International Affairs
Excerpted from the 2004-2005 Pratt Student Handbook.
The primary mission of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) is to centralize resources for all international concerns for the Pratt community at large.

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) coordinates services for international students, exchange students, professors, scholars, and their dependents. The OIA assists members of the Pratt international community with all matters of special concern to them and serves as a referral source to other institute offices and academic departments. OIA staff members provide direct support with immigration issues, employment authorization, and financial, cross-cultural and personal matters. The OIA presently serves a population of over 1,000 students and scholars from 66 countries who consider this office to be their vehicle for guiding them successfully through Pratt's system.

Judicial Process for Students
Excerpted from the pamphlet “Judicial Procedures at Pratt,” 2005
We at Pratt Institute have high expectations regarding social and academic conduct, and we expect everyone to value and uphold the community standards essential to the pursuit of academic excellence and social responsibility. These standards are listed in the Bulletin, the Student Handbook, and pamphlets that detail policies relating to the use of computer technology, sexual assault and harassment, alcohol and drugs, and human rights, particularly those concerning persons with disabilities.

Academic Integrity Code and the Pratt Judicial Process
Absolute integrity is expected of every member of the Pratt community in all academic matters, particularly with regard to academic honesty. The latter includes plagiarism and cheating. In addition, the continued registration of any student is contingent upon regular attendance, the quality of work and proper conduct. Irregular class attendance, neglect of work, failure to comply with Institute rules and official notices or conduct not consistent with general good order are regarded as sufficient reasons for dismissal. The faculty member and/or the Academic Integrity Board adjudicate cases of academic infractions. The Board does not hear grade disputes because these receive a final review at the level of the school dean. Students and faculty are expected to be familiar with and observe academic standards and policies as well as the procedures to address infractions or resolve disputes. A full description of these policies and procedures may be found in the Student Handbook and the Bulletin.

How Are Academic Integrity Cases Handled?
Alleged Academic Integrity Code violations may be adjudicated directly by faculty members and/or they may be referred to the Academic Integrity Board. The Board is composed of faculty members, academic administrators, and students. For alleged Social Conduct Code violations, faculty and academic administrators are urged to send an incident report to the vice president for Student Affairs who will follow appropriate procedures.

What Are the Penalties in these Kinds of Cases?
If the faculty member chooses the first alternative and determines that the student violated the Academic Integrity Code he or she may impose the following sanctions:

• Ask the student to repeat the assignment
• Impose a lower or failing grade for the particular assignment
• Assign a lower or failing grade for the course.

In addition to a sanction, the faculty member must report the incident to the registrar. The incident will be recorded in the student’s non-permanent file. More than one reported incident to the registrar during a student’s program of study at Pratt will result in a a hearing before the Academic Integrity Board. If a faculty member deems a violation to be serious enough, he or she may refer the incident directly to the Academic integrity Board for adjudication. Whether an allegation is brought before the Academic Integrity Board for repeated violations or is referred at once by the faculty member, if the student is found in violation, the Board may impose the following sanctions:

• Grade sanctions, including the assignment of a lower or failing grade in the course
• Recommend suspension from the Institute to the provost
• Recommend dismissal from the Institute to the provost

How Does the Academic Conduct Appeal Process Work?
Students have the right to appeal the decision of a faculty member to the Academic Integrity Board and the decision of the Board to the provost. Specific guidelines ensure that a timely and fair review  take place when a decision of a faculty member or the Academic Integrity Board is appealed. In the latter case, the provost’s decision is final. The appeal must touch upon one of the following key issues:

• Did the Academic Integrity Board conduct itself in such a way that both parties (faculty member and student) had an adequate opportunity to prepare their case?
• Was the evidence presented at the hearing “substantial” enough to justify a decision?
• If the penalty is being appealed, was the sanction imposed in keeping with the gravity of the violation?

The composition of the Academic Integrity Board and its procedures, including appeal procedures, are detailed in the document Pratt Community standards: Judicial Procedures. This document is available in various offices, including the provost, the school deans, the vice president for Student Affairs, the director of Human Resources and the director of Residential Life and Housing.

library use by faculty
Excerpted from Library use policies, 2005.
The Pratt Institute Library is a private facility for the use of students, faculty, and staff with valid Pratt identification. Alumni and Friends of the library need to show current ID provided by the Institute. Members of the Academic Libraries of Brooklyn group are welcome with appropriate identification. Other outside researchers are admitted by appointment only.

Loan Period
Books, pictures and some government documents circulate for four weeks to faculty. Patrons may have a maximum of ten items on loan at any one time. Patrons may place holds on material that is checked out. Once it is returned, it will be held for them at the circulation desk.

Renewals and Returns
Books, pictures and some government documents circulate for four weeks to faculty. Patrons may have a maximum of ten items on loan at any one time. Patrons may place holds on material that is checked out. Once it is returned, it will be held for them at the circulation desk.

Lost Book Charges
Items one month overdue will be considered lost by the patron. Patrons will be charged the replacement cost plus a $15 processing fee.

Reserves
Materials for course assignments and certain other heavily used items (Manhattan Sanborn MAC computer manuals, etc.) are held at the Circulation Desk. They may be checked out for two-hour in-library use. Request by call number for books or by instructor's name for articles. Fines for overdue reserve material are $0.50 per item per hour.

Other Library Rules
Eating, drinking, and smoking are not permitted in the Library. Please be gentle with library materials. They are the Institute's property. There are severe penalties for theft or mutilation of library property. For your own protection, do not leave your property unattended while in the Library.

Electronic Resources
PrattCat is the Online Public Access Catalog of the holdings of Pratt Library. This computerized system includes the catalog of books and multimedia holdings. PrattCat is available at many terminals within the library. Pratt Library also has other electronic resources, available at Internet workstations in the first and second floor reading rooms. The Pratt Library Web site offers many of these resources online, including PrattCat.

Locating Books
Find call numbers and locations using PrattCat. Most of the Library's books are shelved in call number order in the glass-floored stack area behind the elevator. A floor plan and stack guide are available for more details about the physical arrangement of library materials.

Locating Periodicals
The library subscribes to more than 500 periodicals (magazines, journals, and newspapers), divided among the three departments: Information/Reference (R), Art & Architecture (AR), and Library & Information Science (LS). Refer to the ‘yellow book,' kept at each reference desk, for details about holdings and locations. Pratt Library has a variety of indexes, both printed and electronic, to help identify and locate articles.

Multi-Media Center
The Multi-Media Center is located in the lower level reading room of the Library. Films, video-cassettes, and other media can be borrowed from the Multi-Media Center. Materials circulate from the Multi-Media Center for 24 hours. Campus Audio Visual Services, located in room 31E of the Engineering Building, lends A/V equipment to members of the Pratt community.

Picture Files
The picture files, located on the third floor, contain images, photographs, and clippings that may be borrowed twenty at a time, and art reproductions that may be borrowed five at a time. Find specific images in the picture files with the subject index.

Visual Resources Center
The Visual Resources Center, on the second floor, houses a large collection of art, architecture, and design slides. Students may borrow slides for a three-day period. The Visual Resources Center also has two scanner-equipped workstations, one for the Macintosh platform and one for Windows, two slide scanners, a copy stand, and a camera, available by appointment only.

Copying
The copy machines in the library are self-service and serviced by an outside vendor. Coins or copy cards may be used. Free scanners are available in the Visual Resources Center, 3rd floor.

parking policies
Excerpted from the policies of the Pratt Security Office, 2005.
The Pratt Campus is designated as private property and the use of the roadways and parking areas are a privilege restricted to persons who have a direct and legitimate relationship with the Institute. The object of these regulations is to provide more effective and convenient use for all. Parking is permitted only in designated areas. Regulations are enforced throughout the year, including vacation periods.

Any questions pertaining to the regulations must be directed to the Security Office, as we are not responsible for information given out by others. All motor vehicles to be parked on campus must be registered with the Security Office and properly display a current permit. Inquire in the Security Office for information about the cost of the permit each academic year. Permits must be hung on the rear view mirror. The expiration date is located on the permit. It is the responsibility of the person who registers a vehicle to ensure that the permit is displayed at all times while parked on campus and is clearly visible. All updates of vehicle registrations must be reported to Security. Motorcycles are subject to the same regulations as other vehicles. They are restricted from “revving-up” in the areas of classrooms due to the noise level.

Parking areas designated for parking, as established by the regulations of the Institute, are the only legal parking areas on campus. All other areas, whether marked or not, are illegal. Lock your vehicle and conceal all valuables. The Institute assumes no responsibility for vehicles or their contents on campus property. Any incident must be reported to the Security Office immediately. Parking violations are issued when necessary.

Repeated violations may result in the loss of parking privileges and/or the vehicle may be towed by a commercial towing service at the owner's expense. Vehicles without permits displayed so they can be easily viewed by officers may be towed without notice. All permit holders will be responsible for their permit number regardless of what vehicle it is displayed in. There is a $25 replacement fee for lost or stolen permits.

plagiarism
Excerpted from the Academic Integrity Code and Judicial Process section of the 2005-2006 Pratt Student Handbook.
Plagiarism means presenting, as one’s own, the words, the work, information, or the opinions of someone else. It is dishonest, since the plagiarist offers, as his/her own, for credit, the language, or information, or thought for which he/she deserves no credit.

Plagiarism occurs when one uses the exact language of someone else without putting the quoted material in quotation marks and giving its source. (Exceptions are very well-known quotations, from the Bible or Shakespeare, for example.) In formal papers, the source is acknowledged in a footnote; in informal papers, it may be put in parentheses, or made a part of the text: “Robert Sherwood says...”

This first type of plagiarism, using without acknowledging the language of someone, is easy to understand and to avoid: When a writer uses the exact words of another writer, or speaker, he/she must put those words in quotation marks and give their source.

A second type of plagiarism is more complex. It occurs when the writer presents, as his/her own, the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of material, or the pattern of thought of someone else, even though he/she expresses it in his/her own words. The language may be his/hers, but he/she is presenting as his/her work, and taking credit for, the work of another. He/she is, therefore, guilty of plagiarism if he/she fails to give credit to the original author of the pattern of ideas.

Students writing informal theses, in which they are usually asked to draw on their own experience and information, can guard against plagiarism by a simple test.

They should be able to honestly answer “no” to the following questions:

1. Am I deliberately recalling any particular source of information as I write this paper?
   
2. Am I consulting any source as I write this paper?

If the answer to these questions is no, the writer need have no fear of using sources dishonestly.
The material in his/her mind, which he/she will transfer to his/her written page, is genuinely digested and his/her own. The writing of a research paper presents a somewhat different problem for here the student is expected to gather materials from books and articles read for the purpose of writing the paper. In the careful research paper, however (and this is true of term papers in all college courses), credit is given in footnotes for every idea, conclusion, or piece of information that is not the writer’s own; and the writer is careful not to follow closely the wording of the sources they have read. If the writer wishes to quote, they must put the passage in quotation marks and give credit to the author in the footnote; but they write the bulk of the paper in their own words and their own style, using footnotes to acknowledge the facts and ideas they had taken from their reading.*

*Reprinted with permission of Macmillan Publishing Company from Understanding and Using English by Newman P. Birk. 1972.

Political Activities and Political Campaigns
Pratt institute's Guidelines for Participation
in Political Activities and Political Campaigns

I. Introduction
Pratt Institute is a not-for-profit organization, exempt from Federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Among other benefits, Pratt’s exemption from Federal taxation enables its donors to make tax-exempt contributions to the Institute.

Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code contains many conditions which a tax-exempt organization must adhere to in order to maintain its tax-exempt status. One such condition prohibits organizations from participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. The condition also prohibits the administration, faculty and staff members of the organization from using Pratt’s name, money or other Pratt resources to participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to any candidate for public office. These prohibitions are ABSOLUTE, and failure to adhere to them could result in Pratt losing its Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and could also result in penalty excise taxes assessed against Pratt and the Pratt administration, faculty and staff who violate the prohibitions.

These guidelines will set forth the following:

1. permissible and impermissible political activities and participation in political campaigns for the Pratt community under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
2. the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) penalties for engaging in impermissible political activities;
3. what Pratt administration, faculty and staff members are required to do if they plan on participating in political activities and political campaigns as private citizens; and
4. what disciplinary action will be taken by Pratt against those members of the Pratt community who violate these guidelines.

II. What Activity Is Impermissible?
Political activities are impermissible and in violation of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code when: a) there is a “candidate” who is seeking “public office”, and b) there is participation in or intervention in the candidate’s political campaign by Pratt Institute or by its administration, faculty and staff members using Pratt’s name and/or its resources.

“Candidate” includes any individual who offers him or herself, or is proposed by others, as a contestant for an elective public office. The elective public office can be state, local or national. This definition of candidate includes all persons who have already declared their intent to run for office, incumbents who have not yet announced their intention not to run again, and those persons who have not yet declared an intention to run but whose potential candidacy is the subject of intense public speculation.

“Participation or intervention in a political campaign” includes, but is not limited to, donations (including the purchasing of tickets to fundraising dinners), publication or distribution of written or printed statements on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate, and the making of oral statements on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate.

If you are unsure whether political activity you plan on engaging in Pratt’s name or with Pratt resources or whether your planned participation or intervention in a political campaign on behalf of Pratt is in violation of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, please see Pratt’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement before you proceed.

III. What Is Permissible?
The following activities are permissible and NOT in violation of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code:

• Candidate Debates and Forums – Pratt must provide a fair and neutral forum and provide equal time to all qualified candidates for the contested office. Questions presented to candidates should be composed by an independent, nonpartisan group. Debates should begin and end with a clear statement that the views presented are those of the candidates and not of Pratt.
  
• Student Newspaper Endorsements -- Pratt student publications may publish editorials which oppose or endorse specific legislation and/or candidates for political office without endangering Pratt’s federal tax exemption. If such editorials are published, the publication must clearly state that the views reflected are those of the student editors and not of Pratt. Pratt can minimize the risk of tax controversy with respect to political statements in its student publications by ensuring that all content and editorial decisions remain in the hands of the students and by printing a statement to that effect in every issue of the publication.
  
• Voter Registration on Campus – This activity must be done in a nonpartisan and fair manner.

IV. Individual Participation in Political Activities and Political Campaign
A major source of concern to Pratt is how to ensure that the participation in political activities and/or political campaigns by members of its community – a faculty member, student organization, senior university official – is not attributed to Pratt. Pratt recognizes that members of its community may serve as advisors to political candidates and may even run for office themselves. Where such participation is undertaken solely in an individual capacity without making any use of Pratt’s resources, the activity should not be attributed to Pratt for purposes of the prohibition on political activity and campaign participation. However, Pratt must make positively sure that its resources are not inappropriately directed to activities in support of or in opposition to political candidates.

As such, if you choose to participate in political activities or political campaigns in an individual capacity, the following rules must be adhered to:

• If you desire to participate in campaign or political activities during normal working hours, you must request and obtain permission to take leave without pay to do so.
  
• You may not use Pratt’s letterhead in connection with any campaign or political activities. In addition, Pratt’s support services or supplies (secretarial, photocopying, messenger, etc.) cannot be used in connection with political or campaign activities.
  
• Pratt funds cannot be used to make donations to political campaigns or to purchase tickets to fundraising events of any kind. If you choose to make a donation to a political campaign or purchase tickets to a politically-related fundraising event, you must use your own funds and cannot be reimbursed by Pratt.

If you choose to individually participate in a political campaign, you must notify the campaign in writing, with a copy to Pratt’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement, that you are participating as a private citizen and not as a representative of Pratt Institute. Pratt will retain the letter in your file. In addition, you should seek, to the extent possible, to minimize any references to your employment status with Pratt as you participate in the campaign. Further, you must use your home address for all campaign-related mailings.

Adherence to these guidelines will help to avoid possible tax implications and loss of Pratt’s Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

V. Penalties for Impermissible Political Activity
Loss of Tax-Exempt Status for Pratt. If Pratt or its administration, faculty or staff members participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office using Pratt’s name or resources, Pratt may lose its classification as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Such a loss would prove detrimental to Pratt and its community in general, as Pratt would be subject to Federal income tax and, perhaps most importantly, donors would no longer be able to make tax-deductible contributions to Pratt.

Imposition of Taxes on Pratt and its Employees. An initial tax of 2½% is imposed by the IRS on any Pratt manager (including directors and officers) who agrees to make a political expenditure. The IRS will also impose excise taxes on Pratt for amounts expended on certain political activities. The IRS imposes an initial excise tax of 10% on the amount of any political campaign expenditures spent by Pratt or one of its employees using Pratt’s name, money or other resources. Finally, the IRS imposes additional taxes if the impermissible political expenditures are not corrected within a specified time period.

Discipline by Pratt. Individuals who violate these Guidelines for Participation in Political Activities and Political Campaigns will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Depending on the severity, and/or frequency of the violation(s), such discipline can range from a written warning to dismissal from the Institute.

VI. Conclusion
Pratt’s exemption from Federal taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is a benefit to the entire Pratt community, as it allows Pratt to be free from paying Federal income tax and, perhaps most importantly, allows donors to make valuable, tax-deductible contributions to Pratt. As such, the Institute urges you to take these Guidelines seriously as you embark on different political activities. Finally, if you have any doubts as to what you can and can not do in your capacity as a Pratt employee, please consult with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement before proceeding further.

Privacy and Confidentiality
Excerpted from the 2005-2006 Pratt Student Handbook.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, popularly known as the “Buckley Amendment,” guarantees certain rights of privacy for students and controls access to their records. Students may secure from the Registrar’s Office a full copy of the written policy of Pratt Institute on these matters which includes the location of all education records and more fully explains the other matters set forth below. With certain exceptions, students have the right to review information contained in their education records. Students also have the right to challenge the contents of their education records through informal and formal procedures.

registration policies
Excerpted from the 2005-2006 Pratt Student Handbook.

Admission to Class
Pratt’s faculty is asked to allow only registered and paid students to attend class. Those students are listed on the course rosters provided to faculty by the registrar. If students complete registration and payment after classes begin, they will need a copy of their class schedule from Office of the Bursar to enter a class.

Registration Periods
Registration processing for each spring term begins at approximately the end of October/beginning of November. Registration processing for the summer and fall terms begins at approximately the end of March/beginning of April. WebAdvisor, the portion of the Pratt website that allows students to review and maintain certain aspects of their college records, is updated each semester with all institute-wide policies and procedures for registration, and the term price list for course registration and related fees. This guide is available by navigating to http://portal.pratt.edu, clicking the link WebAdvisor for Students, and then clicking on Registration Guide.

All students are required to meet with an academic advisor prior to submitting a registration form for processing. Academic departments may start the advisement process earlier than the first day of registration processing. This is done to make sure that large departments will have enough time to meet with all of their students and to help them make good decisions tailored to their needs. Watch for announcements and notifications regarding the procedures and deadlines particular to individual departments.

Drop/Add Processing
The Institute Bulletin, the Pratt Academic Calendar, and the on-line Registration Guide also contain information about specific drop/add deadlines for the academic year. It is important to note that any course that exists on a student’s schedule on the first day of class has the potential to affect the student’s bill. Permission to drop a class without academic penalty does not relieve fiscal responsibility. Generally, in fall and spring semesters, voluntary course additions or section changes are allowed in the first two weeks of the semester. During summer sessions, this period of time is generally one week. Courses dropped during this period will not show on the academic transcript. Courses may not be added after the last day to add/drop. Courses dropped after the last day to add/drop and before the last day to withdraw (WD) result in a notation of WD (withdrawn) on the transcript. No course withdrawals are accepted after the published deadline. Failure to officially withdraw from a class will result in an “F” grade on the transcript.

Change of Major
Students wanting to change their major (i.e. from Art to Architecture or from Photo to Communications Design) must apply for this change in the Admissions office. Changing academic programs can have an affect on how many credits will be required for graduation. It can also have an affect on the amount of time spent at Pratt. Part of the application process involves meeting with the Offices of the Bursar and Financial Aid to ensure that all the business aspects of this change are considered to give students the best opportunity for success.

Complete Withdrawal from the Institute
Students that are leaving Pratt without graduating are strongly advised to fill out a Complete Withdrawal Form. This form enables a student to drop or withdraw from all registered classes. It also serves to advise several departments on campus that a student is no longer enrolled. Students that withdraw need to be advised about any financial obligations and any academic repercussions of their actions. Students may pick up a Complete Withdrawal Form in the Office of the Registrar in Thrift Hall. It is important to note that the date Pratt is officially advised of a withdrawal is the date that is used for determining eligibility for WD grades. It is also the date used for calculating a student’s charges for the term being withdrawn.

The Organization of Course Offerings
Undergraduate and graduate courses numbered 100-499 are reserved for undergraduates. Courses numbered 500-599 are open to both advanced undergraduate (junior or senior) and graduate students. They include:

• technical courses,
• qualifying courses,
• graduate courses whose content complements advanced undergraduate studies.

However, credit earned within the 500 numbered courses by undergraduate students may not be applied toward a graduate degree.

Graduate students enrolled in 500-level courses are expected to perform with greater productivity and capacity for research and analysis than their undergraduate colleagues enrolled in the same courses. Significantly more is expected of graduate students in course projects, papers, and conferences.

Courses numbered 600 and above are generally for graduate students only. A graduate course embraces highly developed content that demands advanced qualitative and quantitative performance and specialization not normally appropriate to undergraduate courses.

Leave of Absence
Students in good academic standing who have paid their Institute account in full, may request a leave of absence by completing a Leave of Absence Form. Leaves are granted for a period of up to one academic year. Extensions beyond one year require a new application. Students that return after a leave of absence are not required to apply for re-admission. Students that do not return and fail to request an extension will be required to re-admit. The leave of absence application fee is $15. Students must obtain all required signatures on the application form and return it to the registrar for processing.

Retention of Student Work
Pratt Institute reserves the right to temporarily retain during the academic year, for exhibition and classroom purposes, representative work of any student enrolled in its curricula.

Security and Safety
Emergencies
Brooklyn: 718-636-3540

The Security Department is a service unit dedicated to the protection of life and property and providing a safe campus environment. The Security Department is staffed three hundred sixty-five (365) days per year and twenty-four (24) hours per day. Under the supervision of a director, assistant director, and two tour supervisors, the Security Department operates with the following coverage:

Twenty-four hours a day:

• Officer on duty at Willoughby residence hall
• Officer on duty at Pantas Booth
• Officer on duty at Stabile
• Officer on foot patrol (front campus)
• Officer on foot patrol (rear campus)
• Officer on duty at the Higgins Hall lobby
• Officer on duty in motorized patrol vehicle

The department has officers patrolling the campus in two Security vehicles. They also patrol the parking lots and campus perimeter as well as making campus inspections. In addition to the above, the Security Department monitors a network of over 47 closed-circuit television cameras, which are strategically located throughout the campus.

Security Workshops
Security workshops are conducted throughout the year. Representatives from the Pratt Security Department, New York City Police Department, and The Transit Police Bureau meet with interested students, faculty, and staff to discuss both on- and off-campus safety and awareness issues. Dates, times, and locations of these workshops are announced throughout the year.

Fire Drills
Fire drills are conducted throughout the year in all campus buildings (residence halls, academic buildings, and administrative buildings). All students, faculty, and staff are required to participate. Notices will be posted as to when these fire drills will take place. Follow instructions given by authorities in the building if you hear a fire alarm.

Campus Gate Closings
All gates close at 6 p.m. with the exception of Willoughby Avenue Main Gate and Thrift Hall Walk-in Gate, which remain open 24 hours/day.

Emergency Phones
The Security Department maintains an emergency telephone network on the Pratt campus. These phones are directly tied into the Security Control Booth and are located in the following:

• Ryerson Street, on Thrift Hall, to the left on entrance
• DeKalb Hall, on west side of building
• Ryerson Street, in front of ISC Building
• North side of Willoughby Residence Hall (Myrtle Ave.)
• Rear of Engineering Building
• Court Yard of East Building
• Pratt Studios–All lobbies, hallway, 2nd and 5th floor
• Steuben Hall–3rd and 4th Floors in vicinity of elevators
• North Hall–room 230
• Main Bldg–room 601
• Library–4th floor
• ELJ–basement laundry room

Operating Instructions the Security Control Booth
Officer will immediately respond to your call. Give the location and type of emergency you are reporting. Be advised that telephones are designed for emergencies only and their wrongful use may result in the delayed security response to an actual emergency. Security officers are directed to divert all other calls through normal channels.

Building Closing Times
Due to the variance in times which different buildings must be closed, it is requested that all inquiries be made to the Security Department. All buildings are closed on official school holidays.

Security Concerns Committee
The Security Concerns Committee is comprised of student, staff, and faculty representatives. The role of the committee is to provide an ongoing review of security procedures and campus-wide areas of security and safety concerns. Meetings are generally held once per semester.
All students are encouraged to participate by:

• Joining the Security Concerns Committee. Contact the vice president for Student Affairs;
• Expressing your concerns to a member of the committee. To find out who is on the committee, contact the director of Security, director of Student Activities and Orientation Programs, or the Special Issues and Concerns chair of the Student Council.

sexual assault
Excerpted from the pamphlet titled “Sexual Assault.”
In 1990, the New York State Assembly amended the Education Law on campus security, mandating colleges and universities to form advisory committees on campus security and to distribute assault prevention information. Three years prior, in 1987, Pratt had already formed the Security Concerns Committee, whose responsibility it is to keep the campus community informed about security matters and to heighten security awareness. In order to address the sexual assault aspect of the Education Law amendment, the committee formed a sub-committee in 1991, to plan and develop programs that focus more attention on sexual assault awareness and prevention.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone, male or female, at any time and anywhere. Rape is the most prevalent sexual assault crime that occurs on college campuses. Rape is a crime of violence, anger, and power. Date/acquaintance rape occurs when your are forced or manipulated into having sex against your will. There are other forms of sexual assault. The New York State penal code describes five types of sexual assault with up to three degrees of seriousness for each. The penal code changes from time to time and updated copies are available in several offices, including the Security Office and Health and Counseling Services.

An important distinction between sexual assault and sexual harassment should be borne in mind. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on one's gender or sexual orientation. This type of harassment may be blatant or subtle, physical or verbal. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or written communications or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is an abuse of power employing coercion, threat, bribery, or unwanted attention.

Getting Immediate Support
Being raped or assaulted is not the victim's fault. No matter what, no one deserves to be raped. If you were a victim of sexual assault, and did not resist, don't second guess yourself! Any action you took to save your life was the appropriate response.

Reporting a Sexual Assault
If you are a victim of sexual assault:

• Tell someone immediately—a friend or a security officer (the campus security emergency number is 718-636-3540). The advantage of telling a security officer is twofold: they can offer immediate support and advice and assist individuals as to where and how to get medical treatment, as well as assisting in the process of reporting the crime.
  
• While victims are not obligated to report a sexual assault to the police, they are strongly encouraged to do so. Reporting a sexual assault does not necessarily mean that a court appearance will be required.
  
• Extreme care is taken to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the victim.
  
• Whether or not a victim chooses to notify campus security or the police, she or he is strongly urged to obtain a medical examination as soon as possible. This action is important not only in case injury or disease is involved, but also because medical exams provide evidence needed should the victim decide to report the crime at a later date.
  
• Whether or not victims report the crime and whether or not they receive medical assistance, they should take advantage of on-campus or off-campus counseling services.

smoking policies
Excerpted from the 2005-2006 Pratt Student Handbook
Pratt Institute fully complies with New York City’s Smoke-Free Air Act prohibiting smoking in most public places and work areas.

The result is that no smoking is permitted in the cafeteria, student lounges, auditoriums, classrooms, studios, labs, study areas, elevators, hallways, restrooms, libraries, computer or equipment areas, exhibition spaces, athletic/recreation areas, storage areas, laundry facilities and other work areas, equipment and supply rooms, or conference and meeting rooms.

Smoking also is not permitted in rooms that:

1. Are the sole source of vending machines, beverage or food services, place of payment for services or kitchen facilities,
2. Are the sole means of ingress or egress to restrooms or any other smoke-free area, or
3. Are required for pass-through or use for work related activities.

Smoking is permitted in individual rooms and/or apartments in the residence halls, where it is feasible, though this is subject to further regulation by Residential Life.

The primary responsibility for compliance with the campus smoking policy lies with each individual member of the Institute community. Students are directed to the vice president for Student Affairs to file complaints about members of the community who refuse to comply with these regulations. Faculty and staff should bring complaints to the director of Human Resources. People are protected by Pratt’s Human Rights Policy and may file a grievance if they believe that any retaliatory adverse action has been taken against them for exercising, or seeking to exercise, any rights granted under the smoking policy.

A complete description of this policy is available in the Human Resources Office, Thrift Hall.

Student Advisement
Student advisement policies and procedures are determined in each school and are available from the department chair or in the school dean's office.

Student-Faculty Grievances
Excerpted from the 2003-2004 Pratt Student Handbook
If an individual feels he or she has experienced unnecessary conflict or problems in a classroom setting, he or she should try to resolve it directly with the individual. If this fails, he or she should report the incident to the chairperson of the department in which the course was taken. Further discussion can take place with the appropriate dean in order to seek a fair resolution of the problem. If this proves unsuccessful, an individual has the right to file a formal grievance with a school committee or through the procedures in place under Pratt's Human Rights Policy (if a violation of protected rights under this policy is suspected).

Subpoenas and Legal Inquiries
Excerpted from the policies of the Vice President for Finance and Administration
The following policies and procedures for acceptance of a subpoena or other legal process were approved August, 1991:

• The only Institute officials authorized to accept a subpoena or other such legal process are the vice president for Finance and Administration or the vice president for Student Affairs or their designates.
  
• If service of a legal process is attempted upon any other individual, the process server should be immediately informed of this policy and then directed to the appropriate authorized officer.

Additional information about this process is available in the office of the vice president for Finance and Administration, or the office of the vice president for Student Affairs.

Syllabi
Policies on course syllabi are established in each school and are available from the department chair, or in the office of the dean of the school.