Office of the Chancellor

Purdue Fort Wayne Adapts to New Stay-at-Home Order from Governor Holcomb

March 23, 2020

Dear Campus Community,

In accordance with an executive order signed today by Governor Eric Holcomb, Purdue University Fort Wayne will support Indiana’s stay-at-home directive by limiting access to its campus to only essential employees who require access beginning on March 24 at 11:59 p.m. and continuing until further notice. Purdue Fort Wayne will continue to support students, faculty, and staff with online learning throughout this response. The State of Indiana has posted a link to a list of FAQ.

Today’s decision to enact the stay-at-home executive order comes at a crucial moment in Indiana’s battle to slow the spread of COVID-19. While we had hoped it would never reach this point, our campus community embraces this important measure.

During his announcement, Governor Holcomb asked us to meet the uncommon challenges we’re facing with uncommon solutions. I echo that sentiment. For most of us, this approach is simply a continuation of our transition to online learning. During most of the past two weeks, these efforts have involved nearly 24/7 preparation for online classes, and adapting to the steady drip of cancellations around the region and state that served as clear indicators this is not business as usual.

Until further notice, the following will apply to campus access and operations:

• All campus buildings will be accessible by card-access only, and only essential personnel may come to campus beginning at close of business on Tuesday, March 24.
• Walb Union is an exception, as the Campus Health Center will continue to be open to see patients on its modified scheduled (see the COVID-19 website for hours). The Pantry in Walb Union will continue to remain open on Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
• Helmke Library will close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
• All campus computer labs will close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
• The university will continue to maintain critical on-campus services such as public safety and security, the Campus Health Clinic, and essential physical plant operations.
• Students living in campus housing are receiving detailed instructions this afternoon. While on-campus and off-campus university-contracted student apartments are not closing, we are instructing all students currently living in Student Housing to move off campus no later than Friday, March 27, at noon. Students may petition to stay, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Please refer questions to [email protected].
• All dining locations on campus will suspend operations at close of business on Tuesday, March 24. Both Pantry locations (Walb Union and the Student Housing Clubhouse) will be open on special hours posted on the COVID-19 website. Grab-and-go food items will be available at the Student Housing Clubhouse.

For faculty who will now be working from home to provide online learning, being able to take the tools you need home is a top priority. This may include your desktop computers, printers, and other related items. If you need to take computer equipment home with you, follow these directions:

• Use this link to the Qualtrics form.
• Once a user completes and signs the form using the mouse as a pen, the form goes to the Help Desk. A ticket is generated so that the loaner equipment may be tracked via Service Now until returned.
• You do not need to visit the Help Desk in person.

While we fully recognize the continued disruption this will cause for our students and all of us who work so diligently on their behalf, we trust this move will help ease anxiety at a time when there are other critical priorities that demand everyone’s focus and attention.

The university has developed a comprehensive COVID-19 website where we will continue to post important information regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The university’s status will also be communicated via campus email, through our primary social media channels, and through local and regional media outlets. Please continue to closely monitor these sources.

Words like unprecedented and extraordinary seem inadequate to describe the scenario we are facing today as we deal with the relentless impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

We have been so proud to experience firsthand the flexibility, resiliency, and ingenuity of our university community, as all of you have dealt with a constantly changing playing field. Best-laid plans seemingly get replaced with next-generation planning in the blink of an eye.

Please take good care of yourselves as we enter this next phase of responding to this global pandemic.

Sincerely,

Ron Elsenbaumer
Chancellor