How will classroom and instructional capacity be de-densified? (Updated July 20)

In order to mitigate risk in teaching environments, the reduction of student capacity in all scheduled teaching spaces will take place as follows: 

• Reduce student occupant capacities in all classrooms, by at least 50% in most classrooms.
• Limit large classroom occupancy to no more than 150 students.

Each classroom is being evaluated by physical facilities to provide a new capacity limit and install a see-thru barrier between instructor and students. This is done to maintain a safe distance between the instructor and the nearest student while teaching. In some cases, furniture is being removed from the physical classrooms, or areas of the classrooms are cordoned off so students can’t use those seats. For some of the scale-up rooms in WALC, it has been determined by physical facilities that they may need to be converted to tablet-chair rooms, because the 3 person/3 table setup would not allow us to meet the de-densification requirement and maintain appropriate social distancing. In instructional labs or in discussion-based courses —  where all students cannot face in the same direction and capacity of about 50% can’t be maintained — additional barriers will be provided and students will be required to wear face shields. Additional protocols will be established for entry/exit; sanitation/cleaning; and potential staggered or extended start time for classes. This might mean instructors would have to start class 10 minutes later so students can enter the classroom in a staggered fashion. More information can be found on the Protect Purdue website. This website is regularly updated.