Pratt Institute Faculty Petition Against Cuts to Architecture Writing Program Contact Hours

Faculty at Pratt Institute are petitioning to reverse proposed reductions in contact hours for the Architecture Writing Program, which aims to enhance critical thinking and design articulation for architecture students. The cuts, first suggested by the provost office in 2024 and reiterated this year, would halve instructional time without reducing teaching loads, affecting 13 adjunct and part-time faculty members who could each lose about $4,400 per semester. Instructors argue the program is vital for countering AI use in assignments and supporting non-native English speakers, with the petition stating the changes contradict Pratt's 2030 Strategic Plan and an external review by Parsons professor Brian McGrath in November 2025. A meeting in early April between faculty and administration yielded no concessions, leading to continued organizing efforts. The petition, launched on March 9 and addressed to president Frances Bonet, provost Donna Heiland, dean Quilian Riano, and dean Peter West, calls for administrative affirmation of the program's value and alignment of student learning outcomes with existing contact hours. Concurrently, Pratt is increasing enrollment caps in fifth-year classes from 12 to 16 students, which faculty say will exacerbate workload issues. A Pratt spokesperson noted the courses are one-credit components of larger studios, capped at 12 students, with plans to adjust sections for resource efficiency.