CCM Dean Stanley E. Romanstein shares update on health and safety protocols for fall 2021

As we prepare to return to our classrooms, rehearsal halls and performance spaces for the fall 2021 semester, I want to provide you with an update on the health and safety protocols that are in place to maintain CCM’s success in combating COVID-19.

We each have a role to play in our collective response to the pandemic. Going into the 2021-22 school year, we must maintain our momentum in combating COVID-19. We’re excited to welcome students, faculty and staff — and audiences — back to CCM. Our current plan is to offer more in-person activities this year, including face-to-face classes, public performances and other on-campus events — providing students with the best CCM experience possible while maintaining the health and wellness of our community.

The health and safety measures outlined in UC President Neville Pinto’s August 3 message and on UC’s Public Health website provide the operational framework that our college will follow this fall. As we move forward together as a community, let’s also remember our campus practices may need to change as conditions develop based on guidance from the CDC and UC’s physician-led COVID response team.

I strongly encourage everyone to review UC’s Public Health website, which outlines the steps that all of us must take regarding facial coverings, screening and symptomatic testing, wellness checks, self-reporting and other campus safety measures.

While it’s imperative that every member of the CCM community review the information in UC’s guide, I want to stress the following guidelines:

• Facial coverings are required indoors for all individuals, both fully vaccinated and those not fully vaccinated (unless you have received an exemption or accommodation; or when eating, drinking or alone in a private room). Specific mask styles will be assigned by faculty as needed.
  • Wind and Brass players must purchase and wear a mask with a flap while playing instruments. When moving throughout a rehearsal space, players must wear your normal facial covering. Your program heads will provide you with more specifics on the mask with a flap. CCM will continue the use of bell covers for trumpets and trombones as added precaution.
     
• Social distancing can be a preventative measure and UC encourages all individuals to social distance when and where appropriate.
  
  
• Vaccination Incentives: To encourage vaccinations, UC will award nearly $50,000 in prizes to vaccinated students, faculty and staff starting later this month. See eligibility requirements and entry information. The university strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination but will not mandate COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty or staff for the coming academic year.
  • If you have not yet been vaccinated, COVID-19 vaccination is available to members of the campus community through many medical providers and pharmacies, including UC Health and Hamilton County Health Collaborative.

• Move-in Testing: UC will conduct move-in testing for students moving into UC Housing later this month. Students who submit acceptable proof of vaccination or proof of a negative PCR test result ahead of move-in will be exempted from this testing requirement.
  
  
• Screening Testing: UC will begin the semester by conducting weekly screening testing. Students living in university housing will be required to participate. Students who submit acceptable proof of vaccination will be exempt from screening initially. This testing plan is subject to change as the semester progresses and in accordance with applicable laws.
  
  
• Quarantine and Isolation: On-campus spaces for quarantine and isolation will be limited this academic year. UC encourages all students to develop individual contingency plans for isolation and quarantine should the need arise, as UC cannot guarantee dedicated space all of the time.
  
  
• All members of the campus community must follow good health practices. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow and not your hands. Wind and brass instrument bells should not be directed towards others and water key etiquette must be followed at all times. Stay home if you are ill (except to visit a health care professional) and avoid close contact with others. Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals to ensure a healthy immune system. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. 

CCM’s facilities – including classrooms, restrooms, practice rooms and performance spaces – are being cleaned daily by UC Housekeeping staff. High-traffic, high-use areas will be prioritized. To facilitate this cleaning within Memorial Hall, practice rooms will be available from 6 a.m. until midnight only. The rest of CCM Village will follow the same schedule. These operational hours will be strictly enforced to guarantee the daily cleaning of practice rooms and other shared spaces.

Cleaning supplies will be available for classrooms and rehearsal rooms, and in the hallways near Memorial Hall practice rooms, so that students and faculty can clean chairs, desks, countertops and other shared spaces at the beginning of each class. Incoming users will be responsible for cleaning shared spaces to their own standards. CCM faculty and staff members can contact CCM Performance Management at 556-9460 if classroom cleaning supplies are running low.

CCM will increase the number of HEPA filters in large rehearsal spaces and will provide sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer to all students to clean their space after use.

• Cleaning supplies will be available for classrooms.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed throughout CCM Village, located at building entrances and elevator lobbies.
• HEPA filter units will remain in place throughout CCM Village.
• Signage reminding people to practice safe habits has been installed in common areas such as restrooms and elevators.

Fall semester course listings are available in Catalyst, which is the most reliable source for registration information. For your convenience, a more concise listing of CCM courses is available at the CCM Community Canvas site. The CCM College Office continues to update Catalyst with course delivery modes and classroom assignments. If students have questions about class delivery modes or scheduling, please consult with your College Office staff advisor:

• Graduate students should contact Patti Rencher
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (except BFA Ballet) students should contact Josh Chal
• Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music and BFA Ballet students should contact Gabe Saba

We anticipate CCM’s performance halls will be open to the public for the fall 2021 semester, allowing audiences to experience events in person again. Based on current conditions, venues will be reduced to 50% capacity and all individuals will be required to wear facial coverings indoors. Additional measures may be in place as conditions develop based on guidance from the CDC and UC’s physician-led COVID response team.

Please continue to refer to UC’s Public Health website and CCM’s COVID-19 website for additional information. I also want to remind you that we highlight all of UC and CCM’s recent updates in our email newsletter, which will next be published on August 11. You can subscribe and view archived copies of the previous installments of our e-newsletter by visiting ccm.uc.edu/subscribe.

With all best wishes,

Stanley E. Romanstein, PhD
Dean | Thomas James Kelly Professor of Music
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music