Attendance Policy

Pratt Institute understands that students’ engagement in their program of study is central to their success. While no attendance policy can assure that, regular class attendance is key to this engagement and signals the commitment Pratt students make to participate fully in their education.

Faculty are responsible for including a reasonable attendance policy on the syllabus for each course they teach, consistent with department-specific guidelines, if applicable, and with Institute policy regarding reasonable accommodation of students with documented disabilities. Students are responsible for knowing the attendance policy in each of their classes; for understanding whether a class absence has been excused or not; for obtaining material covered during an absence (note: instructors may request that a student obtain the material from peers); and for determining, in consultation with the instructor and ahead of time if possible, whether make-up work will be permitted.

Consistent attendance is essential for the completion of any course or program. Attending class does not earn students any specific portion of their grade, but is the precondition for passing the course, while missing class may seriously harm a student’s grade. Grades may be lowered a letter grade for each unexcused absence, at the discretion of the instructor. Even as few as three unexcused absences in some courses (especially those that meet only once per week) may result in an automatic “F” for the course. (Note: Students shall not be penalized for class absences prior to adding a course at the beginning of a semester, though faculty may expect students to make up any missed assignments.)

Pratt Institute respects students’ requirements to observe days of cultural significance, including religious holy days, and recognizes that some students might need to miss class to do so. In this, or other similar, circumstance, students are responsible for consulting with faculty ahead of time about how and when they can make up work they will miss.

Faculty are encouraged to give consideration to students who have documentation from the Office of Health and Counseling. Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities will continue to be provided, as appropriate.

Adopted Spring 2017

Religious Observance Calendar 2023–2024 Academic Year

Eid al-Ghadeer **	Islam	July 6
1st of Muharram (Islamic New Year) **	Islam	July 19
10th of Muharram (Ashura) **	Islam	July 28
Tisha B’Av**	Jewish	August 12-13
Arbaʽeen**	Islam	September 6
Paryushan **	Jain	September 11-18
Rosh Hashanah **	Jewish	September 15-17
Yom Kippur **	Jewish	September 24-25
Sukkot	Jewish	September 29 – October 6
Simchat Torah **	Jewish	October 6-8
Shemini Atzeret**	Jewish	October 7
# Navrati/Dussehra**	Hindu	October 16-24
Holy Day of Obligation	Catholic	November 1
Diwali **	Hindu	November 12
Hanukkah	Jewish	December 7-15
Eastern Orthodox Christmas Orthodox	Christian	January 7
Sankranti	Hindu	January 15
Ash Wednesday	Christian	February 14
Lent Begins	Christian	February 14
# Ramadan **	Islam	March 10 – April 9
Purim **	Jewish	March 23-24
Holi	Hindu	March 25
Good Friday	Christian	March 29
Easter	Christian	March 31
23rd Night of Ramadan **	Islam	April 2
27th Night of Ramadan **	Islam	April 6
# Eid al-Fitr **	Islam	April 10
Vaisakhi	Sikh	April 13
Passover (Pesach) **	Jewish	April 22-30
Eastern Orthodox Good Friday Orthodox	Christian	May 3
Eastern Orthodox Easter Orthodox	Christian	May 5
Vesak (Theravada)	Buddhism	May 5
Vesak (Mahayana)	Buddhism	June 4
Shavuot **	Jewish	June 11-13
# Eid-al-Adha**	Islam	June 17
Juneteenth	Interfaith/African American	June 19
# Eid al-Ghadeer **	Islam	June 25
1st of Muharram (Islamic New Year) **	Islam	July 7
10th of Muharram (Ashura) **	Islam	July 16

# Some of these dates are not fixed to a calendar but based on the actual sighting of the moon, and therefore, there may be some variance by day.

**All Jewish, Islamic, and Bahá’í holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date shown.