Policies, Processes, and Forms

Curriculum Development and Revision

Student learning is at the core of Pratt Institute. The Institute is committed to the artists, designers, architects, scholars and creative professionals we educate with a curriculum that is intellectually rigorous and pedagogically effective so that they "become leaders in their professions" and "responsible contributors to society." Pratt utilizes many strategies to ensure the excellence of the curriculum, including a rigorous approval process for new and revised programs and courses, and regular internal and external reviews of current program offerings. 

All curriculum proposals go through a rigorous process at the Departmental, School, and Institute-wide levels. There is shared responsibility to ensure academic quality, integrity, and continuous improvements of the Institute’s educational programs.

Proposals for new or revised credit-bearing programs, or courses that affect those programs, are reviewed by the department, school, and institute-wide Institute Curriculum Committee of the Academic Senate. All other curriculum proposals are reviewed by curriculum committees at the department and school levels. In all cases, oversight in the Provost’s and Registrar’s offices complete the loop. View the curriculum workflow process. 

When submitting applications, please note the following instructions when using the forms. Include the following documents, depending on your proposal submission:

• New Course
  • Tracking Sheet
  • New Course Form
  • Syllabus
• Revised Course
  • Tracking Sheet
  • Revised Course Form
  • Syllabus
• New Program
  • Tracking Sheet
  • Information outlined in Academic Initiative Proposal Guidelines. Specific information required is listed on page 8, under Academic Initiatives Application Form Type A-2, New Degree or Certificate Program and New Concentration.
  • Curriculum Table
  • Minor Programs  Pratt offers minors that enable students to supplement their work in their departmental concentrations with focused study in another field. If interested in proposing a minor, please read these guidelines, then complete a Concept Proposal and subsequently the Minors Proposal form.
  • Customized/Individualized Minor Students may also wish to create a Customized Minor. Students interested in proposing a customized minor should read these guidelines, then complete the Customized Minor form along with the Customized Minor Student Worksheet.  For more information, visit this page.
• Revised Program
  • Tracking Sheet
  • Information outlined in Academic Initiative Proposal Guidelines. Specific information required is listed on page 13, under Academic Initiatives Application Form Type B-2, Major Change to an Existing Program.
  • Revised Minor Programs  In order to change an existing minor, please read page 4 of these guidelines.
  • Curriculum Table outlining current and proposed curriculum

If you have any questions, please contact Peg Fox, Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs at mfox@pratt.edu.

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Provisional Course 

If you are proposing the creation of a Provisional Course, use this form. A provisional course is a new, elective course, which can be offered for a maximum of two years from the time it is approved.

Non-Content Based Course Changes

If you are proposing changes to a course title, number, prefix or pre-requisites and/or co-requisites, use this form.

Independent Study Form 

Independent Study provides opportunities for students to explore academic topics that are not covered in the established curriculum. An Independent Study is a for-credit course carried out under the supervision and mentorship of a faculty member. Download the form.

COURSE SYLLABUS

The Course Syllabus template presents a summary of the recommended syllabus elements. For further assistance in developing your course syllabus, please contact the members of your department curriculum committee or your chair.

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The following policies, processes, and forms enable members of the Pratt community to facilitate this learning. 
 

Attendance Policy

The Attendance Policy outlines Pratt’s commitment to students’ engagement with their program of study as central to their success.

Academic Integrity Policy 

At Pratt, students, faculty, and staff do creative and original work. For Pratt to be a space where everyone can freely create, our community must adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity.

Intellectual Property Policy 

The Intellectual Property Policy sets forth Pratt Institute’s policy regarding the Ownership and Use Rights of Intellectual Property created by members of its community.

Faculty Handbook

The Faculty Handbook is intended to provide faculty members of Pratt Institute with a collection of the current policies and procedures of Pratt Institute. This Handbook reflects Institute policy at the date of publication and is subject to change.

ACADEMIC STIPENDS

The Academic Stipend Guidelines outline the best practices and recommended rates for paying a faculty or staff member for additional work outside the classroom. The Academic Stipend Form must be completed according to the Instructions and submitted to the Office of the Provost for approval prior to payment.

Sabbatical Policy

The Sabbatical Policy outlines the criteria for faculty sabbatical leaves.

PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE POLICY

The Pre-Retirement Leave Policy sets forth details of Pre-Retirement Leave that includes one semester at full pay with no teaching or service obligations. This opportunity is available to tenured full-time faculty and adjunct faculty with CCE who meet basic criteria of eligibility.

COURSE BUY-OUTS AND OVERAGE/SUMMER SUPPORT POLICY

Course Buy-Outs and Overage/Summer Support lays out a policy to enable full-time faculty and department chairs to conduct sponsored research and/or partnerships which may warrant paying for a reduction in teaching workload (faculty) or overage/summer pay (faculty and chairs) to accomplish their research activity.

Posthumous Degree Awards Policy

In the tragic event that a student passes away without completing all degree requirements, family members or program leadership may request the awarding of a posthumous degree. 

Academic Senate

The Academic Senate is Pratt’s faculty/administration governance body, which represents faculty, chairs, and staff who teach at the Institute. The Senate acts as an advisory body to the Board of Trustees and the administration, making direct recommendations to the President and Provost without review by any intermediary.