To Our Faculty and Staff:
We first want to express our profound gratitude to all of you for the exceptional efforts involved in launching the fall semester last week. We needed everyone’s collaboration, dedication and constructive engagement to reach that moment, and the entire campus community responded with energy and enthusiasm. Thank you for all that you have done already, and continue to do for one another and our students.
We write today regarding Case Western Reserve’s policy for university-sponsored travel during the fall semester. As you may remember, we severely restricted such trips in the spring, and said we would update you in the fall. Back then, we expected to be able loosen constraints considerably; unfortunately, state and national circumstances involving the pandemic require that we continue this more conservative approach.
As a result, we cannot support any university-related travel outside greater Cleveland (e.g. beyond Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina and Lorain counties).
As in the spring, we recognize that in rare cases, certain extenuating circumstances may merit consideration of exceptions. You can find information about how to request such reviews, as well as the policy itself, online.
Personal travel is of course at your own discretion, but we still would encourage careful deliberation before making a final decision—both for the sake of local family and friends, and also for your campus colleagues.
Barbara R. Snyder
President
Ben Vinson III
Provost and Executive Vice President