Yale School of Music Office of the Dean

Dear YSM community members,

As we begin the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, I hope all of you are doing well and staying healthy. It was gratifying today to see a number of students, staff, and faculty walk by on the sidewalk and say, “Hello!” from a distance greater than what is required for social distancing! Beginning the spring semester of 2022 does offer a sense of déjà vu, but I am confident that we are going to emerge from this Omicron surge much quicker than we did from the Delta variant. Please read the remainder of this very lengthy message carefully and bring any questions to the Town Hall meetings on Tuesday.

Although current public-health conditions—and the University’s response to these conditions—continue to change rapidly, all School of Music plans and policies described in my previous email remain unchanged. I write today to share updates on how Yale’s latest policy changes will affect our programs, and I look forward to the conversations we will have during the YSM Town Halls on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Key Updates

Audiences

As I indicated last week, the University has paused audience attendance at most Yale performing arts and sporting events until Feb. 21. It gives me great pleasure to share the news that we have secured special permission for YSM/ISM students, faculty, and staff to attend YSM/ISM concerts during this period. However, please note that because Yale has temporarily restricted visitor access to campus, partners and spouses cannot attend YSM events at present. Additionally, we regret that we must temporarily suspend the permission for degree recitalists to invite four external guests to recitals. When conditions improve, we will work with the University to expand audience permissions.

Masking

At this time, cloth masks should only be used in situations where the cloth mask is worn over a three-ply or ASTM mask, which Yale is now distributing. Cloth masks are inferior in terms of filtration compared to the three-ply or ASTM masks, which have good filtration and are efficient at protecting you from infection. ASTM masks have ear loops and look identical to three-ply masks. YSM students, faculty, and staff can pick up ASTM or KN95 masks from the security office in the Adams Center for Musical Arts and from the front desk in Leigh Hall. Please note that these masks are designed to be used several times; masks should only be discarded when they are soiled or no longer fit snugly against your face. Masking options for winds and brass will be discussed in Tuesday’s Town Hall meetings. Additional guidance

Positive cases

Individuals who test positive will now be notified via either email or phone; please monitor your email closely and answer your phone if you are waiting for test results.

Special precautions for close contacts

Close contacts of individuals who test positive will now be notified via email; please monitor your Yale email closely. If you are identified as a close contact, email the YSM HSL right away, as you must observe additional precautions for YSM activities while you are monitoring. See “What’s new with quarantine recommendations for close contacts?” in Dr. Spangler’s email.

New key-card readers inside Hendrie Hall and Leigh Hall

Swipe readers are being installed inside Hendrie Hall and Leigh Hall; once you swipe your card to enter the building, please go to the monitor’s desk and swipe your ID before proceeding further.

Important Reminders

Arrival testing

YSM students must be in New Haven no later than Monday, Jan. 17. Students are urged to test at home (PCR or antigen test) just prior to traveling back to New Haven. Between Jan. 16 and Jan. 19, and before commencing in-person music-making on Thursday, Jan. 20, YSM students must complete two tests through the Yale screening program. Students should then resume their routine twice-weekly testing.

Booster requirement

Students must have received a booster and uploaded documentation by Jan 18; faculty and M&P staff must have received a booster and uploaded documentation by Jan. 31. Please complete the upload now, as verification takes 3-5 days.

Staff schedules

From Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Friday, Jan. 21, staff should continue to work a hybrid schedule as determined in consultation with their supervisor. Supervisors, please submit any requests for exceptions to Dean Blocker, Deputy Dean Chen, Chuck Stupakevich, or Stefanie Parkyn. Staff, please reduce density and decrease interactions in your areas, and conduct meetings via Zoom. Staff guidance for the period from Jan. 24 onward will be forthcoming.

I appreciate your willingness to follow new protocols as we continue the spring semester. It is our collective abundance of caution that has allowed us to make music together during this challenging moment.

Warmest regards and heartfelt thanks to every member of our incredible YSM community.