COVID-19

CIA works in partnership and consultation with the office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University, the Cuyahoga County Health Department, the City of Cleveland and the Centers for Disease Control.

Last updated: May 31, 2023

Section Index

• Visitors to CIA
• Face Coverings
• Vaccinations
• COVID Testing
• Travel
• Reporting
• Isolation
• Case Western Reserve University Protocols 

Visitors to CIA

Policy: Visitors to CIA are required to adhere to the masking requirements outlined below in the Face Coverings section. 

Visitors are encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID but are not required to be. As such, proof of vaccination need not be shown upon entry.

Visitors include all non-CIA employees and non-degree seeking students, public-programming patrons, visiting artists, guest speakers, parents, alumni, Board members, community partners and others.

Examples of public-programming patrons include but are not limited to families attending Open House or taking part in campus tours; visitors to Reinberger Gallery and the Ann and Norman Roulet Student + Alumni gallery; Cinematheque filmgoers; Lunch on Fridays attendees; and visitors to the Jessica R. Gund Memorial Library.

Face Coverings 

Indoors: Effective October 17, 2022, face coverings at CIA are optional but encouraged.

Please note that if you have classes or appointments at Case Western Reserve University, you must still adhere to its masking policy. CWRU's current prevention measures (including masking) can be reviewed here.

Vaccinations

Effective June 1, 2023, CIA will no longer require students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID. To be clear, we still strongly encourage it—we believe vaccines and boosters played an important role in allowing us to safely learn in person during spikes in COVID cases—but they will no longer be required.

CIA will no longer require incoming students, faculty or staff to disclose their COVID vaccination status. We will collect this information for community members who opt in and will use the data for informational purposes and contact tracing. Lastly, vaccinations will no longer be required of students and teachers participating in CIA's residential summer programming: Pre-College and Summer Teacher Residency.

Evening + weekend classes for adults and young artists: Those participating in classes for Adults and Young Artists are considered visitors to CIA and must adhere to the visitor protocols outlined on this page.

COVID Testing

CIA still has a limited supply of free COVID tests for students and employees available in Student Affairs and Human Resources, respectively. However, once that inventory runs out or expires, our supply will not be replenished as tests will no longer be provided by the State of Ohio. COVID tests are readily available for purchase at local pharmacies, grocery stores and online retailers such as Amazon.

Travel

CIA-sanctioned travel and personal travel: CIA encourages students, faculty and staff to follow best practices when traveling domestically or internationally. Per the CDC, recommended practices include making sure you're up to date with vaccines and boosters; wearing a mask indoors when in public transportation vehicles or hubs; canceling travel if you’ve tested positive for COVID or are experiencing symptoms; checking the CDC’s current COVID-19 Community Level for your destination; and testing yourself for COVID as close to the time of departure as possible. 

Reporting

For Students:
Students are still required to report positive COVID tests to Student Affairs. They must do so to obtain courtesy accommodations that allow them to participate in courses remotely, when possible.

For Employees:
Employees are still encouraged—but no longer required—to report their positive COVID tests to Human Resources. This is due, in part, to a change in how time away from CIA is recorded.

Staff who test positive for COVID and able to complete the functions of their role—and are well enough to do so—may work from home during the isolation period. If unable to do so, sick time will need to be used. Faculty who test positive for COVID may elect to teach their class remotely during the isolation period, or work with their respective department chair to follow the Faculty Handbook policy for faculty absences, including processes for teaching substitution.

Isolation

CIA currently follow’s the CDC’s recommended protocols for isolation. Currently, all CIA community members will need to self-isolate for five days after testing positive. The CDC recommends isolation only when someone has tested positive for COVID. As a reminder, simply being exposed to and/or having close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID does not mean you shouldn't report to class or work. In those instances, the CDC advises masking for 10 days and testing after five days. The CDC recommends isolation only when someone has tested positive for COVID.

Case Western Reserve University Protocols

Stay informed: CIA students who take classes at CWRU and/or use their student services (dining halls, health and counseling center, athletic center, etc.) must be aware of the university's COVID policies. The most up-to-date information can be found here.