Purdue partners with Greater Lafayette leaders for community public health pledges to combat COVID-19 spread

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University has collaborated with West Lafayette, Lafayette and Tippecanoe County leaders to craft Protect Greater Lafayette partner and individual pledges, asking the community to voluntarily join the University’s campuswide commitment to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The Protect Greater Lafayette Partner Pledge, created in alignment with the Protect Purdue Pledge for students, faculty and staff, outlines nine public health measures that community partners, businesses and organizations can embrace in the fight against COVID-19. The effort is advanced through eight similar points in the Protect Greater Lafayette Community Member Pledge for individuals in the community.

“We’re excited for Purdue students, parents, faculty and staff to see how Greater Lafayette has unified in the mission to protect each other and protect our community,” said Steve Abel, Purdue’s associate provost for engagement. “From Purdue’s perspective, this couldn't be better timing as our students return to the community they choose, year after year, in part because of Greater Lafayette’s dedication to being an exceptional place to live, work and learn.”

The Protect Greater Lafayette pledges draw from the Protect Purdue Pledge, encouraging those in the community to support the wearing of face masks, social distancing, frequent hand-washing, monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19, staying home when sick and supporting anyone in need of assistance. Go here to see the Protect Greater Lafayette partner and individual pledges.

“The Protect Greater Lafayette campaign shows critical support for the Protect Purdue Pledge as it promotes precautions that are aligned across the community to protect the health of Greater Lafayette residents and visitors, along with Purdue students, parents, faculty and staff,” said West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis. “We unequivocally expect anyone visiting a business, shopping or recreating with less than six feet of distance to follow these rules, keep the employees of those businesses safe and show your cooperation.”

In addition to the cities of West Lafayette and Lafayette, and Purdue’s Office of Engagement and Office of the Provost, the Protect Purdue Implementation Team, Greater Lafayette Commerce, Tippecanoe County and a growing number of community partners are supporting this engagement effort.

“The Protect Greater Lafayette community member pledge is an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to do what we can to protect our friends and neighbors throughout Greater Lafayette,” said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. “Protect Greater Lafayette reminds us that we are in this together and that our strengths are amplified when we protect each other.”

Beginning Friday (Aug. 21), businesses, organizations and individuals can sign the pledge on the campaign website here. Participating businesses and organizations will receive a toolkit of ready-made safety messaging and signage, access to resources on staying safely in business, and promotion on the site’s roster of pledging businesses and organizations.

“Businesses and organizations throughout Greater Lafayette are going the extra mile to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Scott Walker, president and CEO of Greater Lafayette Progress. “This is our opportunity to promote their efforts and connect them to customers looking for that extra assurance.”

Added Tippecanoe County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh: “We are grateful for how ready and willing community leaders and business owners have been to join in this effort across the county.” 

On May 26, Purdue trustees ratified the Protect Purdue Pledge as a way of receiving the shared commitment of all members of the campus community to take protective measures for themselves and others. That commitment constitutes a collective effort to keep the community safe by stopping the spread of COVID-19 and other potential infections, and the trustees’ action directed enforcement of the pledge as an official University regulation.

With safety a major priority ahead of the University’s return to on-campus instruction next week, the Protect Purdue Pledge asks all students, faculty and staff to take extraordinary steps to stay well and persistently protect each other through a three-step commitment to protect themselves, protect others and protect the Purdue community.

Media Contact: Tim Doty, doty2@purdue.edu

Sources: Steve Abel, 765-494-2744, abels@purdue.edu

Journalists visiting campus: Journalists should follow Protect Purdue protocols and the following guidelines:

• Campus is open, but the number of people in spaces may be limited. We will be as accommodating as possible, but you may be asked to step out or report from another location.
• To enable access, particularly to campus buildings, we recommend you contact the Purdue News Service media contact listed on the release to let them know the nature of the visit and where you will be visiting. A News Service representative can facilitate safe access and may escort you on campus.
• Correctly wear face masks inside any campus building, and correctly wear face masks outdoors when social distancing of at least six feet is not possible.