Purdue approves addition of Reading Day to fall calendar

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University approved establishing Wednesday, Nov. 4, as an optional Reading Day, giving instructors and students the chance for a brief respite from classes, and supporting the recommendation the University Senate passed during its meeting Monday (Oct. 19). Senators also approved extension of the deadlines for students to withdraw from a course or to switch from receiving a letter grade to pass/not pass for fall courses.

Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity, said, “Our thanks to the Purdue Student Government and to the University Senate for recognizing the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has presented for some of our students. The measures proposed and adopted today will provide flexibility to our students, helping them to continue to make academic progress during this difficult time.”  

• The University will implement an optional Reading Day for Nov. 4, following the recommendation of the University Senate.  The Reading Day is designed to give both instructors and students the opportunity to take a break from instruction this fall. Instructors are encouraged to opt in to the established Reading Day if at all possible and should communicate early to their classes if and how their class will participate. Campus will remain open, and students are expected to remain on campus.

• Senators approved extension of the deadline to drop a course during the fall semester from Oct. 26 to Dec. 4. The extension is designed to help mitigate academic difficulty for students because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The University Senate also approved the extension of the deadline to switch from receiving a letter grade to pass or not pass for fall courses. Students will now have until Dec. 4 to make that switch with advisor approval. The minimum grade to receive a “P” is defined as a C- for all 10000-40000 level courses during the fall. All established regulations and requirements regarding the use of P/NP to meet degrees, admission requirements, and pre-requisite requirements apply. P/NP grades are not used in computing GPAs.

“I want to thank the Purdue Student Government under the leadership of President Assata Gilmore for bringing these matters forward, the University Senate’s Educational Policy Committee for moving these proposals through the Senate, and the University’s support of these Senate actions,” said Deb Nichols, Senate chair. “Our students and campus community will benefit from the flexibility and respite these measures will provide.”

Media contact: Tim Doty, 765-494-2080, doty2@purdue.edu 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

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