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Mid-January 2021 Newsletter
COVID-19 Information from Purdue
Although we are continuing to keep families updates with information sent to the Purdue community, for the most up-to-date information and FAQ's please visit the Protect Purdue website, and the Purdue COVID-19 Dashboard.
Purdue monitoring returning student positivity rates, new strains of COVID-19; surveillance testing ramps up for spring semester
As Purdue University welcomes more than 40,000 students, faculty and staff back to the West Lafayette campus, University leaders continue to monitor closely the evolving COVID-19 situation and share a series of Protect Purdue updates as the spring semester begins. More.
What Your Student Should Do If They Are Sick
All faculty, staff and students are expected to monitor for and report all symptoms of COVID-19 to the Protect Purdue Health Center.
First Steps
- If your student is sick, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they should stay home and do not attend work or class. If they are at work or in class when symptoms begin, they should go home immediately.
- Students should inform their instructor and/or supervisor of their absence and contact the Protect Purdue Health Center 24/7 at 765-496-INFO (4636) or toll-free at 833-571-1043. (A call tree option is available after hours.) Students will be connected with a registered nurse case manager, who will help determine the appropriate course of care, which could include self-quarantine and a COVID-19 test.
Next Steps
- Students, faculty and staff are expected to follow the directions provided by the case manager from the Protect Purdue Health Center, including any testing, contact tracing and quarantine or isolation instructions.
- Do not return to work or class until you receive clearance to do so from the Protect Purdue Health Center.
- Information and resources for anyone in isolation or quarantine are available from the Protect Purdue Health Center.
Featured Stories
2021 Presidential Inauguration: Lessons of the Past, Informing Our Future
Inauguration Day. A day of rituals and traditions that honors and recognizes the will of the people, having chosen their leader through free elections. A day focused on the peaceful transfer of power, revered as a hallmark of a truly free democracy. A day to reflect on the country's past and its future. Purdue wants you to be a part.
We invite students and others to learn more about Inauguration Day's significance today and at various moments in U.S. history by joining us here for the following livestream events.
Office of the Dean of Students available to assist students in need of support
As the semester begins, the Office of the Dean of Students wants to remind the campus community that ODOS remains available to assist in providing support for students who are on campus as well as with students who are working remotely.
ODOS can help students navigate challenges they are experiencing both personally and academically. Faculty and staff who recognize a student who may be in need of support or additional care are encouraged to share their concern with ODOS. A list of common reported concerns is available online.
Here are some examples of concerns in a remote learning environment:
- Concerning comments in electronic communication or social media.
- Change in behavior (lack of engagement in coursework; marked drop in performance).
- Stopped communication (no longer responding to academic outreach).
Additionally, students affected by COVID-19 (self or family diagnoses, financial insecurity, etc.) also can be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students for support.
Student of Concern Reports prompt individualized outreach to students by members of the Office of the Dean of Students and can be submitted online.
CAPS is Open!
Welcome to Spring 2021 semester! CAPS is available to assist students in addressing their mental health concerns, which may have been affected by the global pandemic and civil unrest. The CAPS staff is happy to serve currently enrolled, degree-seeking Purdue students. As the campus mental health providers, CAPS is strongly committed to serving a diverse student body including students of all racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds sexual/affectional orientations; gender identities; mental and physical abilities languages; classes agesl religion and spirituality; socioeconomic backgrounds; and more.
CAPS is currently offering remote services which includes Brief Individual Therapy, Group Therapy, Workshops, Psychiatric Services, Care Management, Crisis and Emergency Services, and Outreach and Consultation. If your student is seeking CAPS services, they should call 765-494-6995 to schedule a brief phone screening with a counselor. CAPS brief screenings are available within 1-2 business days to ensure staff can be connected as quickly as possible. At the end of the screening, the counselor will provide the student with services that best meet their mental health needs at CAPS, other Purdue services or in the community.
Want to learn more about CAPS? Vist the CAPS website, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts for more information.
Did you know CAPS also offers self-help resources? WellTrack is an online, self-help resource that is available to all Purdue students.
New Learning Online 101 course for all undergraduates launched Jan. 11 to support hybrid/online learning, navigating Brightspace
All Purdue West Lafayette undergraduate students had access beginning on Jan. 11 to a new resource to assist them in preparing for hybrid and online learning in the Brightspace learning management system. Undergraduate students will automatically be enrolled in Learning Online 101, which will appear alongside their other courses in Brightspace and remain available while they are at Purdue.
Students are encouraged to engage with Learning Online 101 as a way to get a jump on spring 2021 courses, which begin Jan. 19. The self-paced, elective course features a range of materials developed specifically for students and from the student perspective. These include video tutorials, simple document guides, and links to key Purdue resources, organized into four modules that can be completed conveniently and quickly (15 to 30 minutes for each module):
- The Mindset and Readiness module is designed to help students feel more confident and prepared to learn online.
- Foundations for Academic Success offers a variety of learning best practices.
- The Navigating Brightspace module helps students operate the tools and functionality inside of Brightspace, and recognize the structure and organization in other Brightspace courses.
- Connecting in Your Online Classroom explores how students can develop connections with peers and course facilitators in virtual environments.
Students who were part of the Learning Online 101 review found the course well-designed and informative, even as they were taking other courses using Brightspace. Further details are available on the Innovative Learning News webpage.
West Lafayette was named one of the nations safest college towns by saftey.com
WLFI, a local news station recently reported West Lafayette was named one of the safest college towns in the nation, according to a saftey.com ranking. The city ranked third, behind Durham, New Hampshire and Moraga, California.
The website used data from a 2019 FBI crime report as well as other factors to determine their rankings. West Lafayette was given praise for its low violent crime rate (0.65 per 1,000 residents) as well as its contributing resources such as animal control and parking patrol.
Mayor John Dennis attributes communication between police, fire department, and citizens to the low crime rate and quality of life.
You can find the full rankings here.
Purdue to hold spring commencement at Ross-Ade Stadium
In-person commencement will return in May 2021 at Purdue University, which announced Monday (Dec. 14) that it will hold the Spring ’21 commencement at Ross-Ade Stadium, allowing graduates to share the special experience safely with family and friends. The in-person event for undergraduate and professional candidates will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 15.
“We have all been disappointed that in-person commencements were impossible in 2020,” Purdue President Mitch Daniels said. “We created the best virtual commencement ceremonies among our peers, but it isn't’t the same as celebrating this important milestone in person. I know our team is hard at work to make a Ross-Ade ceremony memorable for everyone involved. When it is safe to get back to Elliott Hall, we will.”
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Purdue held its May, August and December commencement ceremonies virtually. In a typical spring the university would hold six ceremonies, virtually unique among large universities, with each student’s name called as they walk across the Elliott Hall stage. The move to the university’s football stadium allows for a safe in-person experience that will follow any and all public health and Purdue safety protocols.
- Graduates will receive their diploma and cover in person as they check in for the ceremony.
- Names will be shown on the vast new stadium video boards before the ceremony and during the procession.
- The ceremony is for undergraduate and professional candidates only.
- The Graduate School will host master’s and doctoral degree commencement programming with details to be announced.
“We want everyone to have this chance to safely celebrate and commemorate their time on campus and are working on making this as memorable as possible,” said Chris Pass, senior assistant registrar.
The event will be held in accordance with Protect Purdue guidelines. Any specific health and safety information will be communicated closer to the ceremony. Graduates will receive a to-be-determined number of tickets to distribute and the Purdue Athletic Ticket Office will assist with seating.
Information for 1098T
Purdue now reports in Box 1 of the 1098T which represents the amount of Qualified Tuition & Related Expenses (QTRE) paid during the year.
Depending on the students’ income (or family income, if the student is a dependent), whether the student is considered full or half-time enrolled, and the amount of the qualified educational expenses for the year, the student maybe eligible for a federal education tax credit. (Detailed information about claiming education tax credits are available on the IRS website, publication 970.
The dollar amounts reported on the Form 1098-T may assist in completing IRS Form 8863 – the form used for calculating the education tax credits that a taxpayer may claim as part of their tax return.
Reminder: due to the Winter Recess, any mailed payments including 529s had to be received in our office by December 17th to be processed and included on the 2020 1098-T. Any payments made online electronically & posted by December 31, 2020 were included.
Purdue University is unable to provide individual tax advice, but should you have questions, please seek the counsel of an informed tax preparer or adviser.
For your general reference, below is a blank sample of the 2020 Form 1098-T, that you will receive electronically via the student account in January 2021. For more information and additional resources about Form 1098-T, visit the Office of the Bursar website.
Undergraduate Technology Advocate initiative pilots spring semester at West Lafayette – applications now open
Technology Advocates are part of a new initiative at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus that aims to improve student learning and reduce instructional technology burdens. The Office of the Provost will hire up to 100 Technology Advocates to provide instructional support to West Lafayette instructors and students during spring 2021.
Feedback on fall 2020 from instructors and students identified course technology as an area where more support was needed for spring 2021. Technology Advocates can assist instructors with their Brightspace course, streaming and lecture capture tools (e.g., BoilerCast), and other instructional technologies related to their courses. They can also answer student questions on these topics. A Technology Advocate will serve as a point of contact who is connected to Purdue's technology support infrastructure.
Full-time staff will serve as supervisors on an overload basis. Supervisors will oversee and coordinate teams of Technology Advocates, and will establish the initial relationship with interested faculty so they can determine how best to meet each instructor's needs. Supervisors will be liaisons to Innovative Learning and ITaP when additional support is needed.
This initiative is a collaboration between Teaching & Learning, college IT staff, Innovative Learning, and ITaP. It builds on existing relationships within colleges when possible, and Innovative Learning educational technology experts are helping to develop the training plan for students and their supervisors. Victory Soe, a Senior Instructional Technologist in the Computer Science department, will be leading the team.
Students who want to apply to be Technology Advocates should start the process by completing this application form.
For additional questions, contact: Sheila Hurt, Senior Program Director, Boiler Success Team at sfhurt@purdue.edu.
Purdue Convocations pivots to new forms of live performance
Due to the cancellation of university-sponsored on-campus events under the guidelines of Protect Purdue, the Purdue Convocations team has had to adapt to new forms of live powerful performance, illuminating discourse and learning experiences.
Normally, Convocations offers the region 30-40 performances of widely varying genres: Broadway-style shows, theater, dance, world music, and more. All of them share a vision for connecting artists and audiences in artistic dialogue and for drawing in academic discourse, exploring human cultural expression in a multitude of forms and media. More.
Parent & Family Virtual Events
Parent & Family Connections was excited to bring families virtual opportunities to learn more about resources at Purdue so you can best guide your student. If you missed any of our events thus far, you can find a list of previous events on the Parent & Family Connections website. Watch your inbox for additional Spring 2021 events!
Purdue WL community: Adverse winter weather procedures
If adverse weather conditions necessitate that a wind chill, snow or ice emergency be declared for the West Lafayette campus, special procedures pertaining to classes, operations, parking, pay and/or attendance will become effective.
News from CCO
Spring 2021 Purdue JCPenney Suit-Up Online Event January 24 – 30, 2021. A coupon is required to take advantage of an extra 30% off on select merchandise and it can be used either online or in-store. If you prefer to wait to use your coupon, it will be valid for a one-time purchase January 14 – May 2, 2021.
University Residences
Contracting for 2021-2022 Academic Year
Contract Renewal is a phased process – based upon where the resident currently lives and their current University classification. With the exception of November 3, 2020, each phase becomes active at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time and remains active until the end of the contract renewal process, which is February 28, 2021, at 11:55 p.m. Eastern Time.
For the 2021-2022 academic year:
- Aspire and Salisbury Campus Apartments will no longer be master leased through University Residences for the upcoming academic year. Students living in these locations will receive an email regarding being in a displaced status for contract renewal.
- Several rooms in various halls will be unavailable for returners due to changes in Learning Community usage, gender reconfiguration, or other repurposing. These residents and all Honor College and Residences spaces will be displaced. Current residents in these rooms will have priority as a displaced resident for choosing a different space.
- Current Honors College residents who want to live in one of the designated returning Honors College spaces will be required to have a roommate from Honors College.
- Your student will have the opportunity to request a roommate in Contract Renewal – after the “Return to Your Same Room” phase. Very Important! If your student's roommate request is accepted, your student will also need to assign their accepted roommate request to a space with you beginning with the start date of your students current University classification phase date (see priority phase dates above).
- If your student wants to request a new incoming beginner freshman to University Residences for the 2021-2022 Academic Year, their friend must have already started a housing contract in the new student housing contract portal for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. The new student housing contract portal will open around January 15, 2021 at noon Eastern Time. (Note: Your student will not be able to request a current student presently living off campus or an incoming Transfer student for their roommate as these students will be required to place their name on a waiting list to sign a housing contract – if space is available after May 5, 2021.)
- Your student may make changes to or cancel their signed housing contract at any time during the Contract Renewal process. Contract Renewal closes February 28, 2021, at 11:55 p.m. Eastern Time, at which time all signed contracts in the system become legally binding. Beginning February 28, 2021, at 11:56 p.m. your student's signed contract for the 2021-2022 Academic Year may only be canceled if they will NOT be attending Purdue University during the 2021-2022 Academic Year contract term.
Housing Move-up Tours and Roommate Matching Events
Students who want to learn more about all of the move-up options are invited to attend a Housing move-up tour. Housing move-up tours will be offered in January from 6-9 p.m. Tours will begin outside the following halls' main office, with the exception of Purdue Village.
- Tuesday, Jan. 19 & Monday, Jan. 25 - Hawkins Hall and First Street Towers
- Wednesday, Jan. 20 & Tuesday, Jan. 26 - Cary Quad and Meredith Hall
- Thursday, Jan. 21 & Wednesday, Jan. 27 - Purdue Village (meet at the community center) and Hilltop Apartments.
Dates
January 27, Last Day to Register Without a Late Fee
February 1, Last Day to Cancel a Course Assignment Without It Appearing on Record
February 12, Last Day to Withdraw a Course With a Grade of W or To Add/Modify a Course with Instructor and Advisor Signature
February 17, Reading Day
February 22, Last Day for Grade Correction for Fall 2020 Semester
March 15, Second 8-week Courses Begin
March 15, Schedule of Classes Published for Fall 2021
March 18, Reading Day
March 22, Last Day to Withdraw from a Course with a W or WF grade
March 22, Last Day to Add/Modify a Course with Instructor, Advisor, and Department Head Signature
April 13, Reading Day
May 1, Classes End
May 3-8, Final Exams
May 8, Semester Ends
May 8, Deadline for Pending Spring 2020 Incomplete Grades to Become Failing Grades
May 15, Commencement
May 16, Commencement