How many PSU students have been suspended for breaking COVID-19 rules? University releases sanctions
Ten Penn State students were suspended and another 17 were removed from on-campus housing so far this semester due to a violation of the university’s rules and policies addressing COVID-19, the university announced Thursday.
According to the university, 1,277 sanctions have been issued in relation to the Back to State health and safety plan, which calls on mask-wearing, quarantine/isolation and limited gathering both on- and off-campus. Most of those sanctions — 1,046 — consisted of warnings.
Here’s how the other 231 sanctions broke down, among University Park students, from Aug. 17 through Thursday:
- 204: Placed on probation or on probation with a transcript notation, which denotes multiple serious offenses
- 17: Lost off-campus housing, “most notably for violations against the stringent gathering and and no-guest policies.” The university also noted that students were given “appropriate time” to find other housing arrangements, were refunded a pro-rated portion of housing fees and are barred from university housing for the rest of the school year
- 10: Suspended from the university, which means they’re prohibited through the remainder of the academic year from registration, course attendance and on-campus living
“The health of our community depends on both individual and collective action,” Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs, said in a written statement. “We will continue to work closely with student leaders and local authorities to encourage the necessary behavior among all students, but I could not be more pleased by the personal and public responsibility so many of our students have consistently demonstrated through this challenging time.”
Penn State’s announcement came as health officials —such as former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb — have warned of complacence, as the winter months are expected to increase infections and communities grow weary of precautions. Experts have also emphasized that enforcement is essential to any university’s multi-layered approach to minimizing COVID-19.
“People need to see very publicly that Penn State is serious and they’re not going to have nonsense throughout the year,” Dr. David Rubin, director of PolicyLab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said last month.
Based on Penn State’s most recent COVID-19 dashboard update Tuesday, 2,475 University Park students — and one employee — have been infected with the coronavirus since Aug. 14.
Students have largely been lauded, by both university officials and State College borough officials, for complying with mask-wearing downtown and inside businesses. Two frat gatherings and a large gathering outside East Halls early in the semester were causes for concern, however.
Another virtual university town hall will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday to answer questions about Penn State’s coronavirus response.
