The Academic Senate is a shared governance body representing faculty, chairs, and teaching staff at Pratt Institute. The Senate advises the Board of Trustees and administration, and its main responsibilities include academic policy review, curriculum review, academic services, funding opportunities, and nominations and elections for various positions, including nominating Pratt’s annual Distinguished Teacher, Research Recognition, and Academic Service Awards. The Senate meets monthly during the fall and spring semesters to hear reports, vote on actions, and hold elections for open positions. The Senate also convenes a Plenary meeting with the Institute President and Provost once each semester.
Structure
Every constituent has representation through at least one departmental senator and at least one at-large senator for their constituent group (full-time faculty, part-time faculty, chairs category, or staff who teach). Large departments with more than 80 faculty have one additional senator. In addition to voting senators, there are non-voting members of the Senate selected by the President, Provost’s Council, Staff Council and student government.
The Senate is led by an Executive Committee of four officers (President, Financial Officer, Information Officer, and Outreach Officer) and a Parliamentarian. The Senate President serves as a member of Senior Staff and major Institute Committees (e.g., Strategic Planning Committee) and as a non-voting member of the Board of Trustees. The position of the President can be held by two Co-Presidents.
The Senate officers, committee chairs, and other delegates elected by the Senate form the Steering Committee, which meets monthly during the fall and spring semesters to plan Senate activities and conduct interim business. A member of the Steering Committee also serves on Provost’s Council.
The Senate has seven other standing committees, which include senators and others from across the Institute:
- Academic Policy Committee (APC), which reviews policies procedures and makes recommendations to the Senate
- Institute Curriculum Committee (ICC), which reviews new and revised programs and required courses, makes recommendations to the Provost, and reports them at Senate meetings
- Distinguished Teacher Award Committee, which reviews nominations for the annual Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) and recommends candidates to the Senate
- Research Recognition Award Committee, which reviews nominations for the annual Research Recognition Award (RRA) and recommends candidates to the Senate
- Academic Service Award Committee, which reviews nominations for the annual Academic Service Award (ASA) and recommends candidates to the Senate
- Faculty Development Fund Committee, which reviews grant applications and makes recommendations to the Provost for Faculty Development Fund (FDF) awards
- Institute Assessment Committee, which fulfills the Senate’s responsibility for receiving and reviewing program assessment plans and annual reports
Contact
Academic Senate
Memorial Hall 006B
Tel: 718.636.3625
senate@pratt.edu
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
For a list of officers and senators, please see the Current Roster.