Student Life and Campus Services

Middle East University (MEU) seeks whole-person education, balancing the physical, intellectual, spiritual, and social aspects of life. It provides an environment that stimulates academic development and nurtures personal growth and social skills. A number of activities and services are designed to foster this growth. MEU students are invited to make effective use of and enjoy all the academic and non-academic programs and facilities.

KEOUGH LIBRARY

The library on the campus of MEU, the Keough Library, is named after George Arthur Keough, the University's first president. Established in 1939, the library has through the years grown to encompass over 23,000 volumes with texts in Arabic, English, and French, updated reference books, and online data bases. It includes a Heritage and Cultural Center (HCC).

The Keough Library is a member of the Lebanese Library Association, Lebanese ILL/DD Services (LIDS) Consortium, The Adventist Library Information Cooperative (ALICE), and the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Librarians. Interlibrary loans from other institutions around Lebanon and worldwide are available for items that cannot be found at the MEU Library. The library has a modern high-tech infrastructure.

KOHA supports the Library's Online Public Access Catalogue system. It embeds all library functions, services, and auxiliary tools enabling access to resources on and off campus. Interlibrary loans can be placed through direct e-mail at library@meu.edu.lb.

Additional on campus services include the following:

• Open stack arrangement facilitating easy browsing
• An online catalog and additional electronic sources;
• Study materials and information on specialized topics;
• Access to an online internet lab with computers with office tools;
• Conference rooms for meetings and group study;
• Workstations for scanning, copying, and printing;
• Comfortable seating in the periodical/newspaper section; and
• Carrels for secluded private study.

The Keough Library and its staff serve the academic and intellectual development of all of its patrons: students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE CENTER

The Heritage and Culture Center (HCC) was founded in 2007 to preserve and promote Lebanese cultural heritage. The vision statement reads: To inspire and engage people in the exploration, appreciation, and conservation of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Lebanon. The mission of the HCC is to preserve, promote, and celebrate the unique cultural heritage and traditions of Lebanon through a range of educational programs, exhibitions, research projects, and events that foster understanding, enrichment, respect, and appreciation for the diverse cultures that make up our heritage.

The HCC provides information, resources, and available equipment to MEU's students, faculty, staff, and community partners, such as libraries, archives, and exhibition spaces. HCC hosts a range of activities such as public lectures, cultural events, musical performances, educational outreach programs, and book signing. One of our marking events is the "MEU Golden Pin" award, presented to prolific authors and prominent artists whose work has helped promote or preserve our cultural heritage. Research and activities focus on topics such as archaeology, folklore, art history, cultural anthropology, and heritage conservation.

CAMPUS MINISTRY

The development of a well-balanced person goes beyond the intellect and includes the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions. The spiritual sphere of the MEU campus aims to assist students in their spiritual growth through a deliberate strategic plan. This enables them to come, connect with God on a personal level, cultivate their knowledge and love for Him, and share that love with others.

The entire campus is encouraged to come, connect, grow, and share what they learn and how they are transformed. Spiritual experiences, such as a daily devotional with faculty and staff, the week of spiritual emphasis, individual and group Bible studies, and community service (just to mention a few), are integral elements of this growth process. All activities contribute to a final goal: transformation of faculty, staff, and students.

COMPUTER LABS

MEU's computer center, located in North Hall, is used for instructional purposes and to meet the academic needs of students. Technical support staff provide technical assistance.

The lab is available to students, access to which is subject to proper use. Each student has a personal account designated for exclusive use in the lab and on university computers. Each account's activity is monitored, and any violation or the following rules may result in account deletion and access prohibition to the lab:

• Accessing, transmitting, or storing pornographic material; documents containing profanity or defamation; or literature promoting hatred of any group or advocating lifestyles contrary to MEU's policies
• Transmission or storage of copyrighted materials
• Premeditated launching of viruses or destructive programs
• Attempts to bypass system firewalls or web filters
• Unauthorized access to other computers on the network
• Participating in "spam" emails, including generating or forwarding chain letters
• Harassing or intimidating other users
• Using the University's resources to support personal business.

The laboratory is available for use at any time during established hours, except for periods when it is closed for assemblies, worship or other scheduled student activities.

ASSEMBLY PROGRAMS

Regularly scheduled assembly meetings are an integral part of the student's academic experience. This is an opportunity to gather as an MEU community to fellowship, communicate, and grow together. The diverse topics add breadth to the student's educational experience. These meetings cover many areas, including spiritual, academic, cultural, and social themes, as well as Student Association programs. Full-time undergraduate students are required to attend regularly, in accordance with the published Assembly Policy.

BOOKSTORE

Textbooks and course modules are sold at the bookstore, located in the Keough Library. At times textbooks can also be rented. Purchased textbooks may not be returned.

SOCIAL ACTIVITY AREAS

Students can take advantage of the campus social activity areas for socialization and study. Located in South Hall, the facility has table tennis, a pool table, other table games, as well as board games.

FOOD SERVICE

A wide selection of options is available at the cafeteria, which is housed in South Hall and is avail- able to dormitory students, as well as to day students and faculty, staff, and guests during the academic year by prior arrangements with the Business Office. The menu includes a variety of nutritious Mediterranean and international vegetarian meals.

SPORTS FACILITIES

Part of MEU's distinctive education is to train students physically as well as mentally. To stay energetic and fit, the university has outdoor athletic fields for tennis, basketball, volleyball, and football, as well as indoor table tennis facilities. Furthermore, our scenic campus provides a suitable and relaxing setting for outdoor recreation such as walking or jogging. The courts are available for use by prior arrangements with the MEU Sports Coordinator. Reservation of sports facilities can be made through the Business Office.

CAMPUS SECURITY

Campus security policies are created with a vested interest in the quality of life on campus, the welfare of the university property, and the safety of its campus community. These policies support a safe and secure academic and social environment free from threats of violence and confrontation. Individuals who reside on campus, study at MEU, or visit the grounds must observe campus safety policies and should respect the security officers and cooperate with them. Any person entering or leaving the MEU property should expect to be checked and/or required to show identification.

HEALTH SERVICES

In case of minor health problems, the campus Health Coordinator can provide assistance and first aid.Medical care is available at facilities in the immediate vicinity of the University.

STUDENT HOUSING

Comfortable on-campus residential accommodations comprised of separate dormitories for men and women are available in North Hall and South Hall. The dormitories are equipped with heating and air conditioning, Internet, and laundry facilities. There are specific regulations governing dormitory life on campus, which are monitored by the dormitory deans. Arrangements for student housing are made through the Business Office. More details are available in the Student Handbook.

MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

MEU has a large parking area for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. All cars used to commute to MEU must be registered with the Business Office at the beginning of each semester. Vehicle drivers must document that the car is insured and that they have a valid driver's license. They are expected to observe the speed limits as well as traffic and parking regulations. A system of fines is enforced on those who fail to uphold the campus parking and safety regulations.

STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Every undergraduate student registered for six or more credits becomes a voting member of the Middle East University Student Association (MEUSA). This organization, guided by a constitution,allows for democratic student leadership and functions as a liaison between the students and the instructional faculty and administration.

The MEUSA has representation on certain university committees; it sponsors spiritual, social, recreational, and scholarly activities, and it coordinates the publication of the MEU yearbook, Pine Echoes.

CAMPUS STUDENT CLUBS

MEU encourages students to participate in as many campus extracurricular activities as their study/workload permits. There are several campus student clubs sponsored by faculty/staff members, which give students the opportunity to complement their academic experience by exercising leadership, developing talents, and articulating self-expression. Through these clubs, students learn to engage and work with each other, balance their academics with organizational and volunteer commitments, and serve others to achieve goals and develop leadership skills.

SOCIAL RECREATION

The Student Life Office and the MEUSA sponsor a variety of social functions. Students should take note of advertised campus events that cater to a variety of interests and consist of sports tournaments, indoor and outdoor activities, music and talent exhibitions, cultural and humanitarian programs, field trips, campus fairs, community service activities, assembly meetings, and spiritual gatherings. The MEU administration encourages students to propose creative events and activities and is available to support and organize approved social events.

DEPARTMENT OF ADVANCEMENT AND MARKETING

The Department of Advancement and Marketing (A+M) is responsible for the advancement, marketing, and recruitment efforts of MEU. The tasks of advancement involve alumni relations, fundraising, donor care, and business development. These tasks are aimed at involving various stakeholders for the growth of the university. The marketing tasks include communication plans to increase awareness, branding, and visual identity. These efforts are clearly seen through MEU's website, social media channels, and advertisement initiatives. Recruiting is more directly connected with relational activities that result in or lead to a decision to enroll. While these functions are distinct, they are also closely intertwined.

The A+M promotes the university through internal and external communication. Internal communications inform students and staff of upcoming events such as concerts, holidays, prayer meetings, and more. Internal communications help create a sense of community and a positive image of the university and serve as a method of recruiting. External communication supports awareness and outlines MEU's role both within the Lebanese professional community and internationally. The A+M creates the public face of MEU and ensures positive publicity through a variety of avenues including social media, the web, and professional conferences.