Communicable Disease Emergencies and Pandemics (IV.A.8)

Volume ­­IV: Facilities and Safety
Chapter A: Safety
Responsible Executive: President
Responsible Office: Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs; Office of the Vice President for Human Resources
Date Issued: July 30, 2020
Date Last Revised: October 1, 2022

Table of Contents

Contacts
Statement of Policy
Reason for This Policy
Individuals and Entities Affected
Exclusions
Responsibilities
Definitions (defined terms are capitalized throughout the document)
Related Documents, Forms and Tools
Website Address for This Policy
History and Updates
Appendix

Contacts

Policy Clarification

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
765-494-6835 | purdueprovost@purdue.edu

Office of the Vice President for Human Resources
765-494-2222; 877-725-0222 (toll free) | hr@purdue.edu 

Statement of Policy

The Board of Trustees of Purdue University has the statutory power and responsibility to take all actions necessary and expedient for the ongoing operations of the University and to make all bylaws, rules and regulations required or proper to manage the University. During times of public health emergency (as declared by federal, state or local executive or public health authorities), the Board of Trustees, the President and University Officers must take prompt and decisive action to ensure the University’s operations are maintained in compliance with any emergency order.

This policy provides an overarching statement of the University’s mandate in such an emergency and describes the principles under which it will act. In addition to complying with university rules and regulations that may be adopted by the Board of Trustees from time to time, all faculty, staff and students must adhere to the provisions of this policy and any standard, operating procedure or campus policy (whether or not issued as provisional or interim in nature) promulgated under this policy.

In the event of a public health emergency due to a communicable disease emergency or pandemic, the University may declare a public health emergency. As a result, policies, standards and operating procedures (whether system-wide, campus-specific or unit-level) developed under this policy will be enacted, communicated and implemented in accordance with the following principles. All such mandates will:

1. Conform to applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and orders (executive and public health).
2. Conform to any specific directives issued by the Board of Trustees and, if requested by the Board of Trustees, be timely presented to the Board for review and ratification.
3. Reflect feedback from stakeholder engagement to the extent practicable given the circumstances of the public health emergency.
4. Be communicated to all relevant university stakeholders through official channels of campus communications, including email, campus websites and local media.
5. Be withdrawn when so declared by the University.

Faculty, staff, students and contractors are expected to monitor the stated communications so they remain informed. Faculty, staff and students who do not adhere to mandates promulgated under this policy, whether or not provisional or interim in nature, may be subject to appropriate discipline, up to and including termination or expulsion.

Reason for This Policy

This policy documents the authority of the University to implement measures aimed at reducing risk for university operations during the declaration of a public health emergency due to a communicable disease emergency or pandemic and states the principles under which such mandates will be enacted, communicated and implemented.

Individuals and Entities Affected

All faculty, staff, students, contractors, units and organizations of Purdue University.

Exclusions

There are no exclusions to this policy.

Responsibilities

Faculty, Staff and Students

• Follow all prescribed mandates promulgated under this policy (in addition to rules and regulations adopted directly by the Board of Trustees from time to time), including all Public Health Safety Practices.
• Assist others in the university community to understand and follow mandates promulgated under this policy.
• Notify the appropriate campus office of violations of any mandate promulgated under this policy.
• Notify manager/supervisor or the appropriate campus office of any evidence of a communicable disease that could seriously endanger the health of others on campus.

Managers/Supervisors

• Communicate to employees all mandates promulgated under this policy or other rules and regulations adopted directly by the Board of Trustees in relation to a public health emergency.

Responsibilities for the following University Officials will be carried out in a manner consistent with directives issued by the Board of Trustees and the President.

Chancellors

• In consultation with other University Officers and university-designated subject matter advisors, establish a decision-making framework and implement actions aimed at reducing risk for operations of their Regional Campus (including temporary suspension as necessary) as it pertains to undergraduate and graduate programs, campus housing and dining services, faculty affairs, the research and discovery mission, and student activities.
• Oversee the design and implementation of a comprehensive communication plan for their campus and surrounding communities regarding the status of the campus’s operations and prescribed Public Health Safety Practices.

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

• In consultation with other University Officers, establish a decision-making framework and implement actions aimed at reducing risk for operations (including temporary suspension as necessary) of business services and human resources and on- and off-campus facilities and grounds.
• Take charge of all financial activities related to the University’s response to the public health emergency.
• Ensure notification to local health officials and University Officers of any evidence of a communicable disease that could seriously endanger the health of members of the campus community.
• Designate subject matter advisors to assist University Officers in determining appropriate Public Health Safety Practices.

Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships

• In consultation with other University Officers and academic leadership, establish a decision-making framework and implement actions aimed at reducing risk for operations (including temporary suspension as necessary) of the research and discovery mission, including all programs, centers and institutes within Discovery Park.

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

• In consultation with other University Officers and academic leadership, and with input from faculty, staff, and student leadership as time permits, establish a decision-making framework and implement actions aimed at reducing risk for operations (including temporary suspension as necessary) of the instruction and learning mission, including undergraduate and graduate student services and support, university housing and dining, faculty affairs, and student activities.

Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications

• In consultation with other University Officers, design and implement a comprehensive communication plan to the West Lafayette campus and surrounding communities regarding the status of the University’s operations and prescribed Public Health Safety Practices.

Definitions

All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Find additional defined terms in the central Policy Glossary.

Public Health Safety Practices
Measures prescribed by public health officials as a way to prevent or curb the transmission of a communicable disease. The term includes a wide range of practices that vary depending on the nature of the disease, including but not limited to the following:

• Hand washing
• Wearing face masks, gloves or other protective gear
• Social distancing/physical distancing
• Utilizing protective equipment, such as plastic/glass barriers or plastic covers that can be changed between use
• Cleaning/sanitizing shared work stations, desks, equipment, and the like
• Disease testing
• Vaccination
• Isolation or quarantine

University Officers
The executive positions delegated specific authority under the Delegation of the President’s Authority (V.B.5).

Related Documents, Forms and Tools

Indiana Code §§ 21-27-7-4 and 21-27-7-5

Article VI, Section 1 of The Bylaws of The Trustees of Purdue University, delegating general power and authority to “manage, direct and be responsible for the conduct of all the affairs of the University.”

Integrated Emergency Management Plan

Related Policies:

• Delegation of the President’s Authority (V.B.5)
• Environmental Health and Safety Compliance (IV.A.4)
• Leaves of Absence (VI.E.2)
• Reduction in Workforce (VI.F.2)

Website Address for This Policy

www.purdue.edu/vpec/policies/facilities-safety/iva8

History and Updates

October 1, 2022: Clarified that policies and other documents are developed and issued as a result of the University declaring a public health emergency and may be withdrawn by the University. Included in the Provost’s responsibility that input from faculty, staff and student leadership will be solicited as time permits.

December 1, 2020: Removed the policy’s interim status.

July 30, 2020: This is the first policy to address this issue.

Appendix

There are no appendices to this policy.