July 29, 2021
Dear students, faculty and staff,
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, CIM committed to do as much as possible to protect the health and well-being of our community members. A key component of that commitment is keeping up with changing information and guidance from reputable sources such as the CDC and state and local health agencies. The increase in cases in the US, spurred in large part by the Delta variant, is very concerning, and many of you have likely read about the updated guidelines for masks issued by the CDC on Tuesday. Cuyahoga County has not reached the threshold for “substantial or high” transmission, but the trends indicate that may change in the coming weeks.
As a result of this new and concerning information, it is now more critical than ever that CIM’s leadership is able to assess the level of full vaccination among our community, and it is very important that we complete this quickly. While we previously published a deadline of August 6 to complete CIM’s declaration process, we are now requiring all students and employees to complete this process by this Sunday, August 1. Students can complete the process here, and employees should consult this memo for instructions.
CIM will make adjustments to protocols based on the level of full vaccination among our community members, the conditions in Cuyahoga County and Ohio, new information regarding the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines against the Delta variant, and any new or adjusted mandates from local or state health officials. Options we may have to consider could include some hybrid or remote class offerings, restrictions to campus access for unvaccinated individuals, masking and/or distancing for all community members regardless of vaccination status, and a variety of other strategies to minimize risk. Any decision we make will be in the interest of protecting the health of our community members.
As has been the case throughout the pandemic, having access to accurate information is key to making good decisions. You can help. It is essential and required that you complete your declaration process with CIM by the end of the day on Sunday August 1.
Please let us know if you have any questions and thank you for your attention to this very important process and information.
Sincerely,
Maddi Tolliver, Dean of Artistic Administration and Operations
Dean Southern, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Conservatory
Cicely Schonberg, Interim Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Jerrod Price, Dean of Musician and Community Advancement
Tammie Belton, Vice President of People and Culture
