CIM Enhances Cleaning Practices to Prepare For Return to Campus

In preparation for our return to campus, the Cleveland Institute of Music has deep-cleaned and disinfected all public and private spaces to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by rigorously cleaning and sanitizing is one of the most important parts of reopening public spaces.

“CIM’s leadership considers the health and safety of the CIM community our primary responsibility,” said CIM President and CEO Paul W. Hogle. “We have stepped up our already stringent cleaning protocols so students, their families, our faculty and staff can have peace of mind when they get back.”

On Friday, May 22, CIM’s facilities were treated with a proactive disinfectant that prevents the spread of 99.99% of germs and viruses on treated surfaces for up to six months. Every practice room, studio, classroom, library, rehearsal room, piano, concert hall, office, hallway, restroom and common area in the building was treated. Chairs in each studio, classroom and hall were unstacked to ensure all surfaces were reached. 

CIM hired JAN-PRO, an internationally respected professional cleaning company with offices in nearby Avon, to apply the EnviroShield system which offers medical-grade disinfection – quickly eliminating bacteria and viruses. Tough on germs but gentle on people and the environment, it carries the EPA’s highest grade for safety and non-toxicity and leaves no harmful residues, no contaminated byproducts and no harsh or irritating fumes. EnviroShield is the only machine system of its kind that can properly disinfect an entire building, the company says.

In addition, CIM changed its MERV 15 primary HVAC system filters throughout the building, according to Maddi Lucas Tolliver, senior director of artistic and facilities operations. “These are the same filters used in hospital settings,” Tolliver said. “We also changed our MERV 8 and 10 pre-filters. CIM has always had this protocol and our filter supplier makes sure we stay on schedule.”

“MERV” stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, which is used to determine how well an air filter can catch potentially harmful particles in the air.

Hogle credited Tolliver and her team for being flexible and working tirelessly -- especially during the last several months -- so that the CIM community will be well-protected when students, faculty and staff return next semester.

“Our goal is to make the restart as comfortable and worry-free as humanly possible,” Hogle said. “I am certain our resilience will continue to serve us well as we prepare for a safe and harmonic return to our home in University Circle.”