Purdue announces summer COVID-19 testing plan

May 6, 2021

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. Critical employees who are fully vaccinated should upload documentation here in order to be excluded from the surveillance testing pool. 

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.