A modified calendar, social distancing, test kits and more remote work will likely be part of the new normal as Purdue University reopens its campus to students in August. But Purdue President Mitch Daniels says a central focus of the strategy will be separating young, healthy students from older, at-risk populations.
“We will probably change our calendar to minimize breaks, that is to say less coming and going of people, we know that can help hold down the spread,” said Daniels, “but maybe the central focus will be to separate the eighty-plus percent of the Purdue campus who are young people…from the ten to fifteen to twenty percent who are older and have other ailments.”
Daniels talked about the impact of the coronavirus and weighed in on the possibility of a 2020 college football season on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Daniels said while discussions are ongoing, the university’s board of trustees will have the final say on a reopening strategy.
Daniels also weighed in on prospects for a 2020 college football season.
“If football does come back, it will look different, fewer fans, no fans, maybe a shorter season, maybe a season that starts later,” said Daniels, who adds he is “worried about it, for the obvious reasons.”