UPDATE (January 28, 2022):
Purdue University Fort Wayne will extend its temporary requirement to wear face masks inside campus buildings and structures through March 18, 2022—the Friday following the end of Spring Break. This protocol applies to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors—regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
PFW released the following: Free N95 face masks—which offer extra protection against the highly transmissible Omicron variant—are available by showing a campus ID at Rhinehart Music Center’s Shatzlein Box Office. Box office hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 6:30 pm. Students may also pick up free N95 masks at the Student Housing Clubhouse. All students, faculty, and staff must properly wear their face masks while indoors on campus. Individuals may remove masks when in a closed office or a walled personal workspace, such as a cubicle, but should always wear a mask when around others, regardless of their vaccination status. Patrons of on-campus dining are permitted to lower their masks for a reasonable amount of time to eat and drink. Purdue Fort Wayne continues to closely monitor COVID-19 data in Allen County and across Indiana, as well as information from other official sources. The university will revisit the face mask requirement in March. The PFW Ready website serves as the hub for the university’s ongoing response to COVID-19. Important information will also continue to be communicated through the Inside PFW (for faculty and staff) and Don Life (for students) newsletters.
UPDATE (December 14, 2021):
Purdue University Fort Wayne has decided to extend its temporary requirement to wear face masks inside campus structures through the end of this calendar year on Friday, January 31. This protocol applies to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors—regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
PFW leaders released the following:
During its most recent review of COVID-19 data in Allen County and across Indiana and other factors, no evidence-based reason to suspend the current protocol was identified. The university continues to closely monitor local and state conditions and will revisit the mask requirement prior to the end of the fall semester. All employees—including faculty teaching in-person classes—must properly wear their face masks while indoors on campus. Individuals may remove masks when in a closed office or a walled personal workspace such as a cubicle, but should always wear a mask when around others, regardless of their vaccination status. Patrons of on-campus dining are permitted to lower their masks for a reasonable amount of time to eat and drink. This limited exception does not permit individuals or groups to assemble unmasked for other activities in areas within or adjacent to campus dining locations. These expectations also apply to areas of the skybridge between Helmke Library and Walb Student Union, as well as the library itself. Similarly, face masks continue to be required for individuals participating in indoor WellRec activities. The PFW Ready website serves as the hub for the university’s ongoing response to COVID-19. Important information will also continue to be communicated through the Inside PFW (for faculty and staff) and Don Life (for students) newsletters.
UPDATE (November 19, 2021):
Purdue University Fort Wayne has decided to extend its temporary requirement to wear face masks inside campus structures through the end of this calendar year on Friday, December 31. This protocol applies to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors—regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
PFW leaders released the following: During its most recent review of COVID-19 data in Allen County and across Indiana and other factors, no evidence-based reason to suspend the current protocol was identified. The university continues to closely monitor local and state conditions and will revisit the mask requirement prior to the end of the fall semester. All employees—including faculty teaching in-person classes—must properly wear their face masks while indoors on campus. Individuals may remove masks when in a closed office or a walled personal workspace such as a cubicle, but should always wear a mask when around others, regardless of their vaccination status. Patrons of on-campus dining are permitted to lower their masks for a reasonable amount of time to eat and drink. This limited exception does not permit individuals or groups to assemble unmasked for other activities in areas within or adjacent to campus dining locations. These expectations also apply to areas of the skybridge between Helmke Library and Walb Student Union, as well as the library itself. Similarly, face masks continue to be required for individuals participating in indoor WellRec activities. The PFW Ready website serves as the hub for the university’s ongoing response to COVID-19. Important information will also continue to be communicated through the Inside PFW (for faculty and staff) and Don Life (for students) newsletters.
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – With no discernable improvement in COVID-19 numbers across the area and nationwide over the past two weeks, Purdue Fort Wayne has decided to extend its temporary requirement for all students, staff, faculty, and visitors—regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status—to wear face masks indoors while on campus.
This protocol also applies to external groups holding activities in any university buildings.
PFW leaders released the following:
The temporary change in university protocols was first enacted August 9. This extension will be reevaluated on Friday, September 3. It continues to be the only significant change to university plans on the eve of the fall 2021 semester, which begins Monday.
The university recently launched a new website, PFW Ready, that serves as the hub for its ongoing response to COVID-19. Important information will also continue to be communicated through the university’s newsletters—Inside PFW (for faculty and staff) and Don Life (for students).
University leaders reiterate their appreciation to the Purdue Fort Wayne campus community for its willingness and flexibility to adapt quickly to challenging circumstances. Our collective efforts have helped keep our campus safe and healthy while creating the most conducive environment possible for normal operations.
