Keeping Our University Community Safe and Secure
August 23, 2022
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
The safety, security, and well-being of our university community is our top priority here at Purdue Fort Wayne. With approximately 7,250 students, 1,650 faculty and staff—and hundreds of visitors on campus every day—it’s crucial that each of us does our part to help ensure the general welfare of the entire university community. The following resources represent just a few of the ways we can approach this shared responsibility.
COVID-19 and Monkeypox
While we begin our fall semester with no campus-wide restrictions, there are still lingering challenges related to COVID-19 and its variants, as well as emerging concerns related to monkeypox.
Central to our safety measures is that we strongly advise all members of our university community to get vaccinated and to maintain booster shots as they are available.
Additionally, while face masks are not required on campus—except in the Campus Health Clinic and the IU Fort Wayne Dental Clinic—we fully support everyone’s individual choice to wear a face covering to help ensure their own health and safety. Our PFW Ready website provides the latest information and resources, including information on free N-95 face masks, procedures, and self-reporting should you test positive for COVID-19. The site also contains guidance and resources related to monkeypox.
Emergency Alerts and Critical Notifications
Life-threatening emergency information is available at your fingertips via your mobile devices. Time-sensitive alerts are pushed to you immediately via our RAVE emergency-notification network—but you must sign up. All you need to do is log in to goPFW to register for text-message alerts that are delivered directly to your registered mobile devices in the event of a campus emergency. It’s simple and easy. This will ensure timely delivery of critical messages regarding your safety and security on campus.
Campus Police, 9-1-1, and Blue Light Phones
In the event of an emergency (police, fire, imminent threat), you should call 9-1-1 from your mobile phone or from any university phone. Nonemergency calls may be directed to the Campus Police Department at 260-449-3000.
Additionally, there are 68 emergency phones—known as “blue light” phones because of the blue lights on top—located throughout campus, including parking garages. These phones will connect you directly with a police dispatcher.
Weather-Related Emergencies
When severe weather is in the forecast, the university’s senior leadership team monitors weather and safety information from a number of official sources. Whenever possible, we announce weather-related closings or delays by 6 a.m. for daytime classes and 3 p.m. for evening classes. Weather-related information for both Purdue Fort Wayne and Indiana University Fort Wayne is communicated via university email, social media, the university’s home page, RAVE emergency alerts (one more reason to sign up), and local and regional media outlets.
Conflict Resolution Pathways
Purdue Fort Wayne is a large and complex community of talented individuals—students, faculty, and staff—who are passionate about all that we do. With this passion comes the potential for disagreement or perhaps even conflict. It’s important for all of us to know how to manage conflict before it has the potential to escalate.
The Office of Student Conduct and Care, formerly the Office of the Dean of Students, has launched a new website that provides important advice, direction, and information on counseling for students. Central to the care and well-being of our students is a highly trained, multidisciplinary CARE Team that can proactively intervene and provide timely support for students.
Additionally, in October, the university will host a town hall and launch a comprehensive new website focused on providing information on the various pathways available for conflict resolution for faculty and staff. More information on this important initiative will be forthcoming.
Finally, I want to thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with this essential information and these important resources. Preparedness is key when it comes to knowing how and where to respond.
Sincerely,
Ron Elsenbaumer
Chancellor