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[sthen]

Hello, yes, I am new.

I am wondering - regardless of for-profit or non-profit, what are your opinions on standardizing a business/business casual dress code within campus and in the classroom? We have implemented a lax one at our school, but it is up to the faculty to enforce the policy. Of course, most of us are uncomfortable doing so, and with no "punishment" for the faculty, most of the students dress abhorrently.

Do you believe a dress code would make any difference to the level of learning in the institution? Should we even bother? Would you like to see one at your school?

I look forward to your comments.

[crowie]

The first time I read your post I thought you meant dress code for the faculty.  Upon a second read I am pretty sure you mean a dress code for the students.  Even though I don't love the outfits I sometimes see my students in, I would see this as yet another way in which my job is becoming more and more like that of a parent or high school teacher, so I would not support such a policy.  That is not to say that I would be against, say, student organizations or university offices organizing events that teach appropriate dress for job interviews etc.

[larryc]

Complete waste of time.

[sthen]

That's sort of vague - do you mean the endeavor itself, or this post in general?

[larryc]

The endeavor. Few faculty will enforce it, so the ones who do will be regarded as giant pricks by their students and not a few of their colleagues. The students will resent it terribly. And for what? It is an awful idea.

[systeme_d_]

The endeavor. Few faculty will enforce it, so the ones who do will be regarded as giant pricks by their students and not a few of their colleagues. The students will resent it terribly. And for what? It is an awful idea.

Fully agreed.  Stupid idea.

[zharkov]

In my experience, student handbooks and college catalogs usually have some vague mention of appropriate dress.  I've heard of faculty giving students grief about wearing pjs or hats to class, but the issue never bothered me.  Again, I was part of the generation that wore jeans to HS -- violating the dress code -- as an act of defiance.

[sthen]

It is frustrating, to say the least, to be the one faculty member that says "well, my boss tells me this is the way it is, so I guess I'll do it" (meaning enforcement). I have long since stopped saying anything to the students.

The idea the administration had behiond it was to create a more professional environment.

It is a topic I don't really hear much of, and as I am sure there are much more important things to worry about than how a student dresses, I was curious as to how many others out there were even considering a dress code for students.

Thanks for everyone's replies so far.

[spyzowin]

Hello, yes, I am new.

I am wondering - regardless of for-profit or non-profit, what are your opinions on standardizing a business/business casual dress code within campus and in the classroom? We have implemented a lax one at our school, but it is up to the faculty to enforce the policy. Of course, most of us are uncomfortable doing so, and with no "punishment" for the faculty, most of the students dress abhorrently.

Do you believe a dress code would make any difference to the level of learning in the institution? Should we even bother? Would you like to see one at your school?

I look forward to your comments.

If the institution receives any government money at all, a dress code would be unconstitutional. There was a first amendment case concerning an obscene message on a student's t-shirt.

[mended_drum]

I have a very, very mild dress code for my classes:  take off sunglasses and hats, leave shoes on, and cover the torso.  No student has ever objected.  I only created it because of a couple of students who kept flashing me in class.  I don't really care what my students wear, so long as they actually keep their clothes on.

[sine_nomine]

Do you believe a dress code would make any difference to the level of learning in the institution?

Not unless nudity is rampant there.

[dr_alcott]

I can't imagine being asked to enforce a dress code, other than the kind that Mended Drum describes (though hats don't bother me).

I was visiting another campus a couple weeks ago and saw a sign outside a counselor's office that read "Please remove your hat and tightly secure pants around your waist before you enter this office." I chuckled at the bit about the pants. I guess I can imagine telling a few of my male students that I'd be more comfortable having them in my office if their pants weren't down to their knees.

[shrek]

We have a dress code for graduate students who are working in our clinic (where we see patients) and for undergrads doing observation. It works and there's a reason for it. Outside of that it doesn't really matter.

[prof_smartypants]

I have a very, very mild dress code for my classes:  take off sunglasses and hats, leave shoes on, and cover the torso.  No student has ever objected.  I only created it because of a couple of students who kept flashing me in class.  I don't really care what my students wear, so long as they actually keep their clothes on.

Yeah. No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service.

And take your sunglasses off.

[scienceprof]

Standardizing a business dress code is also dumb because it doesn't take into account different fields.  For example, if you are in waders and standing knee-deep in pond muck, as in ecology lab, you look like an idiot if you are wearing a suit under the waders!