Policies and Protocols

As Messiah University continues to embrace a fuller presence around the world through its course offerings, service-learning opportunities and internships, a sound set of guidelines for curricular and co-curricular educators is provided here regarding the balance and sensitivity of our action while traveling with our students in foreign or cross-cultural settings. The University recognizes that during these experiences off-campus, situations may and often do arise in which faculty must consider the careful balance between sensitivity and respect of the host culture and honor and obligation of upholding the student Community Covenant.  In the section below, key language on alcohol use is taken from the COE and Student Handbooks that lay out the institutional policy and exceptions.  The Employee Alcohol Usage Policy related to alcohol from the Messiah University Policy and Procedure Manualfollows.  Educatorguidelines are then provided that capture the spirit of our institutional policies balanced against potential host culture expectations.  Additionally, related expectations of educators and leaders are provided in order to ethically and legally protect the students, employees, and the University.

FROM THE COE AND STUDENT HANDBOOKS:

Alcohol, Illegal Drugs, and Tobacco

Messiah University is an alcohol-, illegal drugs-, and tobacco-free campus. The University complies with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act. Students cannot for any reason illegally manufacture, distribute, dispense, have with them, or use any controlled substance. Any student who is convicted of violating a criminal drug statute is required to notify the University, including the Financial Aid Office, within five days of the conviction (including pleas of guilty or nolo contendere). For students who have a drug- or alcohol-related problem that may be alleviated through counseling, the University will deal with those students through the counseling process, rather than through disciplinary processes, if the student comes for help voluntarily. 

Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act
In compliance with the Drug Free Schools and Campuses Act and its implementing Regulations (34 CFR Part 86), the following information is being provided to all students and employees as a statement of University policy. Messiah University prohibits the manufacture, possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs and alcohol by all students. Possession means having the substances or being in the presence of these substances. This includes, but it not limited to, residences, vehicles, or in another location on or off campus. It is expected that while students are enrolled in course work, including breaks during the academic year (e.g., Thanksgiving, Fall and Spring Breaks), they will not use alcohol or illegal drugs or tobacco both on and off campus. 

Exceptions:

Of-age students may responsibly consume alcohol: 

1. When they are with their parents or guardians. 
2. When the occasion is consistent with celebrations, rituals, or religious traditions (i.e., toasting at weddings, taking communion) associated with family or a host family or under the direct guidance and observation of a Messiah Educator as part of an approved cross-cultural course or service/outreach educational experience. 
3. If you have questions concerning the alcohol policy and/or its application to certain situations, you are encouraged to contact the Associate Dean of Students Office. 

MESSIAH UNIVERSITY POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL: EMPLOYMENT POLICIES

1.25 EMPLOYEE ALCOHOL USAGE POLICY. Messiah University prohibits the possession or consumption of alcohol by employees on property owned or controlled by the University with the exception of personal residences not used for student housing. Employees are prohibited from consuming alcohol with students or furnishing alcohol to students. Employees are expected to exercise professional discretion and judgment as to use of alcohol when on University business or in other business or social settings.

Reporting and Compliance

As part of employment in the leadership role, leaders of cross-cultural travel courses and service/outreach teams are expected to support the institutional policies. Instances where employees consume alcohol with students or furnish alcohol to students shall be reported to Doug Wood, who will notify Amanda Coffey, Vice President for Human Resources and Compliance.  Amanda Coffey will consider and dispense an appropriate course of action.

Educator and Leader Guiding Clarifications on Alcohol

1. In cases when the host culture (host family, institution, community; restaurateur) offers alcohol to the students and/or leader, there is an expectation to consider the intent of the host in the cultural context, so long as it is to bring honor to their visitors (class or group).  
   1. Acceptance of anything more than one drink (of low to modest quantity) for each student will be considered unacceptable. 
   2. It is possible that an exception might be taken into consideration when a leader is provided a drink to honor to the “elder” of the group, while the rest of the group would not be offered the drink.
   3. In some cultures or situations, the intent of the host is to promote merriment and drunkenness of the group. It is expected that the leaders would use this opportunity to show conviction and temperance by not being drawn into a difficult situation.
   4. Leader(s) are not to leave students in a venue where alcohol was consumed under these guidelines. Students are to leave the premises with the leader.
2. Students would not be allowed to make a decision to accept a drink from a host, unless carefully considered and permitted beforehand by the leader.  Rule 1a would still be in force.
3. Educators and/or leaders are not permitted to orderalcoholic beverages (table wine, beer, etc.) for students; ever.  Although this may be the custom of the host culture, this is far from an expectation of the host culture.  Messiah employees that provide alcohol in this manner risk an institutional reprimand or termination of employment (Employee Alcohol Usage Policy, section 1.25).
4. Leaders will not consume alcohol in the presence of students while traveling (Employee Alcohol Usage Policy, section 1.25); including on flights.  However, if the leader is away from students while they are on homestay or during a free day, then the leader may consume alcohol in moderation, and so long as it does not compromise their judgment to care for a student need should one arise.
5. In cultures where alcohol consumption is taboo or illegal, leaders and students should abstain in all cases.
6. Leaders and students are expected to report abuse of the allowance guidelines provided in 1a and 2 to Doug Wood, Associate Dean of Students, and similarly reserve the right to send a student home early as per the Study Abroad Contract signed prior to the travel.

REAL LIFE SITUATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION 

Case #1

A course group believes that there is no better way to learn the culture and lifestyle of Andorra than to eat local cuisine and accent the flavors with artisan beverages at the Ristorante Andorra la Vella.  When the leaders are seated, they notice that every occupied table at the restaurant has an opened bottle of wine furnished by the restaurant as an expectation of the meal. The restaurateur offers the class a Pinot Grigio grown and bottled by her family in Ecamp, Andorra.  She is beaming with national pride and wants the class to love her country and appreciate its culinary delights.  

Ex 1 - Acceptable: The leaders permit the class to enjoy one glass with the meal.

Ex 2 - Unacceptable: She (the restaurateur) returns to be sure everyone’s glass never empties. The leaders permit it.

Ex 3 - Acceptable: She (the restaurateur) returns to be sure everyone’s glass never empties. The leaders compliment her on the wine’s quality, thank her for the generous offer, but request that no more be served to the group.  If they are refilled despite the leader’s request, students are asked to no longer drink from their wine glass.

Case #2

A course group believes that there is no better way to learn the culture and lifestyle of Andorra than to eat local cuisine and accent the flavors with artisan beverages at the Ristorante Andorra la Vella.  Every table at the restaurant that has customers seated also has an opened bottle of wine, but not furnished by the restaurant as an expectation of the meal.

Ex. 1 - Unacceptable: The leader decides that a locally grown Pinot Grigio is the optimal choice for the dinner and orders enough for each class participant to enjoy one glass with the meal.

Ex 2 - Unacceptable: A student decides that a locally grown Pinot Grigio is the optimal choice for the dinner and orders one glass with the meal.

Case #3

The mayor of the Vietnamese village in which you have been serving holds a community celebration where the entire Messiah College service team is provided a generous lunch.  The service team leader has been given a special seat of honor next to the mayor and his staff, and they pour you a glass of beer to thank you for your time and efforts.  He later offers the leader the remainder of the liter bottle.

Ex. 1 – Acceptable: The leaders thank the mayor profusely and enjoy the glass of beer (slowly).  When offered more, they place their hand over the glass, insisting that his hospitality be extended onto his staff or their families.

Ex 1a – Unacceptable:The leaders thank the mayor profusely and enjoy the glass of beer.  When offered more, they take it, again and again.  

Ex. 2 – Unacceptable: The leaders thank the mayor profusely and insist that the entire Messiah College group be provided a glass of beer to enjoy.

Case #4

Before sending students off to their homestays, the leaders understand that in Germany it will likely be that the Christian host families in which the students will be placed will insist on a glass of beer to be taken during dinner.

Ex. 1 – Acceptable: Before students go, leaders clarify with a host parent that if beer were to be offered at dinner, that they understand the College policy and offer no more than one glass.

Ex. 2 – Acceptable: Students go, have their homestay experiences, and return telling leaders that they felt it was rude to turn down their host’s beer offering at dinner, but assure you that only one beer was taken. 

Ex. 3 – Unacceptable:After dinner, students go out with host family siblings to a nightclub, restaurant, or a bar to continue drinking because they are told “that’s what the German youth do.”

Case #5

While visiting Russia, the leaders discover that two students were enticed into a vodka shot drinking contest with an 18 year old from their host family during their homestay.  The event did not end well for the students as they were intoxicated and impaired while on homestay.  Word of this poor choice spreads to other students who begin to wonder if the leaders might not enforce the Community Covenant during their travel.

Ex. 1 - Unacceptable: The leaders are conflict-averse and act as if nothing occurred, but keep a closer eye on the offending students.

Ex. 2 – Acceptable: Discuss the actions of the students with them privately.  Offer an option of playing by the rules for the remainder of the travel, or to be sent home, while being committed to reporting the occurrence to Doug Wood, the Associate Dean of Students.  Students are apologetic and decide to “play ball.”

Ex. 3 – Acceptable: Discuss the actions of the students with them privately.  Offer an option of playing by the rules for the remainder of the travel, or to be sent home, while being committed to reporting the occurrence to Doug Wood. The leaders discover that the students seem to make light of the situation behind your back and that other students on the course report that they have been told that there is no leadership follow through with disciplinary action.  You decide to contact Faith Minnich Kjesbo, Director of the Intercultural Office, to request assistance to send the students home at their own expense. 

Ex 4. - Acceptable: The offense appears to be completely avoidable and the leaders feel that trust has been completely broken.  The leader is committed to reporting the occurrence to Doug Wood, and they contact Faith Minnich Kjesbo to request assistance to send the students home at their own expense. 

Case #6

A cross-cultural course is taught in the Republic of Chile.  The Valle Central is well known for their world-famous vineyard and wineries.  

Ex. 1 - Acceptable: While students are on homestay in Santiago, the course leader(s), without students, visit a well-established vineyard in the valley in order to tour their wineries.  A short lesson on wine tasting concludes your tour.  During the tour, the leaders are still reachable by phone or internet to the students and their host families.

Ex. 2 - Acceptable: The leaders understand that in order to adequately teach a course on Chile, an understanding of the local history and economic importance of viticulture is essential.  As part of the course, a lesson on vineyard management, harvest, processing and bottling is given in a prearranged educational tour.

            Ex. 2a - Acceptable: When making the arrangements, the leaders clearly establish with    the vineyard staff that all but wine tasting will take place.

Ex. 2b - Acceptable: The educational tour takes place and at the end the leaders tell students that there is an option for everyone to taste the wine; all partake of one glass.

Ex. 2c - Unacceptable: The educational tour takes place and at the end the leaders tell students that there is an option for everyone to taste the wine; all partake of one glass of each of five varietals offered.      

Ex. 2d - Unacceptable: The leaders decide to allow students to purchase wine as a souvenir for their parents or family back home.

Case #7

At the close of a two-week service outreach visit to Brazil, the local pastors and mission organization throw a farewell celebration that includes singing hymns and Christian songs, a vast rodizio of grilled meats, and individually poured glasses of wine.  The students on the outreach team are concerned not to offend the 78-year old pastor who is passing around the glasses.  

Ex. 1 - Acceptable: The leaders encourage the students to raise a glass to toast their hosts and new friends; whether or not to drink the one glass of wine is left to the individual student.

Ex. 2 - Unacceptable: The leaders allow students to drink more than one glass.

Ex. 3 - Unacceptable: The leaders forbid students for partaking in this part of the celebration thereby insulting the hosts.

Approved by Community Standards Committee, 12/5/14