YCMES Policies

TEL: 00967 1 270 200

FAX: 00967 1 270 127

P.O. Box 3671

Sana’a – Republic of Yemen

YCMES Policies

Sexual Harassment & Discrimination

Academic Policies - Attendance, Academic Dishonesty, Academic Standing

Student Behavior - Dress Code, Alcohol/Drugs, Prohibited Activities

YCMES Student Agreement

YCMES Student Visas

SEXUAL HARASSMENT & DISCRIMINATION:

The Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination (as defined below).

Sexual Harassment:

Definition: Unwelcome and unsolicited sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, comments of a sexual nature, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual manner. This includes situations where:

1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic standing,

2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting that individual's employment or academic standing, or

3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment (a “hostile sexualized environment”).

Hostile sexualized environments are environments where sexually explicit graffiti, sexually degrading posters and objects, etc., are found, and/or where people make sexual jokes, say obscenities, or view Internet pornography. None of these behaviors or objects need necessarily be directed at anyone in particular in order to create a hostile sexualized environment.

Sexual harassment can be considered grounds for expulsion without refund from the YCMES program or termination of employment with the YCMES with the incident permanently noted in the employee’s file.

Discrimination:

Definition: To make a value distinction between people on the basis of class or category. Examples of such categories include race, religion, sex, gender, disability, ethnicity, employment circumstances, sexual orientation and age.

Direct discrimination involves treating someone less favorably because of a real or perceived attribute (e.g., sex, age, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, etc.), compared to someone without that attribute in the same circumstances.

Indirect discrimination involves creating conditions that eliminate or limit a particular group within the student and faculty bodies, without reasonable justification. It also includes creating a hostile environment for a person or group of people by doing the following: using stereotypes, epithets, or making derogatory remarks about that group of people, even if these remarks are not directed at a specific individual.

Discrimination can be considered grounds for expulsion without refund from the YCMES program or termination of employment with the YCMES with the incident permanently noted in the employee’s file.

Procedure for Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Cases:

Any student, faculty member, or staff member who feels that they have experienced sexual harassment or discrimination from either a faculty or staff member or student is encouraged to contact the Associate Dean and/or the Committee for Student Affairs. This committee, which is comprised of staff members, faculty, and a student representative, will make an inquest into the situation or event and respond according to the findings of that inquest.

Informal Process:

Though not required in a sexual harassment or discrimination case, the complainant is encouraged to first inform the respondent through verbal and/or written communication about the inappropriate behavior. This may be accompanied or followed by a report to a higher administrator, such as a dean.

Formal Process:

If a complaint cannot be resolved through the informal process or the complainant shall feel uncomfortable to pursue such means, a formal written complaint must be submitted, initiating the formal complaint process for sexual harassment or discrimination.

Written complaints should clearly document all incidents and details that the complainant has incurred. This should include dates, words, locations, and persons involved (and if any witnesses were present). This statement, signed and dated, is to be submitted to the investigating officer, the Associate Dean, unless he is the respondent. In this case, the complaint should be submitted to the President of the college.
The Associate Dean will investigate the complaint, interviewing the complainant and respondent as well as any other involved parties. The respondent is provided a summary of the complaint, and allowed to submit his response.
If no working solution can be obtained at this point, the case is then referred to the Committee for Student Affairs. This committee is made up of administrative workers, faculty members, and a student representative. The committee will review all documents and consult with the Associate Dean. Additional, independent interviews with all parties involved may be requested. After thorough investigation into the alleged sexual harassment or discrimination, the committee shall decide on a disciplinary or corrective action, if necessary, in consultation of college policy.
If the decision is not satisfactory or believed to be biased by either party, the complainant and/or the respondent, then a formal hearing may be held. This hearing must be requested within two weeks from the declaration of the resolution. During this hearing, all parties may be brought in for testimony, exhibition of evidence for the panel, as well as any arguments concerning the allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination.
The Committee on Student Affairs may then decide to affirm the original decision, reduce or increase the original sanction, or overturn the original decision.

Academic Policies:

Attendance:

Students are expected to attend all sessions, including mandatory lectures and outings, of the courses in which they are registered and to be on time. Any absence, regardless of the reason, prevents the student from receiving the full benefit of the course. To be excused, and absence must be reported prior to the class to be missed and an acceptable excuse must be provided to the instructor. In the case of an emergency absence wherein prior notification is not possible, a written letter to the instructor detailing the reason for the absence should be submitted in a timely manner to the instructor. Unless arrangements are made prior to the absence, missed tests cannot be made up. Illness related absences of three or more classes require a doctor’s note. Repeated, unexcused absence or excessive absence of any kind, as determined by the YCMES administration, constitutes grounds for failure of the course and/or expulsion from the program without refund of tuition.

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty or academic misconduct is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise. It can include:

Plagiarism - The assumption or reproduction of ideas or words or statements, in whole or in part, of another person without due acknowledgment.
Self-Plagiarism - The submission of the same work for academic credit more than once without permission.
Fabrication - The falsification of data, information, or citations in any formal academic exercise.
Deception - Providing false information to an instructor concerning a formal academic exercise, e.g. giving a false excuse for missing a deadline or falsely claiming to have submitted work.
Cheating - Any attempt to give or obtain assistance in a formal academic exercise without due acknowledgment.
Sabotage - Preventing others from completing their work.

Cases of academic dishonesty and appropriate punishments are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Incidents of academic dishonesty can lead to failure of a course and/or expulsion from the YCMES program without refund of tuition.

Academic Standing:

Students are expected to maintain good academic standing during their studies with the YCMES, which means maintaining a cumulative GPA and term GPA of 2.5 or higher and passing all of one's courses.

Academic Warning: When a student's term GPA is lower then 2.5 but their cumulative GPA remains higher then 2.5 that student will receive an Academic Warning. Academic warnings are not recorded on a student’s transcript.

Academic Probation: When a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 2.5 that student is placed on academic probation. Academic Probationary status is recorded on a student’s transcript. A student placed on academic probation must recover his/her academic standing (achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher) at the end of the term following their probationary status or receive academic disqualification.

Academic Disqualification: When a student’s cumulative GPA is less then 2.5 and that student has already been placed on academic probation and not recovered good standing at the conclusion of their probationary period (one term) then that student is academically disqualified. The student is removed from the program and not allowed to re-enroll in future YCMES programs without reinstatement by the YCMES administration. Tuition will not be refunded in the case of Academic Disqualification.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR:

Students of the YCMES are held to the same behavioral standards of any Western-accredited college or university. In addition, students are reminded that they will be studying in a conservative country and must abide by the school's behavioral requirements for their own safety and in an effort to respect Yemeni cultural standards. These behavioral requirements preserve the good reputation held by the Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies and its students.

DRESS CODE:

Yemen is a conservative country with Islamic customs. We do not require that our students dress as Yemeni Muslims but we do require that they dress in a manner acceptable to their environs. Please observe the following rules during your studies in Yemen:

Please DO NOT:

Wear pants or shirts that reveal your midriff (Stomach area)
Wear blouses or dresses with short sleeves revealing the arms (women). Tank tops are unacceptable (both men and women).
Wear short skirts that fall above the ankles
Wear tight or low cut blouses that reveal the chest area.
Wear any transparent clothing.
Wear shorts (both men and women).
Wear camouflage patterns or clothing suggestive of military or police.

Those students who choose to wear the local dress (in particular female students who adopt the balto) please remember that while in such dress you will be held to a stricter standard to comply with normative Yemeni behavior.

Students who violate the YCMES dress code will be given two warnings, the first verbal, the second written. If the violations persist past the two initial warnings then a meeting with the Student Affairs Office will be required. The outcome of this meeting will determine how the school will proceed with regards to the student in question. Continued and flagrant disregard for the dress code after meeting with the Student Affairs Office can be considered grounds for expulsion without refund of tuition.

ALCOHOL/DRUG POLICY:

The YCMES has a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol and/or drugs on school property. Students found to have drugs and/or alcohol in their possession will be eligible for immediate expulsion without refund of tuition. In addition, public intoxication (example: returning to the YCMES facilities from an outside location perceivably intoxicated) is unacceptable. Walking in the street perceivably intoxicated is grounds for imprisonment according to Yemeni law. If one is imprisoned for public intoxication the YCMES cannot intervene in the legal process to have you released. Violations of the YCMES drug/alcohol polices and the severity of penalty will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Incidents in violation of the alcohol/drug policy may be considered grounds for expulsion from the YCMES program without refund of tuition.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES:

YCMES students reside in Yemen on a student visa. A student visa restricts the holder from seeking employment and becoming involved in anti-government, military, religious, or clandestine activities. For the purpose of ensuring the safety and legal status of our students, involvement in such activities is prohibited. In addition, students are prohibited from volunteer work without prior approval and special program arrangements from the YCMES.

Examples of prohibited activities include (but are not limited to):

Involvement with the activities of Yemen’s various political parties.
Monitoring of, or inquiry into, military operations in Yemen.
Proselytizing (including passing out religious literature, “witnessing,” etc.).
Participation in religious organizations with anti-government, revolutionary or terrorist affiliation.
Participation in demonstrations, sit-ins, riots and/or protests against the government.
Seeking any kind of paid or unpaid employment without the express permission of the YCMES administration.

Participation in prohibited activities can be considered cause for immediate removal from the program without refund of tuition.

(Note: the intention of these restrictions is not to obstruct individual rights but rather to comply with the legal restrictions of a Student Residence Visa and preserve the safety of YCMES students.)

YCMES Policy on Student Visas

All students who are studying at the Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies and/or the Yemen Language Center are required to obtain a Yemeni student visa. The YCMES follows all visa regulations set forth by the Yemeni Immigration Office, and therefore, does not teach students on a tourist visa. The YCMES acts as a sponsoring institution for students to study and live in Yemen, and will remain so only for the duration of a student's study and stay with the YCMES. At the end of a student's study at the YCMES and/or YLC, or if a student terminates his/her studies prematurely, the student visa will be cancelled through an exit visa issued by YCMES administration. A student then will be required to depart the country and may only return on a tourist visa. As a sponsoring institution, the YCMES reserves the right to expel any student from its programs for reasons of breaking student policies and/or other reasons deemed appropriate by the YCMES. Consequently, expulsion from the YCMES will also nullify a Yemeni student visa.