Resources for Student Support

Starting this year, “Starfish” will replace the “Retention Alert” system.  If a student is having difficulty with academic, emotional, or financial matters, using Starfish means that someone with the right resources will follow up with that student and help work out what they need to address the issue.  So, depending on the kind of issue, it might contact Academic Advisement, Financial Services, the Library, the Learning/Access center, the Writing Center, Career development, or the Pratt Pantry to follow up with the student. Once you “raise a flag” about the student issue, you will get a follow up email when the issue has been addressed by the right office/person.  

Also, “Starfish” will email you a “progress survey email” twice in the semester.  This survey will give you the chance to “raise a flag” about your students’ academic progress if you choose.  If the student is in danger of failing or having attendance issues, for example, you can flag that.  In turn, the student will get an email letting them know that the flag has been raised and where/how to seek out support.   If/when the student does so, you will get a follow-up email.  Of course and as ever, if a student in your class is having an issue with attendance, completing work, the quality of their work, preparation, or participation, you can and should continue to address those concerns to the student as you have in the past and in the context of the classroom and their academic work.  The “Starfish” tool reinforces those conversations and connects students of support resources.   

Student Affairs is a friendly place with an open door.  It’s a good place for students to start if they have questions/need resources they don’t know how to find.  The Learning/Access Center, Health and Counseling, and the Center for Equity and Inclusion, (all described below) fall under Student Affairs.  Student Affairs is located on the lower level of Main Building. https://www.pratt.edu/student-life/student-affairs/

Located on the first floor of North Hall and featuring awesome salt-water fishtanks, the Writing and Tutorial Center is a free resource to students that provides tutoring on writing, history of art, math, physics, and thesis classes.  You might refer a student who needs additional support with writing to the Center, and you can require them to attend. 

Many of the experienced Tutors are also faculty in our department and can help students with everything from understanding an assignment to structuring a paper to improving clarity and grammar.  It’s important to underscore that tutors do not provide a proofreading service; students should expect to actively work on their papers with a tutor, not just have them corrected. Tutors work with students on a one-time basis, or on a weekly basis.  Students should schedule appointments by calling or walking in to the Writing and Tutorial Center. 

Phone: (718) 636-3459;  Hours: Monday-Thursday 10a-8p; Friday 10a-5p.

The Learning/Access Center (L/AC) is located on the first floor of the ISC building, and provides resources for all Pratt students to learn academic success and time-management skills, including the opportunity to meet with peer and/or professional academic coaches and tutors.  The L/AC also coordinates access for students with disabilities and assists with implementing reasonable accommodations.

At the start of the semester, the L/AC will email you a faculty notification letter (FNL) for any students with disabilities in your class who have enrolled with the L/AC and provided permission for contact.  The FNL outlines the student’s standard accommodations; it’s best to meet and talk through the student’s learning needs with them, but keep in mind that student disability-related information is private and confidential.  Often, students will approach you about what they need. Reach out to the student’s L/AC advisor (it’s listed on the student’s FNL) if you need help implementing accommodations or if you have any concerns about doing so. You can also reach out to the L/AC for help with a student who is struggling, whether or not they are already enrolled with the L/AC for accommodations.  

The L/AC website is informative and it’s worth checking out their Mission Statement and FAQs for faculty:  https://www.pratt.edu/student-life/student-affairs/learning-access-center/

HEOP stands for the Higher Education Opportunity Program, and provides academic, career, financial, and personal/emotional counseling for students who have had barriers in their educational background and come from low-income New York families.  You’ll receive a letter if a HEOP student is enrolled in your class, and you can reach out to that student’s counselor if they need additional academic support for your class; the counselors in the HEOP office know the students throughout their academic careers and really value timely and specific feedback on how students can succeed.  

https://www.pratt.edu/admissions/financing-your-education/heop/

The Counseling Center is located on the third floor of the ISC building, and they’re open during the day M-F.  They provide a wide array of services and resources for students, Their website is here, https://www.pratt.edu/student-life/student-affairs/counseling-services/ and their pamphlet on assisting students with emotional or behavioral problems is great: https://www.pratt.edu/uploads/CounselingServicesReferrals.pdf  

Located on the ground floor of Main building, the Mission of the Center for Equity and Inclusion (CEI) is “to support and advocate for all students [and] to strive to create a welcoming and safe environment where diversity, in all its many forms, is valued and celebrated,” from their website.  In addition to providing a drop-in/lounge space, the CEI does student oriented programming throughout the year. Take time to read about their education, advocacy, and empowerment initiatives on their website, and their “Diversity Advocates” trainings for faculty. 

https://www.pratt.edu/the-institute/diversity-and-inclusion/center-for-equity-and-inclusion/

Students are afforded rights to their educational records under FERPA.  As a faculty member, keep in mind that you should never display students’ grades publicly in association with names, social security numbers, or other personal identifiers.  Keep your graded papers and grade calculations private; students are not to have access to the scores and grades of others in a class in a way that allows students to be identified.  Neither should you share students’ grades with other faculty unless it’s a “legitimate educational interest.” If you’re unsure, ask the Chair. All of this information was drawn from Pratt’s FERPA brochure; the Registrar’s FERPA website can tell you more: 

https://www.pratt.edu/student-life/student-services/office-of-the-registrar/guidelines/ferpa/

Esmilda Abreu, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Title IX Coordinator   

Main Building, Lower Level, Room 008

Eabreu26@pratt.edu, 718.636.3722