PRATT INSTITUTE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The University Club
Rooms 3 and 4, Ninth Floor
1 West 54rd Street
New York, NY
Thursday, December 12, 2013
12:00 p.m.
Admissions and Enrollment
Enrollment
Pratt’s final fall 2013 enrollment is 4,623 students of which 3,144 (68 percent) is undergraduate and
1,479 (32 percent) is graduate. Our undergraduate enrollment is again very good this year when
compared with our goal and last year’s results. We are 44 students over our budget goal and 74
students over last year.
There is a decline in graduate student enrollments throughout the nation. Art schools throughout the
country including Pratt are affected. Fortunately, Pratt’s increase in the undergraduate student body
over the last three years somewhat mitigated this decline in graduate enrollment. Like nationally, the
decline of the graduate student enrollment is attributable to the lack of available jobs and positions
for new graduate degree recipients and the students’ accumulated undergraduate debt. Another
reason was Pratt’s low financial aid discount as evidenced by the drop in yield.
In the past 4 years, Pratt’s total enrollment has dropped 4.9 percent, undergraduate enrollment grew,
and graduate enrollment has dropped 12.8 percent. Measured in number of students, overall total
enrollment dropped by 248 students, undergraduate enrollment dropped by only eight students from
last year, and graduate enrollment dropped by 320 students over four years.
Pratt’s student body remains one of the top three largest enrolled art and design colleges in the
United States. The other two are the Parsons School and Savannah College of Art and Design.
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Pratt had a very good fall 2013 admissions recruitment season with 6,149 freshman applications for
approximately 680 places in the freshman class. Our number of freshman applications was the
largest of the AICAD schools in the United States. We had 3,073 graduate applications for 574
places.
Pratt had 10,368 applications for this year, a two percent increase from last year. Our goal for new
enrollment in spring 2014 is 73 students, approximately the same as spring 2013.
Fall 2014 admissions reports are strong for freshmen with an eight percent increase in applications
and weak for graduate students in the school of art and design with a 22 percent decline.
Institutional Research and Strategic Planning
Strategic Planning
The Strategic Planning Committee summarized the results of the first year of strategic plan
implementation at its first meeting on October 21. In June 2012, the Committee had approved a
$1 million allocation for strategic goals of which more than $900,000 was spent to achieve the
strategic goals that were defined as first-year priorities. These are:
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
Reviewing and rationalizing course credits, increasing cross-disciplinary offerings, and
reforming general education. The work also continues on integrating the foundation year
curriculum with sophomore year curricula.

Raising the profile of select graduate programs to increase Pratt’s selectivity and improve
Pratt’s revenue base in Film/Video, Art and Design Education, Writing and other
departments.

Complete the redesign of the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies (CCPS) so that
the Center begins playing a strategic role in realizing Pratt’s vision and future goals.

Raising Pratt’s public events profile, creating a public events office and improving Memorial
Hall’s audio and video systems.

Significantly expanding fundraising capacity in keeping with peer institutions and best
practices. The Institute is building a community of donors who will support the Institute's
long term growth and success. By retaining the services of Ologie, Pratt is maintaining a
consistent Institute-wide brand and messaging strategy which is improving its public profile
and media visibility, the quality of its marketing, publications and print materials, as well as
utilization of the website.

Improving administrative practices at Pratt based on recommendations from consultants the
Perrino Group and James McGill. The first initiative, which unified the bursar and financial
aid offices into Financial Services under Executive Director Nedi Goga. has already
produced a drop in the number of student and parent complaints.

Implementing Innovation Fund grants to encourage faculty collaborations and initiatives to
look for external funding. Overall, more than 50 individuals and groups applied for five
grants. One winning proposal (by associate professor Heather Lewis from Art and Design
Education) has already received external funding from New York City Department of
Education.
Pratt’s divisions did not limit themselves to funding strategic planning initiatives from this $1
million allocation. Many initiatives were funded and implemented using divisional resources. For
example, the Information Technology Division has created a central 3D Printing Lab for all Pratt
students regardless of major at a cost of $150,000.
Institutional Research
Pratt Retention Committee
Improving student retention at Pratt is one of the major goals of the current strategic plan.
We have created a Retention Committee to serve as an advisory group to the president and
administration. The committee is charged with researching data and retention issues on campus and
nationally, and making recommendations regarding attrition losses. The Office of Institutional
Research and Planning is currently compiling data on attrition based on students’ academic
background, demographics, departments and other variables to be analyzed by the Retention
Committee.
Academic Affairs
Dean Searches
A search committee for a dean of the School of the Arts has been appointed and is reviewing 33
applications received to date. The search committee for a dean of the School of Design is currently
being formed and will begin work in mid-January. There are presently 30 applicants.
Academic Searches
We are mid-way through with our plan to add 40 new full time faculty positions, with 20 hired to
date. During the 2013/2014 academic year, we will be searching for the eight new positions in Art &
Design, Architecture, and SLAS. There are seven full time replacement positions also being
searched during this academic year—three in SLAS, three in Art & Design; and one in SILS.
MSCHE Reaccreditation
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accepted our progress report on
General Education submitted on October 1st and noted that Pratt is making good progress.
Centers for Sustainable Design Strategies
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The Center for Sustainable Design Strategies (CSDS) had a ribbon cutting for the Brooklyn Fashion
+ Design Accelerator (BF+DA) on October 29. Over 200 people joined the event which included
remarks from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and New York Senator Marty Golden.
The BF+DA is located at 630 Flushing Avenue in 2,500 square feet in the old Pfizer building.
Renovations are expected to be completed by March 2014. The BF+DA will host up to 30 fashion
design studios and will have an apparel production facility, digital fabrication services and a
showroom that will all be available to the public.
Art and Design Education
This fall, the department launched a new minor in Art, Design, and Social Practice, and convened an
inter-disciplinary team of faculty from Art and Design Education and Social Science and Cultural
Studies to collaborate on a proposed new MA/MFA.With funding from a National Art Education
Foundation research grant, Art and Design Education began a collaboration with SAVI (Pratt's GIS Geographic Information Systems Lab) on contextualizing the work of Pratt’s various youth
programs.
Creative Art Therapy
Creative Arts Therapy provided consultation to Les Grands Ballet de Canada to help them with the
development of the first dance/movement therapy master’s program ever established in that country.
The department met with the director of Canada’s National Centre for Dance Therapy and a member
of the U.S. State department to provide guidelines based on the Pratt Creative Arts Therapy model.
Fashion Design
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) results of the 2012 CFDA Scholarship
Competition ranked Pratt third out of the 20 competing schools. This was a vast improvement over
our standings over the past few years.
Foundation Art
Foundation has established newly crafted outcomes for all its courses and for the department as a
whole. Additionally, the department has revised its 3D Design curriculum and will pilot a new
second semester class this spring entitled “Foundation Design Studio.”
Industrial Design
The Industrial Design department inaugurated an innovative master’s program in Global Innovation
Design (GID) offered in collaboration with two prominent international partners: the Royal College
of Art/Imperial College in London and Keio University's Graduate Media Design in Tokyo. A
maximum of 12 students from each partner participate in the program. The Industrial Design
department kicked off the first semester of the Global Innovation Design (GID) Program this fall.
This first semester was launched with seven Pratt students currently studying in Japan at Keio
University, 12 exchange students studying at Pratt all semester from the Royal College of the Arts
(RCA) and Imperial College of London; and eight students from Keio University on exchange at
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RCA this semester. Next semester, Pratt students will go to RCA, RCA students to Keio University
and Keio University students will come here to Pratt.
Interior Design
Over the past year, Interior Design has developed and completed a draft of a new MFA degree
proposal with all new courses to convert the MS in Interior Design to an MFA in Interior Design.
The proposed degree change and new course syllabi were approved by the IWCC in May and filed
with NYSED in July. We are awaiting state approval.
This fall 2013, the department established a Form Tech Lab for 3D printing and material research for
Interior and Industrial Design students and faculty.
Graduate Communications Design
This semester, Pratt was recognized as one of the top five graphic design schools in the country and
one of the five most influential graphic design schools in the past half century in a survey of 10,000
design professionals by Graphic Design USA magazine. Alumnus Stefan Sagmeister was named as
the most influential graphic designer working today.
The department partnered with Hennessy V.S, the world’s top selling cognac in its second annual
competition that challenged nine art and design students to explore the universal theme, and
Hennessy's mantra, “Never Stop. Never Settle.” The competition, judged by representatives from
Pratt and Hennessy, will culminate with an exhibition featuring the three top works at the Epic Hotel
during Art Basel Miami Beach. Student artwork will also be showcased on the Hennessy website
and social channels, providing students with international exposure. Mike Cook (BFA,
Communications Design '12) won the inaugural challenge in 2012.
The GradComD student-designed book, Live Learn Design, won GOLD in the University and
College Designers Association (UCDA) Annual Competition (recruitment/art schools category).
Only six Gold awards were given from over 1000 entries.
Construction Management
A Memorandum of Understanding has been drafted and verbally approved by both Pratt and Turner
Construction to support a high school internship/scholarship program for six students interested in
construction management. Students will come from NYC public charter high schools. Turner will
provide four paid summer internships for these students in good academic standing and one on one
mentoring. Pratt will provide financial aid packages consisting of at least 50 percent tuition
scholarship.
Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment
In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the School of Architecture launched RAMP -- Recovery,
Adaptation, Mitigation, Planning – a collaboration of several architecture studios, Programs for
Sustainable Planning & Development studios, and foreign urban design studios from abroad. RAMP
is focused on one neighborhood each semester: Red Hook in the summer, and Coney Island at
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present, and is linked to public workshops with visiting lecturers from the University of Hawaii,
Columbia University, and CUNY. The Kresge Foundation has granted Pratt approximately $100,000
to implement RAMP and present it as a model of uniting pedagogy with action.
The Programs for Sustainable Planning & Development, working with the Graduate
Communications Design Program and under the leadership of the Provost's Office, launched SAVI Spatial Analysis and Visualization Initiative, with nearly $1 million in support from the City and
State of New York. Under the leadership of Jessie Braden, SAVI will provide the technology,
classrooms, resources and setting for Pratt to operate a GIS mapping and analysis lab like that of
other major institutions. Our GIS lab will be made available to community and non-profit
organizations, and will include data visualization and information graphics.
Humanities and Media Studies
Humanities and Media Studies launched its Media Studies MA program with 12 students this
semester. NYSED has recently approved the new proposed MFA in Writing which is unique in its
emphasis on social engagement and activism. Recruitment is underway for a fall 2014 launch. Pratt
has given its final approvals for an MFA in Performance and Performance Studies with an
anticipated start in September 2015.
Social Sciences and Critical Studies
In 2012-2013, the Department inaugurated a new minor in Sustainability, complementing two
existing minors in Philosophy and Cultural Studies. The Cultural Studies minor will be revised this
year. Work is also underway in developing two new minors: Psychology and Social Practice.
Writing
The Writing Program will have its first group of students in its inaugural Paris Program this summer.
The department also created a new Pratt Writing Program Alumni Association.
Finance and Administration
FY 2012-2013 Financial Statements
Our audit firm, KPMG, presented the results of their audit of Pratt’s 2012-2013 fiscal year to the
Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees. KPMG advised that Pratt Institute was in a
strong and successful financial position.
Pratt’s operating revenues for year ended June 30, 2013 were $211,340,012 of which $166,396,469
was unrestricted and $4,546,048 restricted. Our 2011-2012 operating revenues were $197,815,462.
The FY 2012-2013 results were 6.8 percent larger than 2011-2012.
Our FY 2012-2013 excess of revenues over expenses was excellent at $12,706,915, up from
$8,708,605 in 2011-2012. We had an increase of 45.6 percent. Pratt’s net assets on June 30, 2013
were $296,975,265, an increase of $33,700,836 or 12.8 percent. Pratt’s net assets include
investments, endowment funds, land, buildings, improvements, equipment, library books, and
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contributions receivables.
In balance sheet performance for June 30, 2013 Pratt’s total assets were $507.6 million, up $34.5
million or 7.2 percent, whereas liabilities were $210.6 million and growing only approximately
$780,000, or .3 percent.
Pratt’s five-year history of sources of operating revenues shows some changes especially in
reduction of tuition dependency and increased contributions, private gifts and grants. The follow
table shows how our 2012-2013 sources of operating revenues break out on a percentage of total
basis by major categories:
Sources of Operating Revenue
Tuition and fees, net
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
77% 78% 80% 80% 78%
Government grants and contracts
2%
2%
3%
2%
2%
Contributions, private gifts
and grants
4%
3%
3%
3%
7%
Investment income
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
11%
11%
11%
11%
10%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
Sales and services of auxiliary
enterprises*
Other income
TOTAL
100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
*Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises include student residential halls, food service, and art supply store.
Pratt’s five-year history of sources of operating expenses shows some changes especially in
reduction in instruction expenses, increased academic support, and decreased auxiliary expenses.
The following table shows how our 2012-2013 operating expenses break out on a percentage of
total basis by major categories:
Sources of Operating Expenses*
Instruction
Public Service
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
42% 43% 40% 41% 40%
2%
2%
3%
2%
2%
Academic Support
10%
10%
11%
12% 13%
Student Services
11%
11%
11%
11% 11%
Institutional Support
19%
20%
20%
19% 20%
Auxiliary Enterprises
16%
14%
15%
15% 14%
TOTAL
100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Sources of Operating Expenses*
Instruction is faculty compensation; academic support is academic administration such as chairs, deans,
academic advisement, and program directors; academic support includes library budget and academic
technology. Student Services includes the admissions and enrollment budget and student affairs. Auxiliary
enterprises include student residential housing, food service, and art supply store.
FY 2013-2014 Operating Budget
The current fiscal year 2013-2014 operating budget is $210,824,166, of which $199,895,974 is
unrestricted revenue and $10,931,192 is restricted revenue. Total adjusted financial aid is
$40,764,476, up $362,981 or less than one percent from last year. Our estimated discount rate for
this fiscal year is 19.3 percent. This is a low discount rate for Pratt and the industry.
At the start of this fiscal year we identified several unanticipated operating expenses that were not
budgeted in our original operating budget for the new fiscal year as follows:
1. Property Insurance. There is an additional $87,000 premium added to our property
insurance at this time of renewal.
2. Main Building. As a result of the fire in Main Building there is need to upgrade electrical
and IT systems and equipment, some fixtures lost cannot be replaced and must be purchased,
fire alarm and emergency/safety equipment must be upgraded, as well as other improvements
not covered by insurance. The estimated cost for all of these items is $2.8 million.
3. Brooklyn Fashion Design Accelerator Program. A start-up cost for the Accelerator
program is $287,777 and will be refunded within four years with grant monies and net profits
from the program.
Endowment
Pratt’s endowment as of October 31, 2013 is $131,648,416, up 16.9 percent for the past 12 months.
The Finance and Audit Committee and the administration are exploring with Janney Montgomery
Scott, marketing agent and investment counselors, and the feasibility of refinancing our current long
term debt of approximately $102 million. Preliminary discussions and review with Janney
Montgomery of the investment market and rates suggest a viability of all or some of our total debt
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refinancing. Pratt’s current annual debt service is $8 million.
FY 2014/2015 Tuition and Fee Increases
The Finance and Audit Committee recently approved increases in tuition and fees for the next fiscal
year, 2014-2015. These increases will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval at the
December 12 meeting and are as follows:
2014-2015
Undergraduate
Tuition
$42,866
Percentage
Increase
3.98%
Percentage
Fees
Increase
$1,044*
1.85%
*Academic Facilities, Technology, Student Health Services, Student Activities, and International Student
Service fees only.
Pratt’s current 2013-2014 tuition, $41,226, is the second highest among the AICAD school tuitions.
Pratt has maintained a similar relationship of second and third highest tuition for 15 years.
United States Department of Education Program Review
On July 31, 2013, Pratt received official notice from the Office of the U.S. Department of Education
(USDE) that its preliminary financial aid program review report showed findings of noncompliance
based on its initial visit from December 5, 2012 through December 14, 2012, pursuant to Title IV of
the Higher Education Act.
The USDE audit review covered three years from 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013. Our
current estimate is that the return of funds required by the Department of Education will be between
$750,000 to $1 million.
Human Resources
Effective January 1, 2014, Cigna will replace Oxford/United as the carrier for the employee medical
insurance plan for the majority of Pratt employees. This change was prompted by Oxford’s
insistence on a dramatic increase in rates that is unjustified based on the claims experience under the
plan. We also are comfortable moving to Cigna since there will be little provider disruption as the
vast majority of providers (94.4 percent of physicians, 88.1 percent of facilities) in Oxford/United’s
network used under the plan are also within Cigna’s network. Also, there are a significant amount of
additional providers (11.2 percent of physicians, 16.8 percent of facilities) used that are currently out
of Oxford/United’s network and would be within the Cigna network. Cigna is highly recommended
by our broker as well as by other employers. Cigna’s customer service focus appears superior to the
alternate providers.
Film/Video Facility Conversion
Pratt Counsel Cullen & Dykman is working with the Institute on finalizing the contract with
architects WASA for the conversion of the former PrattStore facility into a new home for the
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Film/Video Department. Permits from the New York City Department of Buildings for demolition
and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing were received, and removals and interior demolition work
was completed.
Construction and fit out work started on December 1st and will be completed by June 30th; with
owner furniture, fixtures and equipment commissioning continuing July through August. The
Film/Video faculty, staff and students will begin occupancy of our 15,000 square foot building in
mid-August.
Main Building Recovery
Reconstruction work on Main Building is on schedule. Landmarks Preservation Commission and the
NYC Department of Buildings have approved all construction documents and issued permits.
The anticipated dates of staff relocation and Main Building re-occupancy in 2014 are:
Basement, 2nd and 3rd floors
1st and 4th floors
5th and 6th floors
February 17
March 10
March 28*
*Floors 5 and 6 will be ready but not reoccupied until the end of the spring 2014 semester.
Information Technology
Fiberoptic Infrastructure Replacement
Last year, the Strategic Planning Committee ranked the fiberoptic infrastructure replacement plan a
top priority. The project has four phases: Phases I and II for this academic year, and Phases III and
IV which will begin in the next academic year. Phases I and II began this past July.
Phase III will be finished early in FY 2014/2015. It will include the installation of additional fiber to
all main campus buildings. This phase will also include the installation of electronics needed to all
buildings connected at this point to the new fiber ring.
Phase IV will consist of extending the fiber infrastructure across Willoughby Avenue to Myrtle Hall
and the new Film/Video building. This phase will also connect Stabile Hall, townhouses and
Cannoneer Court. Finally, all of the electronics needed for the remaining campus buildings will be
installed.
Institutional Advancement
Fundraising
Pratt’s seven-year $100 million capital campaign began its third year on July 1, 2013. The campaign
is currently in its quiet phase. As of November 30, 2013, we have raised $26,336,170, over 26
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percent of our goal. The cumulative campaign total includes $2,895,566 added to the campaign
between July 1st and November 30th. Several major campaign solicitations are pending or planned
over the next few months, and will play an important role in reaching the accumulative $40 million
campaign goal set for the end of this fiscal year, June 30, 2014.
The following is a summary of Capital Campaign funds raised to date:
(as of 11/30/13)
Year One
FY12
Pratt Operating
Pratt Center
Qualified Planned Gifts
Year Two
FY13
$5,831,614
$1,929,105
$386,000
$8,146,719
Year Three
FY14 to date
$10,010,908
$3,744,929
$1,538,048
$15,293,885
$2,186,018
$709,548
$0
$2,895,566
CAMPAIGN
TOTAL
$18,028,540
$6,383,582
$1,924,048
$26,336,170*
* cumulative goal by end of Year Three is $40 million
Here are the Capital Campaign fundraising goals by category:
Endowment (with a focus on student scholarships
and endowed faculty positions)
$27 million
27%
Building and Facilities (new buildings, renovations
and upgrades, new technology enhancements)
$35 million
35%
Restricted Gifts and Grants (includes a broad range
of needs, from global education opportunities and
visiting lecturers to faculty research and community
engagement programs)
$30 million
30%
Unrestricted Support (gifts to The Fund for Pratt, the
Institute’s annual fund, which supports the Institute’s
most critical operational budget needs every year)
$8 million
8%
TOTAL
$100 million
Our annual fundraising results continue to increase. Five months into the current fiscal year, our
annual fundraising is 67 percent ahead of last year at this time. The following chart shows our Pratt
annual fund raising results by sources compared with last year’s results:
FY14 Funding by Source
(as of 11/30/13, for fiscal year ending 6/30/14)
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FY13
FY14 vs. FY13
FY13 Final
(paid + pledged)
FY14
(as of 11/30/12)
(as of 11/30)
(as of 6/30/13)
$ 453,475
721,277
448,962
432,104
0
130,200
$ 500,625
502,761
94,248
192,291
0
21,250
- 9%
+ 43%
+376%
+125%
+513%
$ 979,243
3,997,172
2,834,975
905,937
1,136,000
192,775
SUBTOTAL $2,186,018
$1,311,175
+ 67%
$10,046,102
Pratt Center
$2,363,168
- 70%
$ 3,889,547
Board
Individuals
Bequests
Corporations
Government
Foundations
$ 709,548
Planned Gift
Intentions $
0
Our current four largest giving sources in rank order are as follows:
Individuals
Board of Trustees
Bequests
Corporations
$721,277
$453,475
$448,962
$432,104
43% increase
9% decrease
376% increase
125% increase
The Pratt Center has raised $709,548 for 2013-2014 thus far.
Notable activities and achievements in fundraising this year include the following:
1. The Campaign Awareness Committee hosted eight private campaign parties which provided
exposure to friends and alumni of Pratt’s campaign and funding needs.
2. Legends 2013 raised the second highest event funding ever with $785,000.
3. In a tremendous surprise the Board of Trustees created the start of the Thomas F. Schutte and
Tess L. Schutte Endowed Scholarship Fund as a 20th anniversary tribute.
4. The Fund for Pratt fall appeal is well underway to alumni, parents, and friends.
Our key fundraising strategy this year continues to focus on soliciting larger gifts of $25,000+ from
individuals. As of November 30, 2013, we have raised $1.1 million in individual major gifts, and
these larger contributions account for nearly 40 percent of all funds raised at Pratt this fiscal year.
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As of December 4th, total giving to The Fund for Pratt was $161,127, up eight percent over the same
period last year. The total number of Fund for Pratt contributors is up significantly in this time
period to 753 gifts, an increase of 145 gifts over last year at this time.
A Leadership Society Committee, chaired by Ted and Nina Liebman (Architecture ’62), has formed
and met this fall to plan strategies for increasing $1,000+ gifts to The Fund for Pratt.
Legends 2013
Pratt’s annual Legends Scholarship Benefit was held on November 11th at the Mandarin Oriental
Hotel at Columbus Circle. This year’s top honorees were David Easton (interior designer), Pete
Hamill (writer), Margaret Russell (architecture/design editor), and James Turrell (artist). Well
known presenters included Martha Stewart, Bob Giraldi, and David Rockwell. Ted Allen, television
food personality, was the emcee. Our feedback from our guests, honorees, presenters, and student
speaker suggested that we had one of the top Legends events ever.
Legends 2013, our second most successful fund raising event ever, was tremendously supported by
this year’s Gala Chairs, Sondra and David Mack, Bruce and Judy Newman, Susan and Mark Stumer,
Jane and David Walentas, and Jan Pratt and her children, Laura, David and Tom.
And, so many great thanks to my tribute presenters, Bruce Gitlin, Mike Pratt, Bob Siegel, and Bruce
Newman. It is my hope that this significant scholarship fund will continue to grow to benefit our
Pratt students who so badly need financial support.
Alumni Relations Regional Networks Program
Pratt’s new alumni Regional Networks program continues to grow and expand. The Regional
Networks program is aimed at meeting, communicating, encouraging and building financial support
from among Pratt’s 41,000 alumni, as well as engaging parents and friends. We have had successful
events recently in Boston, Washington, and Philadelphia. Follow-up meetings have been held this
fall in these cities to engage volunteer alumni to help raise funds in these areas. Beyond these pilot
cities, we are scheduling additional events next spring in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Houston
and Dallas.
Faculty Engagement in Fundraising
Following our recent Board of Trustees Development Committee meeting, the Institutional
Advancement staff met with faculty members of the Committee to develop ideas for engaging
faculty to help raise funds, especially from foundations.
In addition, the faculty and advancement staff agreed to expand and continue the Faculty and Staff
Fundraising Campaign program, given the success of faculty and staff fundraising results last year,
2012-2013.
The faculty and advancement staff will continue to work this year to get faculty engaged in seeking
research grants and raising capital campaign funds.
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Communications
Pratt continues to garner top industry accolades for its communications efforts. Most recent
recognitions include nominations for two PR Daily Media Relations awards, one for “Best
Reputation/Crisis Management” for the handling of Pratt’s Main Building Fire Recovery and another
for “Best Media Relations Campaign” for press visibility achieved for the 125th Anniversary. Pratt’s
125th Anniversary issue of Prattfolio is also featured in Print magazine’s prestigious Regional
Design Award.
Pratt’s media relations team secured broad press coverage and extensive photos for Legends 2013.
Top media placements included The New York Times, Crain’s, Interior Design, ARTINFO, Women’s
Wear Daily, Daily Front Row, New York Social Diary, and Hampton Sheet. Additional notable press
coverage in recent months and weeks included:
The Wall Street Journal. Feature story on the Pratt Brooklyn Fashion and Design
Accelerator. This project also created coverage in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Commercial
Observer, Treehugger, and Brooklyn Based.
The Educated Observer. Story on the Library Science program.
Metropolis. Story on Interior Design faculty member, Hazel Siegel.
Popular Mechanics Magazine. Graduate Industrial Design story with students.
New York Times. “Spare Times” story on Pratt’s drawing program.
Artiholics. An art blog that featured a Pratt Manhattan Exhibit, “O to 60.”
A redesign of Pratt’s pratt.edu website is nearing completion and will be launched in early 2014.
Pratt’s Office of Communications will oversee and insure that the design and content of the new
website will be monitored and updated regularly with original and engaging features.
This year, the Office of Communications at Pratt has launched the Institute’s new department of
Public Programs and Campus Event Services within Institutional Advancement. Pratt is creating a
strong public programming initiative. This public programming will help engage the public at large,
key industry leaders, the Pratt community, the media, and academic peers. Andrea Jeyaveeran, who
has just joined Pratt team as director of Public Programs and Campus Event Services, will oversee
this new programming effort. She comes from CUNY where she served as director of Public
Programs and ran the Great Issues Forum initiative.
Student Affairs
Vice President’s Office
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Vice President for Student Affairs Helen Matusow-Ayres was recognized as a Pillar of the
Profession by the Foundation of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
(NASPA). NASPA is the leading association for the advancement of the student affairs profession.
Athletics and Recreation
Pratt’s women’s tennis continues to dominate the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletics
Conference (HVIAC) winning its third straight HVIAC championship with three team members
named all-conference. Eight weekly conference awards were won by team members with six
by Agata Jakubowska. Head Coach Shawn Cummings was named HVIAC Coach of the Year.
Pratt has created two new NCAA intercollegiate sports teams – women’s basketball and men’s
volleyball. Women’s volleyball finished fourth in the HVIAC which qualified them for conference
tournament play. Women’s cross country finished third in the HVIAC Championship with two cross
country runners named all-conference.
Pratt’s new Swim Club recently held its first kick-off meeting with practices to begin in January in
the LIU pool. Undergraduate Admissions Director Bill Swan will be coaching the club.
Searches are currently underway for head coach positions for cross country and indoor and outdoor
track and field, men’s soccer and Pratt’s first-ever softball team.
Center for Career and Professional Development
Internship registrations increased this semester with 163 up from fall 2012’s total of 134. Placements
included Assouline Publishing, Barney’s, Donna Karan New York, Kikkerland Design, Pow
Interactive, and Social Bicycles.
The 2013 Job Opportunity Fair was held Saturday, November 9th with 536 students and alumni
attending and 52 companies recruiting. Eight roundtables were hosted by industry professionals.
Industry outreach efforts have resulted in new contacts with IBM, Google, and Amazon. An
expanded outreach plan has been implemented that will include meetings with 300 target studios in
media, visual communications, industrial design, and digital sectors.
The usage for the Pratt Pro employment data base for the months of September and October shows
492 new employer registrations and 1,112 new job listings of internships, full and part time jobs,
freelance and volunteer opportunities.
Disability Resource Center
The Disability Resources Center (DRC) opened a new space in Willoughby Residence Hall, Room
108, to be used for tutoring, time management assistance, quiet study and distraction-reduced exam
taking, and workshop presentations.
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Currently, 501 students are currently registered with the DRC including 89 newly registered students
this semester. There are 82 students receiving classroom accommodations or direct support from
staff including peer note taking, Computer Assisted Real Time Translation (CART) services, or
meeting with tutorial, learning specialist, or time management staff.
Health and Counseling
Planning has begun to initiate programming on sexual assault awareness. Plans include the creation
of a Pratt community task force, support of student-driven programming, and an educational
campaign on consent.
Internal candidate and staff therapist Lonette Belizaire, PhD, was hired as the assistant director for
counseling, effective October 22, 2013. Dr. Belizaire will take on a leadership role in working with
students in crisis, as well as other duties under the supervision of the associate director for
counseling. A search for Dr. Belizaire’s vacant position has begun.
International Affairs
There are 1,134 international students this fall, up from 1,015 last year. Our percentage of
international students is now 24.7 percent, the highest in nearly 20 years. Our percentage has been
edging upward for the last several years as follows:
Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
Percentage of
Student Body
24.7%
21.8%
18.9%
16.8%
Pratt’s international student body has increased because (1) more international students are applying,
especially from China, and (2) admissions is recruiting more international students to increase
enrollment, especially on the graduate level.
Growth countries include China, Canada, Turkey, Thailand, Colombia, Mexico, Israel, Singapore,
and Venezuela.
This academic year there are 16 Pratt students on international exchange and 13 at Pratt from partner
schools.
Residential Life and Housing
Resident Advisors (RAs) are being trained as time management trainers for students. This initiative
is based on the assumption that the best way to reach students in need is through individual
relationships with their RAs. By identifying clues that a student might be struggling, RAs can find
openings to do informal time managements training hopefully reach and train more students prior to
their receipt of bad critiques, reviews or grades.
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Currently, 1,688 students reside on-campus, 36.5 percent of the student body and 84 percent more
students in resident halls than last year. Revenues to date show excess over goal of more than
$255,000. Meal Plan enrollments are 230 over projection with revenues nearly $400,000 over
projection.
Student Involvement
This year’s Family Weekend was held October 5th-6th. Approximately 460 people (from 153
families) attended, down from 540 people (183 families) in 2012. Weekend activities included 12
workshops, tours of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a performance of Annie on Broadway, and the
President’s Brunch.
Community Affairs
The Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP)’s FY 2013/14 operating budget is approximately
$1,063,000, and MARP BID’s is $455,000. The current combined MARP and BID budget for FY
2013/2014 is approximately $1.5 million.
The vacancy rate on Myrtle has remained low over the last quarter at five percent. When all vacant
storefronts are taken into account, the vacancy rate is closer to 15 percent. This is due to a number of
retail spaces that have been removed from the market as their buildings undergo construction or
redevelopment. For example, construction has begun on a new seven-story building on the site of the
building that formerly housed the Associated Supermarket at Myrtle and Hall. The building is
scheduled to be completed in one year at which time Associated will return and a TD Bank branch
will open on the corner. The building that houses the US Post Office on Myrtle has been entirely
vacated of businesses other than the Post Office itself. There is uncertainty regarding its relocation.
Five new businesses have recently opened including two wine stores (Corkscrew Wines and Tipsy),
a new electronics store, Pecks (a prepared foods store), and Humo (a barbeque restaurant).
The New York City Department of Parks’ Division of Forestry planted nine new street trees that the
BID had requested in late November.
The $6 million Myrtle streetscape and public plaza project was put out to bid by the city,
and multiple bids have been received. The city is evaluating them and will be selecting a
contractor shortly. The groundbreaking is now expected in the spring. MARP is working
actively with all of the merchants in the future construction zone to ensure that they are
well-prepared and will be able to remain open during the 18 months of construction.
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I hope this report provides a good perspective on all that is underway at Pratt Institute. For me, there
has never been a fuller or more exciting time than the present. I am very grateful for your support,
collaboration, and friendship.
Happy Holidays to you!
Thomas F. Schutte
President
Revised January 29, 2014
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