Spring 2021 events guidelines

See also: Spring travel guidelines | Spring visitor guidelines | Commencement week events and visitor guidelines

Updated April 12, 2021

The following guidelines for events remain in effect until further notice, are part of the Protect Purdue Plan, and were developed to help ensure the health and safety of the campus community.  It is important to note that these guidelines may be modified as the COVID-19 situation and corresponding federal, state and local guidance continues to evolve. 

Events with more than 100 attendees must be approved first by the Office of the Provost.  

On Campus

1. All spring 2021 university-sponsored on-campus convocations will be canceled to prioritize space for learning and discovery activities, and to ensure campus capacity to follow the safest social distancing recommendations.
2. All spring 2021 university-sponsored on-campus conferences will be canceled to prioritize space for learning and discovery activities, and to ensure campus capacity to follow the safest social distancing recommendations.
3. The University urges all colleges, divisions, schools, departments and other organizational units to delay or cancel any event that includes attendance of people outside of the Purdue campus community through the spring 2021 semester.
4. Any on-campus spring 2021 event that may include more than 100 people must have the approval of the Office of the Provost. To download and submit the forms for approval of events for more than 100 people, visit https://www.purdue.edu/provost/events/approval.html. Requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
5. For spring 2021, any learning, discovery and engagement activities with 100 or fewer attendees sponsored by Student Life or any College or other academic unit must adhere to the Protect Purdue Plan’s health and safety guidelines. The sponsoring unit is fully responsible for ensuring their sponsored event is safely conducted and complies with those guidelines. Approval is at the unit leader level (Dean, Vice Provost, etc.) or their designee.
6. For spring 2021, any event sponsored by a recognized student organization with 100 or fewer attendees must adhere to the Protect Purdue Plan’s health and safety guidelines. The student organization must have their event plan approved by the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life, which will ensure the student event is safely conducted and complies with those guidelines.  Activity approval starts through Student Activities and Organizations (SAO) by submitting an Activity Planning Form located on BoilerLink.
7. Student organization events will only be authorized to be held in Tippecanoe county on Purdue property for the spring 2021 semester.

Off Campus

1. Any University sponsored off-campus spring 2021 event, regardless of funding source, that may include more than 100 people must have the approval of the Office of the Provost. It is imperative that the sponsoring unit and event organizer understand all local travel, event size and social distancing requirements as described in paragraph 3(1) of this section with the understanding that those requirements are likely to change with little notice. To download and submit the forms for approval of events for more than 100 people, visit https://www.purdue.edu/provost/events/approval.html. Requests must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
2. Any off-campus spring 2021 event with 100 or fewer attendees that is sponsored by the university or any college, division or other unit of the university, regardless of the funding source, must adhere to the health and safety guidelines of the locality and venue in which the event is held and be approved by the Dean, Associate/Vice Provost or Vice President responsible for the event or their designee.
3. The sponsoring unit is responsible for ensuring the event:
   1. Complies with all current federal, state, county and city restrictions regarding travel, event size and social distancing requirements;
   2. Is held at a site that is adequately insured, consistent with university risk management guidelines;
   3. Has adequate COVID-19 safety plans;
   4. Is documented by a clear agreement between the university and the event site;
   5. Includes a financial plan assessing the financial risks of an event cancellation;
   6. Registers attendees through a single common system whereby:
      1. Safety requirements can be communicated to attendees;
      2. Event safety compliance can be required of attendees under terms and conditions;
      3. Event staff and attendee contacts can be maintained for any needed contract tracing activities;
      4. And event data can be reported.
4. It is strongly recommended that any unit sponsoring an off-campus event plan the event through Purdue Conferences, which can assist with the necessary compliance and contracting requirements.
5. All Purdue employees who work or attend any off-campus event must follow all required federal, state, local and event site health and safety guidelines as well as the Protect Purdue Plan.
6. All Purdue Extension events are to follow Extension guidance, which includes a safety plan that is submitted three weeks before the event.

A Campus Event Safety Checklist is available for anyone planning an on-campus event.

NOTE: All Intercollegiate Athletics events will follow NCAA and conference rules and guidelines.