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May 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. President Mitch Daniels provides guidelines for Boilermakers on keeping ourselves, others and Purdue safe in the coming year and encourages the Purdue community to stay vigilant even after being fully vaccinated. Students can also review the role of COVID-19 vaccine in fall 2021 operations.
Summer 2021
COVID-19 testing plan
Purdue University has announced its summer COVID-19 testing strategy as campus leaders continue to work with medical advisors to continually monitor and update Protect Purdue guidelines.
Surveillance testing
General surveillance testing will not be required for employees and students this summer, with the exception of critical on-campus employees (including police, fire, medical, utility operators and others) who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
General and symptomatic testing
General COVID-19 testing will continue to be available to both employees and students at no charge through the Protect Purdue Health Center. Testing is available Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Information on how to schedule a test is available here.
Student entry testing/vaccination requirements
Students living in University Residences this summer who are new to Purdue or attending for a summer academic program only must show one of the following forms of documentation upon arrival to campus:
- A negative COVID-19 test taken within three days prior to moving into the residence hall. These tests may be performed prior to arrival by a licensed health care provider/laboratory, or students can be tested upon arrival on campus by the Protect Purdue Health Center via a rapid antigen test.
- A completed CDC vaccine card demonstrating that the individual is fully vaccinated (defined as two weeks after completing the vaccine schedule).
- A positive COVID-19 test result within the preceding 90 days. Due to technical aspects of the COVID-19 PCR-based tests, the CDC has recommended that anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 refrain from taking another test for 90 days from the first positive test. All residents must be asymptomatic prior to initiating the check-in process.
Students who do not provide one of the above forms of documentation will not be permitted to move into the residence halls.
Students living off campus for the summer and those currently in University Residences will not be required to complete a COVID-19 entry test.
Full University Residences summer move-in information is available online.
COVID-19 vaccines
The Protect Purdue Health Center will continue to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, as long as there continues to be campus demand and a supply of the vaccine from the state. The latest information on hours and how to register for a vaccination appointment is available here and will continue to be updated.
Once fully vaccinated, faculty, staff and students should submit vaccine documentation here. The University continues to encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Purdue scientists key in state’s battle against COVID variants, future viral threats
Purdue University is at the forefront of Indiana’s fight against the spread of COVID-19 variants and remains uniquely able to assist should the pandemic surge or change course in the weeks, months or years ahead.
“When challenges like this arise, Purdue steps in,” said Willie Reed, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and head of the vaccine task force. “The combination of scientific and engineering excellence makes us stand out from the crowd. We have STEM expertise, including a world-class veterinary medical school, biomedical researchers and more. People from all areas of the university have stepped up as we knew they would, using their expertise and willingness to immediately apply their knowledge to this worldwide challenge.”
Tracking the genetics of a virus or any disease gives scientists insights into how it is moving through a community and allows them to take steps to slow the spread. Comparing genomics also can help scientists understand how the variant is responding to vaccinations, as well as other anti-infectious measures including masks, quarantines, social distancing, intensive cleaning and other procedures. Read more.
Featured Stories
In-person learning is more effective — and Purdue is making it safe
Newest Tyler Trent scholarship recipient a success story in overcoming life’s obstacles
Kyle Albertson is an achiever. But for him, achieving in everyday activities that most people take for granted requires determination, ingenuity, stamina and a whole lot of extra effort.
Purdue University’s newest recipient of the Tyler Trent Courage and Resilience Award embodies everything that Trent showed as he battled cancer and influenced people in multiple ways.
Albertson, diagnosed at 9 months old with congenital muscular dystrophy, which causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass, has battled – and beaten – challenges that few even have to consider. As he readies to graduate Saturday (May 15) from Purdue’s College of Agriculture, these are but a few of his hard-earned accomplishments: Read more.
‘We Are Purdue’: Purdue Day of Giving raises $52.5 million
Taking the theme “We Are Purdue,” the eighth annual Purdue Day of Giving surged past last year’s $42.2 million total to raise $52.5 million, through 25,219 gifts, toward the small steps and giant leaps that make Purdue University an engine of innovation and impact.
This year’s giving day (Wednesday, April 28) followed just seven months after last year’s, which was postponed to September 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 fundraising event extended the university’s tradition of topping the previous year’s contributions, set a Purdue record for number of gifts made and brought Purdue Day of Giving’s cumulative total, since 2014, to $241.5 million. (See YouTube thank you video.) Read more.
Purdue Grand Prix
Rookie driver Jacob Peddycord won the 64th running of the Purdue Grand Prix race Sunday (April 25). The karting race, dubbed the “Greatest Spectacle in College Racing,” took place on the Purdue Grand Prix Track adhering to Protect Purdue guidelines. Purdue President Mitch Daniels served as this year’s grand marshal. Photo Gallery.
Virtual tours provide sneak peek of future facilities on WL campus
Across the West Lafayette campus, giant leaps forward – made possible in large part through the generosity of the Boilermaker family – are underway. Last week, the Purdue for Life Foundation pulled back the curtain on five future facilities through virtual tour videos.
Steps to Leaps - Well Being Tips
Dr. Louis Tay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences. He has expertise in well-being, assessments, and data science. Each week Steps to Leaps provides an weekly wellness tip - this week's tip is Beyond Mental Health: The Science of Well-Being.
Now's the time to Think Summer
It’s not too late to apply for summer financial aid. As long as your student has completed the 2021-2022 FAFSA, encourage them to apply for summer aid in their myPurdue portal. More information about summer aid can be viewed here.
Summer programming to return in 2021; Protect Purdue summer guidelines announced
As campus leaders work closely with medical advisors to safely bring campus life closer to normal, Purdue University announces the return of select summer academic programs and updates to various Protect Purdue protocols and guidelines for the summer session, which will take effect May 9.
“As case numbers recede and more of our campus community becomes vaccinated against COVID-19, we are excited to resume many of our typical great summer programs,” said John Gipson, director of Summer Session. “We have worked very carefully with university leadership and the Medical Advisory Team to ensure we continue to do everything possible to keep our community safe as we deliver an outstanding Boilermaker experience this summer.” Click here for more updates.
Office of the Dean of Students available to assist students in need of support
As the semester wraps up, 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.
Commencement News
Planning for Purdue’s commencement: Additional details released for upcoming ceremonies
Both commencements will be livestreamed. The Saturday commencement livestream, featuring undergraduates, master’s and professional degree candidates, will start at 10 a.m. ET at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Sunday commencement livestream, featuring Ph.D. candidates, will start at 10 a.m. ET at Elliott Hall of Music.
Parking will be available both days in the Grant Street, Northwestern Avenue and University Street parking garages. Uniformed police will be on duty and will provide directions as needed. Guests may use the May 15 parking maps and May 16 parking maps.
For Saturday’s commencement, parking will be available in R Lot at Ross-Ade Stadium. Accessible parking will be in H Lot near the stadium. Golf cart shuttle services will be provided. There will be several street closures and restrictions around the stadium:
* John R. Wooden Drive from Stadium Avenue to just north of Tiller Drive.
* Steven C. Beering Drive from Tower Drive to just north of Tiller Drive.
* Tower Drive from Steven C. Beering Drive to John R. Wooden Drive.
* All of Joe Tiller Drive.
* G Lot drive and entrance along Northwestern Avenue (between Mackey Arena and Lambert Fieldhouse).
All guests of candidates in the Ross-Ade ceremony must follow the Ross-Ade Stadium bag check and the policy of clear bags. Limited seating meeting standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act will be available. Parking and shuttle service details for both ceremonies will be released closer to commencement. Guests should use Ross-Ade gates C, D, EE, F, G and GG, and the Tyler Trent Gate. Gates EE, F, G and GG are street-level and can be used for those with accessibility needs.
Graduate School guests at Elliott Hall of Music will need to have bags checked before entering the building.
Tickets for the events will be released to candidates on Thursday (May 13). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tickets will be for assigned seating at the stadium and Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets cannot be transferred to others.
Purdue President Mitch Daniels will speak at Saturday’s ceremony, and Provost Jay Akridge will speak at Sunday’s ceremony.
The ceremonies will be held in accordance with Protect Purdue event and visitor guidelines for Commencement week.
For more information, visit the Purdue commencement website.
Purdue’s top students to be recognized during 2021 commencement
Purdue University on Tuesday (May 5) announced the recipients of some of its highest awards for the academic year.
The university’s top female student is Alexandra “Sasha” Kipnis from the College of Science, and the top male student is Zachary A. Marshall from the College of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute and the Honors College. Read more.
Commencement Links
Dates
May 15, Commencement
May 16, Commencement
May 17, First 4-, 8-, & 12-week Summer Modules Begin
May 31, Memorial Day (No Classes)
June 11, First 4-week Summer Module Ends
June 14, Second 4- & 8-week Summer Module Begins
July 5, Independence Holiday Observed (No Classes)
July 9, First 8-week & Second 4-week Module Ends
July 12, Third 4-week Summer Module Begins
August 6, 12-week, second 8-week, & Third 4-week Summer Module Ends
August 7, Commencement