Summer programming to return in 2021; Protect Purdue summer guidelines announced
As campus leaders work closely with medical advisors to safely bring campus life closer to normal, Purdue University announces the return of select summer academic programs and updates to various Protect Purdue protocols and guidelines for the summer session, which will take effect May 9.
“As case numbers recede and more of our campus community becomes vaccinated against COVID-19, we are excited to resume many of our typical great summer programs,” said John Gipson, director of Summer Session. “We have worked very carefully with university leadership and the Medical Advisory Team to ensure we continue to do everything possible to keep our community safe as we deliver an outstanding Boilermaker experience this summer.”
Updates for the summer session include:
Select summer programming returns
Approved summer programs will return, including Summer Start, Early Start, Summer College for High School Students and the Computer Science Bridge Program, with approximately 10,000 students anticipated to take in-person courses this summer. Students can enroll in online (synchronous or asynchronous), residential or a combination of online and residential courses for Summer 2021 as they could in a typical summer session. (The separate and distinct Online Option cohort program will not be offered.)
Many programs that are typically held in-person over the summer, such as Student Transition, Advising and Registration (STAR) will remain virtual this summer as previously announced. Enrollment Management will continue to offer in-person campus tours, following all Protect Purdue safety protocols.
More information on what the summer academic experience will look like can be found on the Protect Purdue website.
Capacity and configuration of campus spaces
Learning spaces such as classrooms and instructional laboratories will generally maintain their current density throughout the summer session. Some public and shared spaces (such as study spaces or common seating areas) will be re-densified over the course of the summer to up to 50% of their usual capacity. In all cases, social distancing will be maintained, in line with current CDC recommendations for learning environments.
Protect Purdue protocols
In order to protect the Purdue community and its neighbors, the Protect Purdue Pledge guidelines, such as the consistent and correct wearing of face masks, remain in place for the summer. As always, the situation is assessed continually by Protect Purdue implementation and medical advisory teams, and any changes will be announced through regular channels.
Travel, visitors and events guidelines
Protect Purdue guidelines for travel, visitors and events have been modified for the summer session, with an eye toward increasing rates of COVID-19 vaccination on our campus. These guidelines will take effect on May 9; spring guidelines remain in place until then. A special set of commencement week event and visitor guidelines will be in place for the week of spring commencement activities only (May 10-16).
Undergraduate Research
The Purdue Office of Undergraduate Research is collecting information on undergraduate research programs and individual research projects to assist campus operations. Anyone who oversees a formal undergraduate research program and/or individual research project is asked to upload their program details through this Qualtrics form.
General Research
Any changes to research space COVID-19 procedures and protocols will be communicated by the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships.
Summer testing and contact tracing
Full details on summer COVID-19 testing protocols, including pre-arrival student testing and campus surveillance testing, will be released in the coming weeks.
The Protect Purdue Health Center is reviewing current quarantine guidelines for arriving international students, and will be evaluating vaccination status, including the use of some non-U.S. approved vaccines, as a possible way to exempt arriving students from lengthy quarantine protocols. Additional details will likely be released in early April, but for now students should strongly consider receiving a vaccine endorsed by the World Health Organization before coming to campus.
These re-densification efforts and a carefully planned return to normalcy are expected to continue into the fall 2021 semester as more of the Boilermaker community is fully vaccinated. Updates on fall protocols and guidelines will be shared by May 15.