Latest Updates

Thanksgiving Departure COVID-19 Testing Guidance: Purdue is committed to helping students return home safely at Thanksgiving and helping any Boilermaker traveling over the holidays make a plan for COVID-19 testing before departure.

Updates from Human Resources: The majority of staff will continue under the same work location status — whether remote, hybrid or 100% on campus — through the spring semester. Vulnerability workplace accommodations will remain in place through the spring semester; changes or new requests can be made with HR.

Spring Return-to-Campus Testing Details: All undergraduate students in the spring 2021 residential option, as well as all West Lafayette-bound graduate and professional program students, are required to be tested for COVID-19 and be cleared for campus access by the Protect Purdue Health Center before the start of the spring semester.

Extra Winter Recess Days Added for Staff: President Daniels announced that employees will be given an added two days off during winter break as thanks for their outstanding effort during the past months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spring 2021 Alternative Academic Calendar: Spring 2021 instruction will begin Tuesday, Jan. 19; to allow for this later start and to minimize mass travel to and from campus during the semester, the customary spring break period has been eliminated. In its place, three reading days have been added throughout the semester.

Event Guidelines: Updated Nov. 1, 2020: New guidelines issued for on- and off-campus events during the Fall 2020 semester.

Guidelines for Eating and Drinking on Campus: Eating and drinking near others is a very high-risk activity; these guidelines detail allowable and prohibited locations for eating and drinking, as well as general guidance for doing so safely.

Travel Guidelines: Updated Oct. 16, 2020: Travel restrictions in place for all Purdue West Lafayette faculty, staff and students who are traveling for work or in connection with a course, including Purdue Extension and Polytechnic Statewide.

December Commencement: Winter commencement ceremonies will be held on-demand; a decision on May 2020 commencement will be made by Dec. 5, if possible.

Return-to-campus testing and after-travel guidance for faculty and staff: Employees returning to campus after out-of-state travel after July 31 and throughout the fall semester are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 upon return.

Face Mask Protocols: Required safe health protocols include face masks, distancing, robust personal hygiene for anyone who must be on campus.

Visitor Guidelines: New guidelines encourage units to delay or cancel any invited visitors through the Fall 2020 semester.

Chronology of Purdue's Response to COVID-19

Additional details and guidance are shared in the messages below.