From the Dean 

A Different Thanksgiving

The Good News: We have made it to the end of residential instruction for our students. We are able to send students home saying – We did it.  Purdue students showed what can be done when we all work together as a team.

I am proud of each and every student and every single faculty and staff member who did all they could to provide a residential learning experience for our students. 

Highlighting Achievements

Despite a semester that was unlike any other, our students and faculty excelled in many ways. Grace Johnson, one of our Natural Resources and Environmental Science students, was one of 55 students in the U.S. to win a Udall Scholarship for her efforts on environmental policy.

Zachary Brown, a graduate student in Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication (formerly YDAE) became the national graduate student president of Minorities in Agriculture Resources and Related Sciences organization, and Elizabeth Flaherty, a faculty member in Forestry and Natural Resources, won both the Murphy Award from Purdue and the USDA Teaching Award for excellence in teaching.

Continuing to Deliver

In agriculture, we recovered from the one of the biggest shocks the food supply chain has experienced in recent years. The industry rose to the challenge and, as a result, we are still able to provide the ingredients everyone needs for a delicious Thanksgiving meal.  

Our research and Extension faculty continue to think about Thanksgiving in many different ways. Jayson Lusk, head of Agricultural Economics, cautions us that our holiday meal will cost more this year, including wholesale turkey prices which are about 15 percent higher than last year. 

With many looking at smaller gatherings this year, Darrin Karcher, faculty member in Animal Sciences, encourages us to think about alternatives, like duck, for Thanksgiving. Indiana is the top duck producing state in the U.S. and duck can provide a lean meat that is not as large as a turkey. However, if you opt for turkey, Indiana is a leading state for turkey production as well.  

At your Thanksgiving table this year, please say an extra thank you to all those in agriculture who are on the front line providing the food for our tables.

Moving Forward

Students will continue to take classes and exams from home for two additional weeks as they finish their semester. As students leave for home this week, we ask them to get tested for COVID-19 before they leave campus or immediately after they get home and quarantine until they have a negative test. We are also requiring students to get tested either prior to or upon their return to campus for the start of classes on January 19.  We look forward to their return with more in person classes and enhanced activities while still following the Protect Purdue Plan.

This year has not been without its challenges. Some have lost loved ones, others will not be able to spend time with family members who are susceptible to COIVD-19, and others, through job losses and other circumstances, may not be able to experience the holidays the way they used to. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, let us keep in mind the challenges so many are facing this season. 

Please stay safe and be well.
 
All the best,

Purdue's Winter Commencements to Celebrate Accomplishments of Class of 2020

Purdue University's on-demand winter commencements will go live the week of Dec. 7, complete with a guest speaker and student responders.