84 Purdue students face disciplinary action for failing twice to comply with required COVID-19 test

Vaccination, surveillance testing rates remain strong overall at semester’s start through Protect Purdue efforts

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The vast majority of Purdue University students are in compliance with the Protect Purdue guidelines by either uploading their vaccine status or submitting to regular surveillance testing. 

Three weeks into the semester, 84 Purdue students are receiving disciplinary action for failing to comply with the Protect Purdue surveillance testing requirement after a prior warning. After the first week of testing, over 700 students were out of compliance, but ongoing communication to that group has resulted in a majority uploading their vaccine documentation or fulfilling their testing requirement. 

Before the start of the fall semester, students were given the choice to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and upload that documentation status to the Purdue vaccination portal or to participate in routine surveillance testing, which could be as frequently as weekly. 

With the vast majority of Purdue students doing their part to Protect Purdue by being fully vaccinated or participating in regular surveillance testing, the number not complying is expected to fall as students are successfully contacted, said Jay Akridge, Purdue provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity.

The 84 students have been notified by email and phone that they remain in non-compliance for failing to complete their required test. A third violation will result in suspension. And for some of the 84 students, those notifications could go out as early as next week based on this week’s compliance numbers, Akridge said.

“As this pandemic persists, we have a shared responsibility to do our part in taking the necessary steps to protect ourselves, others and the community – and that means getting the vaccine and verifying that status or participating in campus COVID-19 testing,” Akridge said. “That choice was made clear for our students, faculty and staff through the tenets of the Protect Purdue Pledge, and that choice came with consequences that have been clearly communicated to our entire Boilermaker community.”

The Office of the Dean of Students is handling all student violations for failure to participate in routine surveillance and targeted testing. Disciplinary actions range from warning to suspension for repeated violations. Full details on consequences for those who fail to participate in Protect Purdue surveillance testing are available online.

Meanwhile, 214 Purdue employees have received an initial written warning that they are in non-compliance for failing to participate in required surveillance testing. A staff member who is not compliant is subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. 

All employees who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, with the exception of those working 100% remote, must participate in regular surveillance testing. 

Testing is conducted by appointment through the Protect Purdue Health Center. Those students and employees required to complete a surveillance test have received an email with a link to schedule an appointment; others wishing to be tested may do so at no cost by scheduling an appointment with PPHC at 765-496-4636 (toll-free at 1-833-571-1043) or by email at pphctesting@121.health.

Hours for the COVID-19 testing campus site, located at the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center (Co-Rec), are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9-11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

Three weeks into the new academic year, over 82% of the Purdue campus community is verified as fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while overall testing this fall shows an overall positivity rate of just 1.51%, according to the Protect Purdue COVID-19 Dashboard.

“We thank everyone who has registered their vaccination status, as well as those who are responding to the call to be routinely tested for COVID-19,” said Eric Barker, dean of the College of Pharmacy and leader of the Protect Purdue Health Monitoring and Surveillance team. “They are truly taking steps to protect Purdue. Each day brings a new challenge, but we are encouraged by the strides we are making together at the start of this new school year.”

An on-campus vaccine clinic is open at the Co-Rec from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. No reservation is needed to receive the FDA-approved Pfizer vaccine. Purdue faculty, staff, students, retirees, spouses and dependents ages 12 and up are eligible to be vaccinated on campus.

About Purdue University

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