal beginning on Monday, July 20.

New undergraduate students will be registered by Undergraduate Advisement during July. New graduate students will register through their programs.

TEACHING AND LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES

The Center for Teaching and Learning and many academic departments are offering, and will continue to offer through the summer, workshops and other training opportunities for faculty to hone their skills for and approaches to hybrid teaching formats.

Information Technology has developed a unified platform for students, faculty, and staff that provides a personalized set of applications, information dashboards, and collaborative channels in one package. Canvas, the highly regarded Learning Management System (LMS), is being adopted and will be presented in the coming weeks. More information about Teaching and Learning for the fall is available now, and as it develops, on Pratt’s website.

ORIENTATIONS

New Student Orientation will begin virtually during the month of July and continue throughout the semester. Residence Hall move-in will occur over the course of the week before classes begin and be accompanied by some small group, outdoor Orientation experiences. The in-person components will coincide with staggered move-in dates. More information is forthcoming in July.

New faculty orientation will be an ongoing engagement over the course of the semester: a virtual welcome session followed by online meetings and training options over the course of the semester and the year, and access to online resources in which faculty can engage at their own pace.

HOUSING

Pratt’s residence halls will be open and all students who have secured housing will maintain their current fall assignments. New students will receive their housing assignments in July. Move-in will be scheduled over the course of the week before classes begin. Each student will receive a date and time for when they can move in and instructions for how to do so.

THE CHALLENGE AHEAD

We all look forward to a challenging and stimulating Fall semester 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 well-being as our priority, we have created a framework in which Pratt students will continue to receive a world-class education from Pratt’s stellar faculty.

Again, watch for more information about the Fall semester from various offices in the weeks ahead, including protocol, contact information, and town halls. These communications will provide contacts for specific questions or concerns, and all information will be available at www.pratt.edu/backtopratt.

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

Cathleen Kenny
Vice President for Finance and Administration

Helen Matusow-Ayres
Vice President for Student Affairs

We have moved to the next phase of the project to reunite students and their belongings - vendors will begin the packing process. Thanks to all who have and who continue to retrieve their belongings, and to all who responded to the initial inquiry and follow up calls and emails from the staff who worked to verify all parts of the packing process.

The two vendors selected have much in the way of experience both in packing and storing, as well as great connections to shippers, ensuring your belongings are packed and stored, packed and shipped, or packed and moved to your Fall space professionally. Their experience working with colleges is both long term and recent, as they have worked with many schools also engaging in this same project on their campuses. The Advance Group is the chosen vendor in this project. They experience working with colleges and universities, at Pratt and have also worked with art and valuables organizations in packing and moving items. They are familiar with packing with care the valuables you have in your Spring rooms.

Some things to note:

• As always, we encourage students to have or make sure their parent’s homeowners policies cover some form of renters insurance. This has proven time and again, the best way to protect your property. It should also be noted that both Pratt, as an Institution, and the vendors themselves have their own liability insurance to help cover any unforeseen situations.
• In some locations, air-conditioners and larger pieces of art, furniture and the like were found. These items are not able to be shipped by virtue of their size and weight. Students who opted for shipping will have these items stored and labeled with location, for retrieval at a future date. Additionally if you are unable to retrieve those items, we are working on ways for students to sell their larger items to other students; for example, a form of electronic bulletin board.
• Also, the shipment or storage of liquids will not be possible. This mainly pertains to shampoo, body wash, dish washing liquid and cleaning supplies.
• For those who asked for packing and storing, we have a plan to store things on campus making the retrieval process easier when the campus reopens for instruction. We will be in touch with all students who chose this option with retrieval instructions and timelines (observing all risk reduction steps needed).
• We hope there will be a way to notify all students when items are shipped. The sheer volume of things being shipped may not make it possible for an Amazon-like notification system, but we will be working on a system to keep you informed.

This project would not have been possible without your assistance and cooperation. Whereas some of our peer NYC institutions did an across the board pack and store, we were able to offer a variety of solutions to ensure your belongings went where you wanted them. I wish to thank you for your cooperation and patience in the project!

Chris

Christopher Kasik | Director – Residential Life and Housing/Student Conduct

From: Pratt Provost Kirk E. Pillow and VP for Finance and Administration Cathy Kenny
Date: Tue, May 19, 2020
Subject: Campus Update on the Summer Session and Fall Planning

Dear Pratt Faculty, Staff, and Students,

As this challenging spring semester draws to a close, we are excited to celebrate the achievements of our 2020 graduates through the site that will launch on May 30. In the meantime, we want you to know that, while faculty and students were in the final weeks of this semester, the Institute began planning for the months ahead and the Fall 2020 semester.

Summer Session

Pratt’s summer session of courses will begin on May 26. Due to New York City’s continued stay-at-home order, we are only able to offer virtual courses this summer. So far some 750 Pratt students have registered for 1,352 “seats” in summer courses. We look forward to a rich summer of coursework, albeit online. Summer session registration continues through June 1.

Planning for Fall 2020

How Pratt plans to implement the Fall 2020 semester is, of course, of great importance to all of us, and many of you have asked to know what that plan is. The challenge for planning is that we do not yet know what the pandemic will be like in August or September. And so we cannot yet know whether we will be able to convene the fall semester entirely in person, or instead will need to convene in some hybrid format of in-person and online teaching and learning. While May is too early for the Institute to decide how best to implement the fall semester, many of us believe that July would not give us all enough time to prepare for the fall. So, the Institute will announce Fall 2020 semester plans by no later than the end of June.

Academic Task Force

As much as we all want the fall semester to bring the Pratt community back together in person, a task force of academic leadership from the faculty and staff is actively considering several other pandemic scenarios. We may be able to convene in person to some degree, but under social distancing requirements that necessitate offering some or many courses online in order to lessen the campus density. We may also have students unable to come to New York for whom we will want to offer online courses as needed. We may need to prioritize offering in person those courses that require access to specialized facilities and equipment, while running online those courses that are more amenable to a virtual format. These and other scenarios are being reviewed.

Operational Task Force

Another task force of faculty and staff leadership from across the institution is also working to identify the steps that need to be taken to bring students, faculty, and staff back to campus safely. Subcommittees are focused on specific areas of campus operations, including residential life, information technology, human resources, communications, and infrastructure and relocation.

Student Housing

The housing subcommittee of the Operational Task Force is modeling several different scenarios with various levels of occupancy. The subcommittee is considering recommendations from national and local experts in exploring how to provide the safest and most comfortable living environment for the Fall 2020 semester and beyond.

Learning Technology

A number of new technology initiatives look to provide a seamless user experience for students, faculty, and staff on and off campus. A new console will consolidate all the digital tools students need, including remote access to all software tools, as well as submission and fulfillment of 2D and 3D printing, and digital and laser cutting jobs. Faculty workshops and training will help instructors build their courses in the LMS and ePortfolio, and learn the most effective ways to interact and communicate with students using a suite of digital tools. For staff, a new survey will assess continuity of operations preparedness and effectiveness in remote work environments.

These task forces and departments will update the community as new information becomes available between now and the end of June when the decisions for fall semester will be made. Until then, we look forward to celebrating our class of 2020 with you over the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

Cathy Kenny
Vice President for Finance and Administration

Hello!

First, let me congratulate many of you who will be completing your Pratt education in the coming week. Happy graduation! I hope this finds all of you safe and doing as well as can be expected. As promised, I have an update to your belongings remaining on-campus. Pratt is ready to embark on the plan briefly described in the April 3 email and now need you to provide us more information. My staff and I have toured all campus spaces and documented which spaces have belongings, which do not and those we’re not sure about. Your participation will help in moving our plan forward.

As you are not returning to the residence halls, we have three options available to you. Two of which we intend to begin as soon as May 18:

• Pack and Ship to your current address; the perfect option of a student in a single or in a room by themselves (with common area things being pack and store)

• Pack and Store to retrieve your packed belongings at a later date; this option may work best for students in shared spaces (unless clear delineation can be made between all occupants)

We are also looking, with strict limitations, to schedule students who are able to return to campus and retrieve belongings from their residence hall rooms and studios where applicable. The important thing to recognize is that we don’t know when this will occur; it could be as early as May 18 but if we aren’t allowed to ‘reopen’ campus, it may not be until June. If it extends to July, we may not be able to offer this option so having your next best option on record would be important.

To help us reunite you with your belongings, please complete the form and submit it by May 15, 2020.. Once we have your response, a member of the student affairs staff may be in touch with any questions and provide you direct contact should you have any questions.

Regards and stay safe!

Chris
Christopher Kasik
Director
Residential Life and Housing/Student Conduct

May 8, 2020

Pratt Institute has been allocated $1.4 million to provide financial assistance to students who have experienced financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19. Funds are available to Pratt students who are eligible to file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. It is important to note that you do not have to have filed a FAFSA form, but must be eligible to do so. Pratt is prioritizing the allocation of these funds to students with the most need focused on the following areas:

• Housing/Food/Travel insecurity
• Student/Parent/Guardian job loss
• Additional Expense for Supplies/Materials/Technology

Because our goal is to help as many students as possible, we may not be able to meet your full request, however we urge you to make an application for the assistance that you need. To apply for CARES funding, complete the application located here:

https://eforms.pratt.edu/lincdoc/doc/run/pratt/FIN_ASSIST

Please remember to attach any documentation that is available in support of your request. We urge you to act as soon as possible- funds are limited and we anticipate a high response from your fellow students. If you have any questions about the CARES application, please contact Martha Cedarholm, the Senior Student Care Coordinator at mcedarho@pratt.edu.

Nedi Goga
Executive Director of Student Financial Services

Martha Cedarholm
Senior Student Advocate +Care Coordinator

From: Pratt President Frances Bronet
Date: Tue, May 5, 2020 at 3:42 PM
Subject: Financial Impact of COVID-19: Additional Decisions on Student Aid and Refunds

Dear Pratt Students,

COVID-19 has defined 2020 as none of us could have imagined. We are all mourning. None of us wanted to leave our amazing campus, to cancel important plans, or to focus so much of our attention on safely continuing our work and our studies. We particularly understand and appreciate student frustration. This is not the way anyone envisioned the end of the spring semester and, for seniors in particular, not the way we wanted their years at Pratt to end.

The Pratt administration has received dozens of emails and several petitions requesting tuition and fee refunds. We have also reviewed the Student Government Association’s Instagram survey results, and received a request from the SGA leadership echoing these student concerns and asking for greater transparency about Pratt’s financial situation and the decisions we are making regarding tuition and fee refunds.

We have prepared a report to help our community understand the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for Pratt Institute, and to address the questions posed by the SGA on behalf of the student body. We encourage you each to read the entire report to gain insight and a fuller understanding of the impact of this crisis on Pratt, as well as to learn about additional decisions that the Institute has made regarding student aid and refunds.

The complete report is available online at pratt.edu/coronavirus/financial-impact-of-covid-19.

The administration of Pratt Institute takes our responsibility for facilitating current student success and our role as stewards of the long-term sustainability of Pratt Institute very seriously.

All of our decisions are guided by these objectives, knowing that the choices we make today will impact the value of a Pratt degree for generations.

We hope this report will provide you with information and answer some of the questions.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President

Please view this letter on Pratt's Intranet.

From:Kirk Pillow
Date: Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 2:50 PM
Subject: Commencement and Pratt Shows Updates

Dear Pratt Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I’m writing to share some important updates regarding Pratt Shows and Commencement for the class of 2020.

Since both our end-of-year shows and commencement exercises had to be cancelled, we have been working to determine how best to honor and celebrate our graduating class in the moment, online, while we are apart.

It is important to note that the following proposed online celebrations are not "virtual versions" of our year-end exhibitions or commencement ceremonies and are not meant to replace these in-person events. We hope, however, that they will mark the moment of our graduating class’s completion of degree work, and honor and salute their tremendous achievement while we cannot be together. Please also note that at this time we do not yet have information to share about the possibility of in-person celebrations at a later date, and we will not until we better understand the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic.

Commencement and Convocation
While commencement was originally scheduled for May 16, we will hold an online Celebration of the Class of 2020 on a new date, Saturday, May 30. This celebration, which is being planned by a committee of faculty, staff, and students, will consist of a series of virtual elements on Pratt’s website, including a special address by our Commencement honoree and speaker, the renowned author and graphic novelist Neil Gaiman. Aspects of the Awards Convocation ceremony, which also had to be cancelled, will be included in the online celebration, so that students receiving academic distinction will be recognized at this time.
 
Graduation Fair
We will also be moving the Graduation Fair online. Students will receive the same guidance that the campus event would have provided, so that they can ensure that they are in good standing and ready to graduate. More information about the online version of the Grad Fair will be sent to students soon.
 
Pratt Shows
A portfolio website is being built as an extension to the current Pratt Shows website to provide every graduating student with the opportunity to showcase their work under Pratt Institute’s name. The website will serve as a public showcase and an archive of the students' work here at Pratt and will be voluntary. It will also be offered to each graduating student in years going forward. This project will not in any way supplant or approximate a physical exhibition space and should not be considered an alternative to the Pratt Shows events, but rather an addition to them and to any unique opportunities individual schools or departments may be planning. More information about how to participate will be provided in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your patience and flexibility during these challenging times. I look forward to joining with you on May 30 to celebrate the class of 2020 and to seeing you again in person when we all can do so safely.

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

From: Nsombi B. Ricketts
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 11:33 AM
Subject: Upholding Pratt Community Standards

Dear Pratt Community,

As Pratt transitions to a remote learning and working environment due to COVID-19, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion remains committed to fostering a supportive and welcoming culture for all students, staff and faculty. Every member of our community matters, and should always be treated with respect and dignity. We expect every student, staff and faculty member to continue valuing and upholding the Pratt community standards in all interactions.

During this global health pandemic, anxiety and fear can lead to stereotyping and social stigma that is harmful to members of our community. At Pratt, we actively denounce and have no tolerance for xenophobia, racism, bigotry, anti-semitism, prejudice or bullying of any kind. If anyone in our community has experienced or witnessed any incident of bias, discrimination or harassment, please report it to the Bias Education Response Task Force using the link below.

We encourage everyone to treat each other with understanding, care, empathy and patience as we navigate these uncertain times together.

Kind regards,
Nsombi B. Ricketts
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Bias Incident Report Form
bert@pratt.edu

From: Pratt Provost Kirk E. Pillow
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 8:03 AM
Subject: Completing the Spring Semester

March 30, 2020

Dear Pratt student body,

I write today with important information for you regarding our necessary experiment with completing the Spring 2020 semester virtually. My goal is to make this undertaking as successful as possible, for both Pratt faculty and students, under stressful circumstances. To that end I wish to announce two temporary changes to our practices for the spring semester.

Pass/Fail Grading
Numerous colleges and universities around the country have moved to a Pass/Fail grading system for spring semester final grades, and many faculty and students have requested that Pratt do so as well. Following discussions with Academic Senate leadership, Student Government representation, members of Provost’s Council, the registrar, and Pratt’s deans, all final semester grades will be recorded on a Pass/Fail basis. This applies to all undergraduate and graduate courses.

We take this step to free faculty and students to focus on innovative teaching and learning for the remainder of the semester, given our challenged circumstances, rather than sweating the finer details of letter grading. Our main educational goal at this time needs to be achieving the learning outcomes of courses, and ensuring that you earn your attempted credits for the semester. A temporarily simplified grading system will enable us to focus on these overriding goals.

Generally speaking, a final grade of Pass (P) will award a student credit for a course, without affecting the student’s cumulative GPA as of Fall 2019. A final grade of Fail (F) will affect a student’s cumulative GPA just as a letter grade of F would.

We are well aware that certain special circumstances will necessitate a student receiving a letter grade. For example, some externally funded scholarships require recording of letter grades; for another example, students on academic probation due to their Fall 2019 cumulative GPA will need letter grades if they might return to good standing. The Registrar’s Office will work with faculty and students to accommodate these and other limited exceptions, as needed. We will not provide letter grades to students merely because they want them without an extenuating circumstance.

Course Evaluations
We will implement student course evaluations as usual this semester, as we do want students to have the opportunity to reflect on their unprecedented experience this spring. Our existing course evaluation form is not designed to assess online teaching and learning, so we intend to add two open-ended questions to the qualitative comments section, to ask students about their experiences with distance learning this spring.

The purpose of these questions is to invite students to reflect and to help us understand how our unanticipated experiment went, for the sake of informing faculty development in teaching and learning practices. I urge all students to complete their spring course evaluations in a timely manner, when prompted to online.

Looking Ahead
I and all of the academic leadership, and most of all your faculty, are mindful of the many personal and family challenges you face while unexpectedly moving to virtual instruction as of today. I hope that all of you will see in these next weeks an opportunity for creative innovation and experimentation. Try new things in your learning process without worrying about earning that A. Inspire your faculty with your strengths of resiliency and adaptability at a difficult time.

Above all, stay with it and on track to earn your Pratt degree. You worked hard in person for the first half of this semester and you don’t want to lose the credits you can earn toward your degree this spring semester. Complete the semester with us, earn those credits, and get that much closer to being the amazing Pratt alumni whom I trust you will become.

With best wishes,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

Date: Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 4:40 PM
Subject: Governor's Latest Executive Order - 100% Workforce Reduction

Yesterday, the Governor issued an executive order mandating a 100% workforce reduction, with an exception for staff performing essential services. During this past week, the residential life staff has worked diligently to reduce the student population in the residence halls. All residence facilities will be closed at 5pm on Monday, March 23. The dining hall will close on Monday at 4pm until further notice.

At this time, we expect all staff, with the exception of identified essential persons in public safety, facilities and some mailroom personnel, to work from remote locations. Limited exceptions can be made for faculty and IT staff working in support of our transition to online education. While campus access is possible on a very limited basis, even this could change. We don't know when the city or state will enforce tighter restrictions.

If you feel you must come to campus, you must contact your department head and receive their approval. You must also call ahead to the Public Safety Command Center at 718-636-3540. Many campus buildings will be locked, so this will be the only way to gain access.

We have had to adapt our guidance to rapidly changing circumstances and are deeply grateful for your continued flexibility. While many of us will be working from home, a core group of employees will continue to return to campus on a daily basis to ensure it is safe, secure and in good condition for our eventual return. They deserve our heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation for their efforts.

For more guidance on Pratt's operations in light of COVID-19, please visit https://www.pratt.edu/coronavirus.

Cathy Kenny
Vice President for Finance and Administration

Please watch President Bronet's address here.

Date: Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 11:34 PM
Subject: Notification of a COVID-19 Case in the Pratt Community

Dear members of the Pratt Community:

While we do not have complete information at this time, we feel it is important to inform you immediately that a member of the Pratt community has reported testing positive for COVID-19 and is receiving appropriate care. This individual, who proactively self-reported this status to Pratt Health Services, is no longer on campus.

The NYC Department of Health oversees contact, investigation, and notification. Persons who have had close contact with the individual in question have been or will be notified by the Department of Health in accordance with standard public health principles.

If you have not been notified, then you are not deemed to have increased risk from exposure to this individual.

This the first reported case within the Pratt community. As a community, we must do everything we can to support anyone who contracts the virus, protect anonymity, and help one another through this incredibly difficult time.

Helen Matusow-Ayres
Vice President for Student Affairs

Dennis Mazone
Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and Preparedness

March 16, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Given worsening pandemic developments in New York City and globally, the Institute has made several determinations for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester.

ONLINE INSTRUCTION AND INTERNSHIPS

Beginning Monday, March 30, as previously announced, classes will no longer meet in person. It has now been determined that instruction will continue online for the remainder of the semester. Following Spring Break and the study week scheduled for the week of March 23, classes will resume online on a regular schedule as of Monday, March 30.

Students registered for internship credits this semester should no longer travel to internship sites and should consult with their internship coordinator regarding alternate modes for completing these credits.

CAMPUS ACADEMIC FACILITIES CLOSED

Effective today, all campus academic facilities (classrooms, labs, shops, studios, libraries, etc.) are closed until further notice. Faculty and staff may request access to facilities through a process to be communicated shortly.

Students will receive important information and further instructions regarding residence hall occupancy and their studios later this afternoon. With this closure, all non-essential administrative offices remain at your service and available online. Continue to visit www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory for information.

CANCELED EVENTS

Given New York City restrictions on public gatherings, all public lectures, thesis exhibitions, screenings, and all other Pratt Shows events are canceled. Academic departments may develop alternate, virtual ways of presenting, discussing, and celebrating student work this spring.

All major events of the spring semester must be canceled. This includes, among other events, the Fashion Show (May 7), the Design Show (May 13-18), and Awards Convocation (May 15). Again, academic leadership may explore virtual alternatives to some of these events.

COMMENCEMENT

Regretfully, our Commencement exercises, scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Radio City Music Hall, must be canceled as an in-person gathering. We will not hold Commencement at Radio City Music Hall, but students who have completed all requirements of graduation will earn their degrees and receive their diplomas regardless. The Institute will explore alternate virtual ways to celebrate student achievement in May.

Unprecedented circumstances require that we take these steps in order to protect the well-being of the Pratt community. I urge everyone to remain focused on protecting their health and supporting each other, while completing the spring semester successfully and virtually.

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

From: Pratt President Frances Bronet & Student Affairs VP Helen Matusow-Ayres <memo@pratt.edu>
Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 3:45 PM
Subject: Important Announcement About Classes Before and After Spring Break

Dear Pratt parents and guardians,

I know that you are as hypervigilant as I am about the impact of the serious and rapidly evolving coronavirus outbreak on your students' well-being. We want to make sure you know that the Pratt staff and faculty are here to support them.

Just now we announced to students, faculty, and staff that in-person classes are cancelled for the rest of this week, and that Pratt will make temporary changes to our teaching and learning formats following Spring Break. These changes are meant to support student completion of the spring semester while protecting our community further in the current situation.

We are living through an unprecedented crisis, but fortunately here at Pratt we have not yet had a coronavirus case on campus. This has allowed us to keep classes in session, hoping to keep the semester on track for students, and has given us the time to seek good guidance from official health agencies and our peers to prepare for alternative modes for delivering courses through the rest of the semester, in light of the continuing challenge facing New York City.

A great deal of care, research, and planning guides the Institute’s decisions on the Pratt Community’s behalf. Health Services and Counseling Services have and will continue to look after students who seek their help. Faculty and department chairs will continue to answer student concerns individually. Residential Life will continue to look after the needs of our students who remain on campus. And a host of others from every department on campus will continue their heightened work and availability to the community. 

THIS WEEK

Effective Thursday, March 12, Pratt classes are canceled for the remainder of this week, on both the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses.

SPRING BREAK WEEK

We will observe Spring Break as scheduled in the Spring 2020 Academic Calendar, from March 16 through Sunday, March 22.

Residence halls will remain open for students who cannot make alternative arrangements and will remain open through the completion of the semester for those students. Students who go home for the break should take necessary personal belongings, project materials, and educational equipment with them in case the situation changes while they are away.

As previously communicated, Pratt community members are strongly urged to reconsider any travel plans over Spring Break.

WEEK OF MARCH 23

All classes are cancelled for the week of Monday, March 23, immediately following Spring Break. (The sole exception concerns the Rome Architecture program students, whose program resumes at the Pfizer Building on Monday, March 23.) Instead of scheduled classes, we will observe a study week during which academic departments, faculty, and students will be transitioning to alternate methods of continuing courses without in person meetings. All students should begin to familiarize themselves with Pratt’s Telepresence Cloud Kit at www.pratt.edu/telepresence.

Faculty will be communicating with their students during the week of March 23 regarding how they will convene class sessions online, and distribute to students any changes to course syllabi designed to facilitate completion of courses this spring, assigning readings, writing projects, or other work for students to complete, in lieu of in-person class sessions.

WEEK OF MARCH 30

Classes will resume on a regular schedule as of Monday, March 30. Classes will not meet in person.

GOING FORWARD

The Institute will monitor the evolving situation to determine the duration of time classes will not be held in person. At least one week’s notice will be provided should the decision be made to resume in-person class meetings. 

The campus will remain open throughout and operations will continue with appropriate measures to protect the health of the community.

Our focus remains on keeping this community healthy as we fulfill our important academic mission and maintain our values. We are listening to public health experts, staying calm, using common sense, and communicating the best hygiene practices.

This situation continues to evolve; please go to our website at www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory for the most up-to-date information. Questions and concerns should continue to be addressed through email at healthadvisory@pratt.edu.

Thank you for your patience and compassion as we make our way through these challenging times together.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President

Helen Matusow-Ayres
Vice President for Student Affairs

From: Pratt Provost Kirk E. Pillow <memo@pratt.edu>
Date: Mar 11, 2020, 3:22 PM
Subject: Important Announcement about Classes Before and After Spring Break

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

In light of the continuing COVID-19 challenge facing New York City, after today in-person classes are canceled for the rest of this week and Pratt will make temporary changes to our teaching and learning formats following Spring Break. These changes are meant to support student completion of the spring semester while protecting our community further in the current situation.

THIS WEEK

Effective Thursday, March 12, Pratt classes are canceled for the remainder of this week, on both the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses.

SPRING BREAK WEEK

We will observe Spring Break as scheduled in the Spring 2020 Academic Calendar, from March 16 through Sunday, March 22.

Residence halls will remain open for students who cannot make alternative arrangements and will remain open through the completion of the semester for those students. Students who go home for the break should take necessary personal belongings, project materials, and educational equipment with them in case the situation changes while they are away.

As previously communicated, Pratt community members are strongly urged to reconsider any travel plans over Spring Break.

WEEK OF MARCH 23

All classes are canceled for the week of Monday, March 23, immediately following Spring Break. (The sole exception concerns the Rome Architecture program students, whose program resumes at the Pfizer Building on Monday, March 23.) Instead of scheduled classes, we will observe a study week during which academic departments and faculty will explore and prepare for alternate (principally online) methods of continuing courses without in-person meetings. Faculty should consider how they can accelerate achievement of student learning outcomes in the remainder of the semester.

Faculty are welcome and encouraged to begin this planning over Spring Break where possible, and seek out support from Information Technology for their planning. All community members should begin to familiarize themselves with Pratt’s Telepresence Cloud Kit at www.pratt.edu/telepresence.

When they are ready to, faculty should communicate with their students during the week of March 23 regarding how they will convene class sessions online, and distribute to students any changes to course syllabi designed to facilitate completion of courses this spring. Faculty should assign readings, writing projects, or other work for students to complete during this study week, in lieu of in-person class sessions.

Additional information will be provided to faculty by their departments, Information Technology, and the Office of the Provost, regarding resources to support alternate methods of continuing courses.

WEEK OF MARCH 30

Classes will resume on a regular schedule as of Monday, March 30. Classes will not meet in person.

GOING FORWARD

The Institute will monitor the evolving situation to determine for how long classes will not be held in person. At least one week’s notice will be provided should the decision be made to resume in-person class meetings.

The campus will remain open throughout and operations will continue with appropriate measures to protect the health of the community.

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

From: Pratt Provost Kirk E. Pillow & Finance and Administration VP Cathleen Kenny <memo@pratt.edu>
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2020 at 3:51 PM
Subject: Event and Travel Restrictions in Light of Coronavirus

Dear Pratt Faculty and Staff,

As of today, in light of recent advisories from New York City and State, Pratt Institute is cancelling all events with a capacity of 100 or more attendees, from now until Friday, April 10.

Event organizers should review any contracts with Pratt’s Department of Legal Affairs at 718.687.5352 for assistance with cancellations, deposit returns, or refunds, to the extent possible. Subsequent decisions will be made about extending the directive beyond April 10, as the situation continues to develop.

Additionally, until further notice, Pratt will not support Institute-sponsored individual or group travel, including any domestic or international course-related travel. All scheduled travel should be cancelled. Contact the Purchasing Department at 718.636.3430 or purchasing@pratt.edu for assistance in determining the potential for obtaining refunds or applying deposits to future travel.

We, also, highly recommend and urge you to reconsider and avoid any personal travel over spring break.

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

Cathleen Kenny
Vice President for Finance and Administration

From: Pratt President Frances Bronet <memo@pratt.edu>
Date: Fri, Mar 6, 2020 at 5:17 PM
Subject: Community Responsibility for Coronavirus Prevention and Care for One Another

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Last night’s “SGA Student Forum: What’s Pratt doing about the Coronavirus?” was well attended both in person and online, and student questions truly evidenced the concerns and care Pratt’s community members have for one another. These are values that are always present in our community, but even more so now as we face this public health crisis together.

A truly generous and healthy community depends on our individual and collective integrity and our mutual respect and sense of responsibility for one another. We each are responsible for our own handwashing, for following good health practices, and if we’re sick, for seeking the appropriate medical care and staying home until we are symptom-free.

We each are also responsible for keeping ourselves informed, for not spreading misinformation or rumors, and most importantly for showing respect for one another, no matter how we perceive another person’s health or background.

Pratt’s faculty and administration are committed to the health, well-being, and academic success of our students. Health Services and Counseling Services are looking after students who seek their help. Faculty and department chairs are answering student concerns individually. Residential Life is looking after the needs of all our students who live on campus. And a host of others from every department on campus are heightening our work at this time. 

As you’ve learned from our previous communications to the community, the Coronavirus Task Force is meeting daily, monitoring the situation closely, and seeking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the New York City Department of Health (DOH) in order to make well-informed decisions on the community’s behalf.

It’s also important to know what is beyond our control. Decisions about travel restrictions abroad or locally, as well as protocol in the event that someone in our community contracts the virus, are made by the CDC and the DOH, particularly for community members returning to the US and what happens thereafter. We can only highly recommend that our community members practice specific health precautions and follow our recommendations. However, we must rely on one another to be responsible for ourselves.

We recognize that this is a stressful and challenging time for everyone in our community, particularly those of you who are taking and giving midterm exams. The situation is evolving rapidly and we are calling on everyone to follow recommended protocols and stay generous. We are fortunate to be in a caring and supportive community. Should you need assistance, please reach out to each other and the many services available, which are listed at www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President

**DOH = Department of Health
**CDC = Center for Disease Control & Prevention

There are no cases on either of our campuses
All work being done now is preventative

• Situation is continuously evolving and is being monitored very closely by Pratt’s Coronavirus Taskforce
• Our understanding of how others are doing is very important at this time.
• Read all Communicator emails, read website ​https://www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory (constantly being updated), direct people with questions, concerns or needs to healthadvisory@pratt.edu

Dennis Mazone - Assistant VP for Campus Safety and preparedness

• Taking us through the actions Pratt has taken to help prepare for the virus:
• Constantly staying in contact with CDC and NYC dep of health
• Most of the resources Pratt is referring to are Johns Hopkins, CDC, World health org, NYC Dep of health, etc.
• A Pratt coronavirus taskforce of faculty, staff, and students started meeting weekly in January, then biweekly, and has been meeting daily as of the pasts 2 weeks
• Taskforce has established several sub-committees
  • Care Team - to address and respond to student concerns and needs surrounding coronavirus
  • Academic Team - to respond to issues and challenges surrounding academic policies and practices.
  • Employee Concerns Team - to address and respond to faculty & staff concerns, as needed surrounding Coronavirus.
• There is a Pandemic Operations Plan at Pratt that is also being updated by going through this real situation
• Administrative Decision Making Team for the virus taskforce
  • President Bronet
  • The Provost
  • VP for Student Affairs
  • VP for Communications
  • VP for Information Technology
  • Assistant VP for Campus Safety & Preparedness
• There will be a 2nd community forum for faculty and staff on Tuesday 12:30-1:30 in the Student union. ​Students are welcome to attend, in person or virtually.
• International Travel and Study Abroad
  • Before you travel this semester, we strongly urge careful consideration of the evolving worldwide situation and risks associated with the coronavirus.
  • The situation changes on an hourly basis so stay updated.
  • Individuals returning to campus from Italy have been advised to follow the guidance provided from the CDC and the NYC DOH for self-monitoring for 14 days. Residential life staff and Pratt health professionals are prepared to support and assist these students as they return to campus.
• How to prevent spread of virus:
  • Pratt students can contact Health Services with medical concerns during business hours at 718-399-4542 or Public Safety after hours at 718-636-3540.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
  • Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as cell phones and other mobile devices
  • Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
• What we can do for one another at Pratt
  • Remember we are in the middle of flu season and the CDC recommends that everyone get vaccinated for the flu.
  • Stay home when you are sick and do not return until you’ve been fever free for 24 hours
  • Use caution against stigmatizing international students. If students report that they are subject to bias or harassment please refer them to the Student Affairs office for assistance in room 008 in the Main Building

Please do your best to refrain from spreading misinformation. Information is easily misrepresented when people are not reading their emails, not reading the information on the website, or not asking questions in person. We are holding this forum as a way to answer questions directly from you, in person and keep everyone updated.

QUESTIONS FROM AUDIENCE:
 

Q: Students who returned from Rome, where are they staying, what is the procedure?

A: Some went home but some are staying in residence halls. ​Those students have returned from an area that was not an area with a lot of cases, they are not showing any symptoms, they have not come in contact with anyone who had symptoms. Before inviting them to stay in residence halls, Pratt contacted CDC to receive guidance with what to do with students and they advised students to self monitor and self isolate. ​Food is being delivered to them 2 times a day (3 meals). Supplies are being donated to them as well. They have a virtual RA who is responding to their needs. ​The students in Willoughby Hall are not sick. They have no symptoms, they are doing temperature checks, and documenting their status to Pratt Health Services daily. So we are constantly being updated on their condition. ​Trash service is being provided. Pratt does not want to stigmatize these students. Everyone at Pratt was alerted on their return via Communicator email. Facilities staff are doing additional cleanings of common areas and entrances several times a day. The students are not sharing kitchens or baths with others. They are in self-contained units and being reminded every day not to leave their spaces. We are following guidelines given to us by CDC.

Q: Can you talk about the plan for students who have applied for study abroad over the summer and fall and spring?

A: No decisions have been made about summer and fall yet. However, we want to run the programs, if possible. In terms of deposits/financial commitments, if programs are cancelled students will get their money back. The committee is meeting daily and delaying the decisions until we need to make them.​ Decisions are not being made in a vacuum, Pratt is looking at other colleges across the nation to see what decisions are being made. They are constantly reevaluating and assessing.

Q: If we should stay home when we are feeling sick, can changes to attendance policy be made?

A: All faculty were sent an email early in the semester encouraging them to be more liberal with their attendance policy and work flexibly with students who are sick. Make sure to communicate with faculty members so they are aware of what is going on. We know that our students’ natural tendency is not to do that. You tend to keep working and coming to class no matter what. So we are encouraging you, and asking your faculty encourage you, to stay home if you are sick

Q: Shouldn’t there be a stricter restriction on Rome students staying in self isolation? I saw one on campus.

A: There have been 3 students who have left their rooms and they have been spoken with and will not be leaving again.

Q: What will be done if there is a case of Coronavirus on campus?

A: ​We will contact NYC Dep of health and they will take the lead on that and advise us what to do​. In terms of what would happen on campus, the rules will come from the Dept of Health on what to do. There is a sub-committee on the task force that is looking at plans on how to address changes in our academic operations that and we are preparing for that and other potential outcomes.

Q: I have the health insurance Pratt provides. Does this insurance cover if i want to get tested for the virus in the future?

A: NYC has committed to testing people who are showing symptoms and need to be tested. If you went to the hospital with symptoms they would test you.

Q: Do you have staff sanitizing work surfaces in between classes?

A:​ Facilities staff members are doing additional cleaning twice daily: sanitizing handrails, evelators, residence halls, academic buildings, etc, all surfaces. It is being done twice a day in addition to normal cleaning​. As we see demand, efforts will be ramped up further. These extra cleanings are focused on common areas and entrances at the moment.

Q: Should Cafeteria workers should be wearing masks?

A: The NYC DOH are not recommending masks for people who aren’t sick, even if they are food handlers. If that were to change, Pratt would follow those changes. This concern will be raised with AVI during the taskforce meeting tomorrow.

Q: Can we cancel field trips to places off campus (such as museums) or elect not to attend?

A: ​NYC DOH has not alerted nyc residents to stop traveling around the city as of right now​. If concerns are expressed to faculty members, they should be able to make exceptions for you.

Q: Is the administration aware of the petition signed by over 1000 people to cancel classes?

A: We are aware of the petition and have responded to the individual who brought it to our attention. We are following the directions and guidelines from the CDC and NYC DOH, as well as checking with other campuses, and there has been no indication that we should cancel classes.

Q: I know the CDC is saying people shouldn’t wear masks but since it takes up to 14 days to show shouldn’t they still be wearing them?

A: ​The typical surgical or dust masks you see people wearing are unfortunately not very protective. ​You need a mask that is properly fitted to your face (N95) to truly be protected and Pratt does not have access to those. The CDC does not recommend that the general public wear masks to protect themselves from the virus. We are encouraging people to always wash their hands as much as they can and after they touch anything. If you see someone not doing what they are supposed to do, you should politely correct them. ​This is a very new virus. Things are developing and changing hourly, as soon as we are aware, we are taking all the actions we are advised to take.​ We are not waiting until we have a case on Pratt’s campus, we are following the directions given to us by the health organizations.

Q: I know someone who has been denied testing when they went to the hospital.

A: As far as seeking treatment goes, please go to Pratt’s Health Services. They will see and advise anyone about his or her symptoms and will work with that student to get the appropriate support.

Q: Who is responsible if a student gets infected?

A: We will not know under which circumstances a student gets the virus. The task force is responsible for the decisions we are making.

Q: How is Pratt dealing with students who are traveling for spring break?

A: In terms of helping students, if they are not able to come back, plans will be made to try to help them, but our resources or influence would be limited. ​We advise you to seriously evaluate your travel plans for spring break. ​If you are an international student and are having a problem with travel, the Office of International Affairs is who you should contact. ​But if you are stuck in a country based on policy, we cannot circumvent national policy​. Pratt will not be able to change your situation. We will work with you to see what is possible in terms of academics, etc. ​If you are planning to travel abroad we recommend you to look at the CDC website or their info on travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html​. Info changes daily so make sure to constantly be checking and staying aware.

Q: Is there anything Pratt can do to comfort their psychological stress in terms of finishing academic courses?

A: I​ would encourage students who are feeling stressed about the virus to contact The Senior Student Advocate and Care Coordinator, Martha Cedarholm,​​ mcedarho@pratt.edu,​ and she will work with you. Counseling is available 24/7 on the phone by calling the Pratt counseling services at 718.687.5356.

Q: Can we provide other means of finishing coursework if we feel like we are unsafe?

A: That question cannot be answered in a general sense,​ we are working individually with students to help them and make the decision appropriate for their situation​.

Q: What is Pratt's plan on monitoring students returning from spring break trips?

A: If you are traveling abroard, and you return from an area with CDC travel restrictions (see the CDC website), we are asking you to self monitor. If you are planning on traveling you should consider that when you return, you may need to self monitor and self isolate. As community members, we have a responsibility to keep each other safe. If you have a concern about someone, you can make an anonymous inquiry on the ​healthadvisory@pratt.edu​ email. We have already reached out to some specific students to make sure they understand where they are traveling and their situation.

Q: What is the specific protocol for someone who goes to Pratt Health and then goes to hospital with flu-like symptoms, will there be a follow up by Pratt to be updated on their condition?

A: Yes, if the student went to another facility, the facility would contact Pratt, even if they didn’t come to Pratt Health first. If anyone in our community is confirmed as having the virus, Pratt will be contacted. If the student visited Pratt Health Services but tested negative for the virus at the hospital, Pratt staff would still follow up with them.

Q: If Pratt decides that it does need to cancel classes or I want to put myself into quarantine, how will that affect my credits and graduation?

A: If a student decides they should self monitor and self isolate, they should reach out to faculty to make sure they can understand what’s happening, we will always try to work with the student. And, we are inclined to make sure you are able to complete work. There are many scenarios we are continuing to work through. Since different areas of study have different requirements and needs - most cases need to be taken on a case-by-case basis. We are making sure to keep everyone on track in a timely manner, and as we begin to know more, our commitment is to make sure everyone is able to complete their work and we are working hard to make sure everyone can conclude in their areas of study. If anyone is currently having reservations about attending class, we highly recommend you email your faculty and copy your department chair or assistant chair so we can all be aware of situations.

Q: How would you distinguish a person having the flu from a person having Coronavirus?

A: In general, many of the symptoms at first look alike. But if you don’t know, make sure to call Health Services and tell a nurse what you’re experiencing over the phone and they will advise your next steps.

Q: Could Pratt send a confirmation email ​after​ the 14 day period and all the students from who returned Rome have not shown any symptoms and are healthy?

A: Yes, we will continue to communicate with the campus.

Q: By summer break, if this is still a problem and I have to go home (to Hong Kong) what will happen if I am denied entry back to US?

A: The restriction on entry to the US is only related to Mainland China and Iran at the moment. If the situation is the same as it is right now with policy, other areas will not be impacted. But, this is a constantly changing situation, and if something does change, then we will consider Pratt’s strategy. Again we have limited to no influence over restrictions imposed by the US government or the government of another country.

Q: Will something happen with the Graduation ceremony?

A: ​We are meeting every day and examining things day by day. We are currently working within a 30-day window to make decisions​. If we reach a point where we have to reconsider something like graduation, we have an academic task force meeting to discuss what will happen in those scenarios. We are waiting until we are closer to that time period to make decisions about graduation.

Q: Will this situation affect OPT application?

A: There is nothing affecting that at the moment. The only thing that could happen would be a delay, but there is no link between your eligibility for OPT and the coronavirus.

Q: What steps are being taken to protect students in Pratt Manhattan since there are more cases there than anywhere else in NYC?

A: There is no different protocol between Pratt’s Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses. There are hand sanitizers everywhere and facilities are taking the same updated cleaning measures.

Q: Can Pratt be a bit more transparent with the precautions that are being taken?

A: ​If there's any time that you should be reading the communicator emails Pratt sends out-- IT’S NOW! ​All information on precautions and what Pratt is doing has been sent out through communicator as we receive and address them. All info is also on Pratt’s Advisory Health page at http://www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory​, and our emails to the community are archived there. We are trying to be as transparent as possible and keeping the information in a centralized place on the web and in Communicator emails so you can keep up with our communications. But if you have a question that isn’t answered by reading the communicators, you can email healthadvisory@pratt.edu​ and they will answer your question.

Q: What's Pratt's attitude towards wearing masks?

A: If you’re not ill, you do not need a mask. However, the choice is up to you. We are not encouraging people to wear masks because that is not what our public health officials are advising people to do.

Q: How do we make sure that students that have come back from Rome are not leaving their dorm rooms?

A: We are kept updated and know whether those students are leaving the building. We have told the students that have left already that there will be consequences if they continue to do so. We have spoken to all the students who haven’t followed protocol, and they have agreed to do so now.

Q: In the scenario that the virus continues to spread during the semester and if other schools are shut down, is there any scenario in which Pratt would interrupt classes?

A: Pratt has a pandemic operations plan and as part of that plan, we are meeting daily to forecast what will happen in the future as well as how to best support students. ​With our plan, there are certain metrics and triggers that would make us need to suspend operations at Pratt, but as of right now, we are nowhere close to that.​ However, we are constantly staying informed and adapting the plan appropriately. International affairs is currently working on how to best adjust for the situations in which things would have to be worked on from self-isolation or at home.

Q: Since Pratt is an open campus, are we going to restrict any non staff or non-student from coming into campus?

A: ​We are currently following the guidance of NYC DOH and CDC.​ ​At this point there is no plan to stop anyone from coming onto our campus​. Should that change throughout the city, then we would assess that decision before taking any action. Our pandemic operations plan does factor in how to deal with closing our campus and residence halls, buildings, etc. It is not a decision that will be taken lightly, but it is an option in our plan. It’s important to remember that Pratt is an extensive and lively learning environment in which guests, members of our surrounding community and the City, participate.

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL: ​healthadvisory@pratt.edu

THERE WILL BE ANOTHER FORUM ON TUESDAY 12:30-1:30 IN THE STUDENT UNION.

From: communicator-noreply@pratt.edu
Date: Mon, Mar 2, 2020 at 6:31 PM
Subject: Coronavirus Update: Spring Travel, Community Forums, and Returning Students

Dear Pratt Community,

Pratt's Coronavirus Taskforce is monitoring the situation closely with the needs of the Pratt community as our greatest priority. Here are pertinent updates regarding spring travel and how Pratt is managing the return of students to campus from countries with travel restrictions.

As always, more information is detailed on the Pratt Health Advisory web page at http://www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory.

This web page also contains important information about steps to maintain good health and protect yourselves from any illnesses. We encourage you to read these suggestions carefully and follow them in order to maintain the health of the entire community.

The Institute cleaning staff is continuing to follow an escalated cleaning protocol that includes the placement of hand sanitizer dispensers around the campus, and thorough cleaning of public spaces several times per day.
Pratt students returning to the United States.

Students who had been abroad in countries with travel restrictions began returning to the United States over the weekend, and will continue to arrive over the next couple days. As they return to Pratt's campus housing, they are being very well looked after by staff from Residential Life, Health Services, and Student Affairs.

These students are following the CDC guidelines and self-monitoring in their own individual residential units for 14 days.

Upon their return, students have been greeted with food and services, and given the pertinent information and guidelines. An appointed care taskforce led by Martha Cedarholm is managing daily communication with the students, ensuring that they have what they need, and asking them what else we can do to make them most comfortable.

Communication:

We urge you to read all of the emails that the administration is sending through Communicator and the Pratt Health Advisory webpage. If you still have any concerns related in any way to the Coronavirus, please send them to healthadvisory@pratt.edu.

Pratt will hold an open community forum for students in the Brooklyn Student Union, with a live-stream to PMC this Thursday, March 5 from 8 to 9 pm, during the regularly scheduled Student Senate meeting. We will be making arrangements for a live stream of this meeting on the Pratt Manhattan campus.

A community forum for faculty and staff is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 10 from 12:30-1:30 pm in the Student Union. Students who cannot attend the forum on Thursday, March 5 are welcome to attend on the 10th. This forum will also be live streamed at Pratt Manhattan.
More information about these meetings will follow in Communicator emails and will be posted on the Pratt Health Advisories webpage.

Spring Travel Advisory:

Before you travel at any time this semester, including during the upcoming Spring Break week, we strongly urge careful consideration of the evolving worldwide situation and risks associated with the Coronavirus.
As the situation changes dramatically by the hour, countries outside the United States are adding restrictions that could disrupt or prevent your travel to other countries, and more importantly, your return to the United States. We are particularly concerned for non-US national students who may encounter greater difficulty returning to the States if strong restrictions are imposed by the United States government.

Please visit the Health Advisories webpage of the Pratt website for the most up-to-date information, along with links to pertinent websites, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The Health Advisories page also includes recommendations for international travel preparations, as well as contact information for Pratt offices that can assist you if you have any questions or concerns. These resources are available at http://www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory.

Please continue to read all Communicator emails from the Institute for updates.

Sincerely,

Helen Matusow-Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs

Dennis Mazone, Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety & Preparedness

From: communicator-noreply@pratt.edu
Date: Sat, Feb 29, 2020 at 11:36 AM
Subject: Important Update: Safely Welcoming Students Returning from Italy

With travel situations rapidly changing, public health officials are monitoring incoming passengers from Italy and other CDC designated areas accordingly. Travelers are advised to monitor their symptoms and inform a health professional of any changes. Thus, students will be allowed home to their Pratt residences or their own apartments with guidance for self-monitoring for 14 days. Pratt has consulted with the CDC and the NYC Department of Health and received guidance for housing our students returning from Italy safely and comfortably. Pratt health professionals and residential life staff are prepared to support and assist these students as they return to campus. Please be assured that these students will not be attending classes or be active in the community until a health professional confirms the end of their self-monitoring period.

Please join us in giving our returning students a sincere and heartfelt welcome home!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at hmayres@pratt.edu.

From: communicator-noreply@pratt.edu
Date: Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 11:27 AM
Subject: Pratt Students Abroad Returning to Brooklyn

Dear Students, Staff and Faculty:

As government responses to the Coronavirus outbreak in Europe change dramatically by the hour, we have decided to ask our students in Rome and their faculty from the United States to evacuate voluntarily and come home to Brooklyn immediately.

We are relocating Pratt's Architecture program in Rome to Brooklyn where students will be able to complete the program in the remainder of the semester. We have asked our exchange students at John Cabot University in Rome to return voluntarily as well and are making arrangements for them to complete their program successfully.

While there are as of yet no cases of the Coronavirus in Rome, we have made our decision in light of recent experiences at some American campuses in China, knowing that at any moment our Pratt students and faculty may not be able to leave Italy and may be subject to quarantines and other measures imposed by the Italian government. We are particularly concerned for non-US national students who would encounter the most difficulty returning to the States. We are also concerned that the longer this epidemic continues, the fewer resources will be available to our students and faculty in Italy, and we will be less able to assist them from here.

As you know, our taskforce of administrators and faculty have been watching this situation carefully since the first outbreak in January, and have been keeping the community informed in emails and at http://www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory. The taskforce has the well-being of our entire community in mind and are ensuring that our returning students will have the necessary campus housing, studio, and classroom space, and instruction to complete their coursework.

We continue to monitor the health and well being of our students and faculty in New York and in other parts of the world as this epidemic progresses, and provide the necessary advice and assistance. We will be sending out further guidance about spring break and other travel later this afternoon. We encourage you to keep yourselves informed, watch for and read Communicator emails, and use the available resources at http://www.pratt.edu/healthadvisory.

As a reminder, we caution against potentially stigmatizing Pratt community members perceived to be or actually coming from affected regions of the world. Anyone who feels that they have been subject to bias or harassment should contact the Student Affairs Office for assistance in person in Room 008 of the Main Building, or at studaff@pratt.edu or (718) 636-3639.

Sincerely,

Kirk Pillow,
Provost

Helen Matusow-Ayres
Vice President for Student Affairs

From: Pratt Provost Kirk E. Pillow and Dean of Architecture Harriet Harriss <memo@pratt.edu>
Date: Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 4:01 AM
Subject: Pratt Architecture program in Rome relocating to Brooklyn

Dear Students and Faculty,

As government responses to the Coronavirus outbreak in Europe change dramatically by the hour, we have decided to bring Pratt’s program in Rome back to Brooklyn. We ask that you evacuate Rome voluntarily and come home to Brooklyn as immediately as possible.

We are cancelling your classes for next week so that you can make arrangements and travel back to the United States. Your program will resume on March 9 in Brooklyn and will be completed in the remainder of the semester. This means you will also need to cancel any spring break plans you have made.

As Vice President Helen Matusow-Ayres described in her email yesterday, our decision has been made in light of recent experiences at some American campuses in China, knowing that at any moment you may not be able to leave Italy and may be subject to quarantines and other measures imposed by the Italian government. We are particularly concerned for non-US national students who would encounter the most difficulty returning to the States. We are also concerned that the longer this epidemic continues, the fewer resources will be available to you in Italy, and we will be less able to assist you from here.

You should start by calling your airlines and asking them how they will be able to help you, as some airlines are waiving fees to enable travelers to get back to their homes. Richard, Emanuella, and the rest of the faculty and staff in Rome are committed to assisting you locally with these arrangements and any other needs and concerns that will arise.

Our taskforce of administrators and faculty have your well-being most in mind and we are preparing for your return. We are ensuring that you can complete coursework, have campus housing, studio, and classroom space, and we will provide documents that will help with your landlords in Rome and travel arrangements.

The Institute will communicate detailed information, instructions and documents to you as they become available.

Sincerely,       

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost

Harriet Harriss
Dean of Architecture

From: Helen Matusow-Ayres <hmayres@pratt.edu>
Date: Thu, Feb 6, 2020 at 12:33 PM
Subject: Coronavirus Outreach

Greetings!

I am reaching out to all of our students from China to offer support and share information regarding the coronavirus outbreak. The Pratt community is concerned about each of you and how this is impacting you and your families. 

The latest information about travel restrictions can be found here: https://www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/coronavirus-critical-resources

Currently, foreign nationals, including international students, are unable to enter the U.S. if they have spent time in China in the past 14 days. It is unknown how long these travel restrictions will be enforced, but they are likely to continue through the month of March. Please rest assured that if you are impacted by continued restrictions, Pratt is here to help you address any challenges. 

Many of you have shared your concerns with staff and faculty members. I want to further encourage you to reach out if you have questions, concerns or specific needs. Martha Cedarholm, the Student Advocate and Care Coordinator can assist you with any needs that you might have. You can visit her in room 008 of the Main Building or by responding to this email. Please let us know how we might help. Pratt’s counselors are also available for you if you need someone to speak with about your concerns and challenges. The Counseling Center is located in the ISC and they are open from 9 am to 5 pm M-F and can be reached after 5 pm at (718) 718.687.5356.

Please also visit Pratt’s Health Advisory Web page at pratt.edu/healthadvisory for updates.

-- 
Helen Matusow-Ayres | Vice President for Student Affairs
PRATT INSTITUTE
200 Willoughby Avenue | Main Building 008D | Brooklyn, NY 11205
phone: (718) 636-3639 hmayres@pratt.edu
Pronouns: she, her, hers

From: Kirk Pillow
Date: February 5, 2020 at 11:06:43 AM EST
Subject: Coronavirus

Dear Faculty Colleagues:

We write with an update about Pratt’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.  Pratt’s Emergency Management Team continues to monitor the national and local coronavirus situation. The Pratt community is at low risk for infection.

That said, we are asking community members to be extra vigilant in preventing the spread of any virus or infection at this time. This may result in increased student absences from class. Please make every  effort to accommodate these absences. The staff at the Learning/Access Center can assist you in developing alternative assignments, and can be contacted at LAC@pratt.edu.

Please remember to check our website frequently for updates on the situation on the Pratt Health Advisories web page. 

Sincerely,

Kirk E. Pillow
Helen Matusow-Ayres

From: International Affairs Account <oia@pratt.edu>
Date: Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 9:07 PM
Subject: U.S./China temporary travel restrictions

Greetings, 

The United States government has announced new temporary travel restrictions for entering the country from China related to the Coronavirus. Please keep this in mind for yourself, family, and friends. 

U.S. News Sources providing updates:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/business/china-travel-coronavirus.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/coronavirus-china-live-updates/2020/01/31/eeac61b6-442b-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/coronavirus-travel-advice/index.html

Additional advisory information related to the Coronavirus
https://www.pratt.edu/student-life/student-affairs/health-counseling/health-advisories/
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html

Please notify us if you are affected. We are wishing you health and safety!

Sincerely,
Kristin

The Staff of International Affairs

PRATT INSTITUTE
International Affairs
200 Willoughby Avenue | Myrtle Hall 2 E-5 | Brooklyn, NY 11205
phone: (718) 636-3674 | fax: (718) 636.3497 | oia@pratt.edu

From: communicator-noreply@pratt.edu
Date: Wed, Jan 29, 2020 at 5:10 PM
Subject: Coronavirus Update

Pratt Institute is closely following the emerging public health situation arising from the discovery and spread of the Coronaviruses (CoV). We have compiled information on the Health Advisory section of the Pratt website (at the link below) to provide the campus community with guidance and information about how to keep our community safe. We will continue to update this page as information becomes available.

Please help us to share accurate information and prevent the spread of infection. We ask you to check our Health Advisory page regularly, familiarize yourself with the health advisories, and communicate with students as needed.

If you are ill, please stay home and rest until your symptoms have subsided. We ask that faculty and supervisors work with students and staff to make up any missed assignments. 

Helen Matusow-Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dennis Mazone, Assistant Vice President for Campus and Student Safety

Pratt Health Advisory
hmayres@pratt.edu