Refund Policies
Students who are accepted into the program and confirm their participation with the nonrefundable deposit and withdraw prior to departure are responsible for paying unrecoverable expenses such as the cost of books or housing, if they exceed the deposit amount. Full tuition will be reimbursed.

A partial refund of tuition will be made if students withdraw from the program after arriving at the program site. Within the first three weeks of the program, 50 percent of tuition will be refunded; from four to eight weeks, 25 percent; after eight weeks, no tuition will be refunded. Room fees will not be refunded. Board reimbursements are pro-rated to the nearest week. Refunds are calculated from the date a written statement of withdrawal is received by the program director.

Community Covenant and Behavioral Policies
MESP participants are in close contact with Egyptians. It is important to remember that we are guests in their country. Sensitivity to their cultural and social traditions and respect for them means remaining flexible and willing to do things their way.  First Things for Prospective Students

Because of the communal nature of the Middle East Studies Program, students and staff are expected to follow biblical principles concerning Christian conduct, including willingness to subordinate one’s own prerogatives for the benefit of the community and to avoid all expressions of racial and sexual discrimination and sexual harassment. 

Behavioral Code
All students are asked to sign and commit themselves to the following statement prior to their acceptance into the Program.  Here you, the student, are asked to re-read the statement and the remainder of the rules and then indicate your willingness to adhere to them for the duration of the MESP program by signing below.

By signing this student handbook, I HEREBY RECOGNIZE that I will be participating in a Christ-centered community in the Middle East, requiring an exemplary lifestyle in living and learning, and respect for members of this community and the surrounding local culture.  While in the program, I will endeavor to conduct myself in accordance with a Christ-centered life; cultivating actions it commends such as love, compassion, truthfulness, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  I will likewise refrain from dishonesty, plagiarism, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, theft, violence, disruptive behavior, racism, sexual harassment and illicit or non-medical use of drugs, narcotics & other substances.  I will also honor any additional standards required by my home institution.

FURTHERMORE, in respect for the values of others in this community, I will abstain from the use of alcohol and tobacco.

I UNDERSTAND that violation of any of these standards is grounds for disciplinary action, including immediate dismissal from the program.

MESP Rules
In addition to the behavioral code above, the MESP has additional rules and guidelines intended to maintain the mission and communal integrity of the program. Students are asked to sign this agreement during their orientation in Cairo. Violation of any of the following is potentially grounds for dismissal from the program.

1. You must give the director written notice whenever you wish to leave greater Cairo or spend the night outside of your housing.  We need to be able to contact you in an emergency here or at home. 
2. You are required to attend all MESP functions unless specified as “optional,” including social functions, outings, field trips, classes, etc. If you are sick, please notify the director. 
3. Do not go to places where there is social dancing and/or alcohol, such as discos, bars, and private parties.  
4. MESP has a “No Dating” policy.  Male-female relations, including dating and courtship, vary greatly from culture to culture.  What may seem like common courtesy to a North American may be read as a virtual wedding proposal or sexual “come-on” to someone from another culture.  We will give you details about what is appropriate and what is not.  Meanwhile we ask that MESP students do not begin romantic/physical relationships with fellow MESP students, staff or locals.  
5. Do not show cross-gender public displays of affection (PDA).  In the Muslim Middle East it is common for adult male friends to hold hands.  Women and girls also hold hands.  But holding hands, hugging or walking arm in arm across gender lines is generally reserved for those who are married or engaged.  If you are female and an Egyptian male friend attempts to hold your hand, politely refuse.  Do not think “Oh, maybe this is culturally normal”- IT IS NOT!
6. Females should not move about the city alone, including Agouza, after 10:00 PM.  Certainly female students should not visit certain parts of the city (such as Khan al-Khalili, Imbaba, Bulaq, etc.) alone.  Do not walk across the bridges after dark alone.
7. Be on time to all activities. Do not disrespect the entire group by holding it up for departures on field trips or beginning class and devotions. Habitual tardiness could be grounds for dismissal from the program. Please also respect and be attentive when on a tour with colleagues—don’t chit chat while tour guides are speaking.
8. When traveling on your own outside of Cairo, travel in groups of three or more. A male and a female may not travel together alone. Avoid co-habitation even in large groups.  (i.e. If  two guys and  three women go to Alexandria, rent two rooms in a hotel and not one large room!).     
9. There can be no women in the men’s housing; no men in the women’s housing. 
10. Take care of your apartments. Any items damaged will be charged to the individual[s] responsible. 
11. There can be no evangelism. Muslims and Copts are highly sensitive to this and proselytizing is forbidden by law.  You may self-identify as a Christian if asked about your faith, but don’t initiate too much information—this could be construed as evangelism. As a Christian program in a Muslim country and a conservative Muslim neighborhood, we live with a precarious situation requiring caution with locals.
12. Due to the intensity of activities and communal bonding here in Cairo, no visitors—family or friends—are allowed during the semester without permission of the Director. Under no circumstances may visitors stay in or visit MESP apartments—these are common areas. 
13. You may not drive any type of vehicle while in Egypt. 

Upon receipt of a complaint about, or notice of such a violation or conduct, the program director will provide the student with notice of the complaint or alleged violation and give an opportunity to be heard. Following this, the director will attempt to communicate, consult and coordinate with the senior student life official at the student's home institution. Following these, the director will make a decision with respect to the appropriate disciplinary response and will inform the student and the senior student life official at the home campus of that decision. The director's decision will be final unless the student chooses to make a verbal or written appeal to the CCCU vice president in charge of student programs.

Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment Policy
It is the policy of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (“CCCU”) Student Programs to prohibit sexual harassment and all other forms of unlawful harassment of its employees and students in any form. In maintaining this policy the CCCU seeks to assert basic Christian precepts, to affirm ethical standards predominantly accepted in the work place and academy, and uphold existing laws. Any practice or behavior that constitutes sexual harassment is absolutely prohibited and will not be tolerated.

Definition of sexual harassment:
Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's success on a program, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for program decisions affecting an individual, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive          environment.

Examples of behavior that may constitute sexual harassment include (but are not limited to) the following:

• subtle pressure for sexual activity 
• unnecessary brushes, touches, poking another person’s body, or other inappropriate touching 
• offensive sexual graffiti 
• disparaging remarks about one's gender 
• physical aggression such as pinching, patting, assault, impeding, or blocking movement 
• sexual innuendos 
• verbal sexual abuse, including abuse disguised as humor 
• obscene gestures 
• sexist remarks about a person's clothing, body, or sexual activities
• leering, staring at another person’s anatomy 
• making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances

Sexual harassment is primarily a desire for a locus of control over the victim, intended to intimidate, coerce, embarrass, or degrade another person. Usually the aggressor has implied power over the victim such as a supervisor of an employee, faculty to student, or student to student. However, the roles could be reversed such that a student could attempt sexual harassment of faculty or staff. The result of this harassment is exploitation of power. In any form, such behavior undermines the atmosphere of trust and collegiality which CCCU Student Programs seeks to foster and is unacceptable.  Students participating on culture-crossing programs should be informed that in some instances the local methods of communication differ from what they are accustomed to and may be uncomfortable for them. Some cultures touch as a manner of conversing or to get a point across; other cultures stare to make eye contact and be friendly. However, if after acknowledging cultural differences, students continue to feel uncomfortable they should discuss their situations with program staff. 

While harassers may think that their words/actions are meaningless, the victim may be emotionally distraught or even internalize the events into physical symptoms. Emotive responses may include anger, embarrassment, fear, feeling intimidated, powerless, and degradation. Physical responses may include physical illnesses, withdrawing from social situations, drug and alcohol use to ease/lessen emotions and tension, and also distrust of previously trusted individuals.

Other Unlawful Harassment
Harassment on other grounds is prohibited, including based on race, color, religious creed, sex, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, Vietnam-Era or disabled veteran status, military service, or any other basis protected by federal or state law (all as defined and protected by applicable law). Harassment includes jokes, verbal abuse and epithets, degrading comments, the display of offensive objects and pictures, and other conduct that the individual might reasonably find to be offensive.

Prompt Reporting and Investigation
An extended period of time between an alleged occurrence and an inquiry into the circumstances of that incident may make fact-finding extremely difficult or impossible. Therefore, any person who believes that he/she has been the object of sexual harassment should report the incident to the Program Director as soon as possible.  If the complaint involves the Director, students or staff should report to the CCCU Vice President for Student Programs.

Concerns and reports of harassment should be made without fear of reprisal or retaliation.  Any individual who engages in retaliatory actions will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination from employment or the program.

All allegations of harassment will be quickly and discreetly investigated.  If CCCU determines that the harassment complaint is credible and substantiated, it will take appropriate disciplinary action against the harasser(s), up to and including termination from employment or the program.

Confidentiality
CCCU will strive to protect, to the greatest extent possible, the confidentiality of persons reporting or accused of harassment. All persons involved in the investigation are expected to protect the confidentiality of the process and not to disseminate information about the complaint or the investigation that would cause harm to others. Complainants and respondents, especially, have an obligation to respect the privacy and confidentiality of the other person and must not disseminate information about the complaint or the investigation with the intent of harming the other person.

Policy for On-Line Communication
The proliferation of online communication tools such as myspace.com, facebook.com, and blogs continues to transform the ways in which we communicate and develop community. The CCCU acknowledges these media as appropriate ways to share information when used correctly. However, while there are many positives, there are also some concerns and cautions students should note.. Our desire is to provide guidance for students to uphold CCCU/Student Programs community standards while engaging in these forms of communication. 

Please understand that information you post may be subject to legal action, affect current or future employment, or be subject to identity theft. It can also open up opportunities for stalking and other inappropriate behaviors.

All content posted must adhere to the lifestyle agreement and standards set forth in the Student Programs Policy manual and your home institution’s Student Handbook. Since students have editing control over pages, our expectation is that you will review and remove questionable content.

The CCCU considers all students responsible for comments posted on their own blogs, site, wall, etc., as well as what you may post on pages of other BestSemester students. If there is inappropriate material posted on your sites by other people, the CCCU expects you to remove these items.

It is not the intent of the CCCU or programs staff to monitor what students place on these sites, and CCCU/Student Programs assumes no responsibility for any content students publish on such sites or for any consequences related thereto. However, we will respond to issues that are brought to our attention that may indicate violation of the CCCU/Student Programs lifestyle agreement and standards. If inappropriate information, content, or pictures are found on your myspace.com, facebook.com, blogs, or other such sites, you may be held accountable with appropriate consequences. As with all policies, the CCCU encourages students to hold one another accountable.