After an academic year when many members of the Pratt Institute community did not step foot on campus, it was a momentous event to welcome students for the fall semester. Along with the incoming first-year students, second-year students who may have only experienced Pratt virtually joined in kicking off a new year.

President Frances Bronet welcoming students for move-in on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

President Frances Bronet welcoming students for move-in on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Orientation, move-in weekend, and other programs encouraged students to explore and get to know each other while continuing to promote safety on campus and beyond. Pratt is requiring vaccinations for all students, faculty, and staff as well as indoor mask-wearing to protect the health of its community and its neighbors. A mobile vaccine clinic was on Myrtle Avenue from August 21 to 22 to facilitate students who may not have been able to be vaccinated before arriving in New York.

Move-in weekend on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Move-in weekend on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Move-in weekend on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Move-in weekend on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Move-in weekend on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Move-in weekend on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

As students arrived at the residence halls over a series of days, they unpacked their bags, reunited with friends, and met new ones as they got acquainted with campus. This year’s student body represents all five New York City boroughs as well as 73 countries. President Frances Bronet and Delmy M. Lendof, vice president for student affairs, greeted undergraduate students in two sessions in Memorial Hall, introducing them to the vibrant campus environment where health will be prioritized along with Pratt’s world-class academic experience.

Orientation gathering on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Orientation gathering on the Brooklyn campus (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

From navigating Pratt’s Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses to getting advice on how to use the subway, the students had opportunities to get adjusted to life in New York City. Field trips to the Fort Greene neighborhood, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum showcased cultural, community, and recreational resources. Early risers met Lendof and President Bronet for a sunrise walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to take in the first light illuminating the New York Harbor and Manhattan skyline.

Delmy M. Lendof, vice president for student affairs, with students just before sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge (photo by Sam Stuart Hollenshead)

Delmy M. Lendof, vice president for student affairs, with students just before sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge (photo by Sam Stuart Hollenshead)

Some of the Pratt students on the Brooklyn Bridge (photo by Sam Stuart Hollenshead)

Some of the Pratt students on the Brooklyn Bridge (photo by Sam Stuart Hollenshead)

President Frances Bronet leading students over the Brooklyn Bridge (photo by Sam Stuart Hollenshead)

President Frances Bronet leading students over the Brooklyn Bridge (photo by Sam Stuart Hollenshead)

Back on the Brooklyn campus, the Pratt Quest involved students working together in teams on a scavenger hunt which took them around the Institute to learn about different departments and student organizations, receiving a stamp at each location. Sessions for incoming, international, transfer, graduate, and other students provided tips and insights on how to start the academic year strong and make the most of Pratt’s resources.

Students exploring campus on Pratt Quest (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Students exploring campus on Pratt Quest (photo by Caroline Cramer, BFA ’22)

Over the past year, Pratt’s students, faculty, and staff have demonstrated their resilience and innovation as a collective even when working apart. The start of the fall 2021 semester is an opportunity to celebrate being able to come together safely while remaining flexible as the world continues to change. With attentive safety measures, vaccination guidelines, and a commitment to a dynamic classroom experience, Pratt looks forward to an exciting year of learning, making, and creating as a community.