Purdue Fort Wayne says it is preparing for ‘normal’ fall semester

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — The chancellor of Purdue University Fort Wayne expects the school to resume normal operations for the fall 2021 semester, following a year of COVID-19 uncertainty. In an open letter to the campus community, Chancellor Ronald Elsenbaumer said the university is currently in the planning stages to return students and staff to traditional “instructional modalities” for the fall.

He says the goal is to help students achieve more control and certainty in their academic and career planning.

“We also have an obligation to create an environment and support system for new students joining us this fall so they can find the traditional college experience they are seeking,” said Elsenbaumer. “We want all of our students to have full access to a high-quality education in a campus environment that ensures the health, safety, and well-being of our entire university community.”

The chancellor says senior administrators, faculty leaders, and students have been meeting to develop plans for a safe return to campus.

However, Elsenbaumer says a significant factor remains: the availability and deployment of vaccines. He says PFW is creating a mechanism for the campus community to self-report their vaccination status.

But regardless of any plans, he says the university must remain pliable.

“We know from our experiences during the past year that we must be flexible and ready to adjust our plans based on a variety of factors, both external and internal.”

The university says it continues to work with local, state and health officials to ensure the safety of its community. Learn more about the university’s COVID-19 policies by clicking here.

In addition to making plans for the fall semester, PFW says Spring Break is scheduled for March 8-14 and final exams will take place the week of May 3.