Consumer Information

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), signed into law as Public Law 110-315, included several provisions designed to stem unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials. Information technology resources may NOT be used for any illegal activity. This includes unlawful copyright infringement. CIM will investigate reported copyright infringement and take appropriate action, possibly including suspension of a user's network access, suspension, or termination. Please read CIM's Acceptable Use of Technology Policy for more details.

HEOA requires that, to practical extent, legal alternatives are given for acquiring copyrighted material. Click here for more information.

In addition to providing a list of sites where movies and music can be legally downloaded, CIM promotes the responsible sharing of various other types of copyrighted materials, through our Library, which makes numerous books and journals available to students both in print and electronically.

Civil and Criminal Liability: 
Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing, may subject the student to civil and criminal liability.

Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws: 
Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.
For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov

Per federal regulations, Pell Grant eligible students who have a pending credit balance and no missing aid documents as of two weeks before the first day of classes and who have all required disbursement documents complete, will receive a $800 early advance refund on during the first week of classes to be used to purchase books and supplies. If the semester pending credit balance is less than $800, the lesser amount will be refunded. If a student wishes to opt out of receiving this advance refund, they must put that request in writing to the CIM Financial Aid Office prior to the first week of classes.

The Cleveland Institute of Music is committed to making reasonable accomodations for individuals with documented qualifying disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Ohio law.

CIM is committed to serving all students with disabilities both in and out of the classroom. Any student with a documented disability is eligible to request services through the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Each student has the responsibility to notify the Dean of his/her disability should he or she seek accommodations with CIM and complete all documentation to begin this process. Once approved, individualized accommodation plans are developed for each student. After receiving his/her individualized accommodation plan, each student is responsible for notifying his or her faculty member for each class in which they choose to use accommodations.

For one-on-one attention to address your needs please contact:

Devina Hogan
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
216.791.5170
Contact via email

CIM's college division enrolls more than 350 students and is broadly representative in its composition.

• Undergraduates: 55%, Graduates: 45%
• 56% from United States and 12% from Ohio
• International: 32%, from 19 countries

From the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) (Note that due to data collection and publishing timelines, reported figures may lag by a year or more.):

Gender and Ethnicity

Retention and Graduation Rates

Student Aid Awarded

Cost of General Education textbooks will be determined by course load taken through CIM and Case Western Reserve University, as applicable, and each school's bookstore. the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and retail price information of required and recommended textbooks and supplemental materials for each course and author, title, publisher, and copyright date for the textbook or supplemental material are "To Be Determined."

Equal Opportunity Policy
In the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarship, loan and other school-administered programs, the Cleveland Institute of Music is committed to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. The Institute admits students to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or disability.

Academic Grievance Process: A student wishing to register a complaint about course instruction or evaluation should first discuss the matter with the course instructor. If the matter is not resolved, the student may address the complaint to the head of the department or chairperson of the division.

If neither step resolves the complaint, the student may make a formal statement, in writing, to the Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs for review and decision. At his/her discretion, the Associate Dean may refer the matter to the Dean of the Conservatory for deliberation. The student may appeal the decision, in writing, to the Provost.

Non-Academic Grievance Process: A student wishing to register a complaint about a non-academic matter prepares a written statement including a) the nature of the problem(s), (b) the name of the individual(s) involved, and c) the result of any previous effort made to resolve the matter informally. The written statement is sent to the Associate Dean of Students for review. The Associate Dean may request a written statement from all individuals involved in the matter and, if appropriate, convene a meeting of the Student Affairs Tribunal, executive staff, or other administrative or faculty body as appropriate. The student initiating the procedure is notified by the Associate Dean about the issue's resolution.

Students may seek guidance from appropriate administrative officers or faculty on how to resolve minor issues that may arise, but are not grievances.

After exhausting the grievance/complaint process above, current, former, and prospective students may initiate a complaint with the Ohio Department of Higher Education on their website or by calling 614.728.3093.

All borrowers are advised that information regarding all federal student loans is regularly reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Such information is accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system. Federal loan borrowers may always look up their federal student loan history at NSLDS. CIM recommends all federal loan borrowers review their loan history at NSLDS regularly.

The CIM Financial Aid Office sends a pre-disbursement disclosure email notice to every CIM Institutional Loan borrower, Federal Perkins Loan borrower and Parent PLUS Loan borrower before the first disbursement is made for the year. Direct Loan servicers send the disclosure notices directly to students for the Federal Direct Loan (Subsidized/Unsubsidized) and for Federal Graduate PLUS Loan borrowers. All Institutional and federal loan borrowers will also receive a disclosure notice on or shortly after the actual disbursement date has occurred each semester, giving each borrower a 14 day window to reduce or cancel such loan(s) from the date of that notice, should they wish to borrow less.

• First time student borrowers of any direct loan are required to complete online entrance counseling via studentloans.gov before the first disbursement may be processed for their loan(s).
• Also see the U.S. Department of Education's brochures: Entrance Counseling Information & Guide and Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt.

Loan Exit Counseling is required of all student borrowers during their last semester of a program and/or any time the following changes in enrollment occur: withdrawal, leave of absence, enrollment in less than half time status, graduation, transfer to another school, any time the student ceases to be enrolled at least half time. This counseling is critical for borrowers to be very clear what their repayment obligations, rights and responsibilities are as well as to make sure each loan servicer has the most updated contact information for the student borrower. Students must complete the applicable exit counseling for each of the following types of loan they may receive:

• Federal Direct Loan borrowers complete applicable exit counseling via studentloans.gov. Also see the U.S. Department of Education's brochure Exit Counseling Guide.
• Federal Perkins Loan borrowers complete applicable exit counseling via heartlandecsi.com
• CIM Institutional Loan borrowers are provided paper exit counseling documents directly from the CIM Financial Aid Office.

Recommended / Voluntary additional student loan counseling may be done by any federal loan borrower via the Financial Awareness Counseling tool atwww.studentloans.gov. This is recommended annually for students mid-program.

Many Veterans are eligible for multiple chapters of the GI Bill and should take some time to know what is available to them. Taking some time to map out how your GI Bill will fit into your academic goals could end up saving you time and money down the road. Please take a few minutes to follow the Road Map For Success.

GI Bill Fast Facts

• Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33): Began August 1, 2009; pays up to 100% of tuition and fees directly to the school, up to $1,000 annually for books, and a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payment directly to the student. Eligibility: you must have served at least 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001 or have served 30 continuous days and been discharged with a service connected disability to qualify for this benefit.
• Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30): This was the standard active duty GI Bill until the introduction of the Post 9/11 Bill. Eligible service members would have elected to pay into this program during their first year of service. Student receives a monthly check directly to them to help cover educational expenses.
• Survivors & Dependents Assistance (Chapter 35): This benefit is available to the dependents (spouses and children) of service members who received a permanent and total disability or died in connection of their service. Student receives a monthly check directly to them to help cover educational expenses.
• Yellow Ribbon Program: The student or parent must qualify for 100% of the Post 9/11 GI Bill to be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program. Up to 5 students annually may be awarded this CIM Match support to accompany the VA GI Bill/Yellow Ribbon award as a veteran benefit. The combination of the CIM Yellow Ribbon Match and any other CIM funded grant aid(s) will be at least $10,000, renewable for the normal duration of the program, so long as the student remains an eligible recipient of the GI Bill and maintains a minimum 3.0 Cumulative GPA.

CIM conforms to all state and local laws controlling the sale and use of alcoholic beverages. It is illegal in Ohio to sell, provide, or serve beer, wine, or liquor to anyone under the age of 21. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of alcohol or controlled substances, including illicit drugs, is prohibited on property owned or operated by the Cleveland Institute of Music or as a part of any of its activities.

No CIM student may report to work at CIM or engage in any CIM related work while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.

Students and guests living in CIM residence halls must adhere to federal and state regulations regarding drugs and alcohol. It is illegal in Ohio for alcoholic beverages to be made available by sale or otherwise to anyone under the age of 21. Underage students are not permitted to consume or possess alcoholic beverages.

For a complete explanation of the student drug and alcohol policies, see the CIM Student Handbook. For a complete explanation of the employee drug and alcohol policies, see the Faculty and Staff Handbook.

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Education

In an effort to provide a drug-free workplace, CIM has established the following drug-free awareness program:

1. Audio and videotapes dealing with substance abuse prevention are available in the Library.
2. Printed materials on substance abuse prevention are available in the Personnel Office and the Drug-Free Workplace Info-Center located in the Mail Room.
3. If any employee suspects that they may have a substance abuse problem (alcohol or drugs) and wants to seek a drug counseling or rehabilitation program, they should contact the Human Resources Director for referral to such programs. Requests for assistance will be kept confidential. Participation in such programs will be at the employee's expense.

Upon hearing the fire alarm or a verbal announcement, begin evacuation procedures:

• Keep yourself and others calm.
• Quickly and calmly proceed outside the building using the nearest exit.
• Close windows and doors as you leave.
• Report immediately to the designated "safe area" located on the lawn at the side of the Western Reserve Historical Society building, located directly across from CIM on Hazel Drive. Wait for instructions from emergency response personnel. Do not re-enter the building until told it is safe to do so by Security or emergency personnel.
• Tell emergency personnel or Security of any persons you saw who were injured or were otherwise unable to leave the building.