Longwood University  Chief Administration and Finance Officer:      Human Resources        201 High Street, Lancaster 335, Farmville, VA  23909         Phone: 434.395.2074     Fax: 434.395.2666

Policy 5210
DRESS CODE

I.     PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish basic guidelines for appropriate work dress, which promote 
a positive image of the institution, but also allow for maximal flexibility to maintain good morale,
respect individual religious, racial, gender-specific and ethnic attire, and give due consideration to 
safety and sound business practice.

II.     APPLICABILITY

Although the policy is an effort to establish some broad parameters for non-instructional employees, 
most departments have at least some uniqueness in terms of operating needs, such as customer expectations, and safety. Therefore, regulation of employee dress will be managed at the department 
level. Departments may establish more stringent requirements, based on sound business needs, but 
may not establish lower standards than those set forth herein.

III.     POLICY

        A. School Year Standard: This is the basic standard for the Academic Year, when classes 
        are in session.

                1. Faculty: Faculty guidelines may be established by the Provost, if desired. This policy 
                is not intended to apply to instructional faculty employees.

                2. Professional Employees, and Academic and Administrative Support 
                Employees: This group of employees comprise the majority of office employees, such 
                as non-instructional professional employees in positions where a degree or advanced
                technical training is normally required; office support, secretarial and program support
                employees. Attire will be "business dress." For the purposes of this policy, "business 
                dress" is defined minimally as slacks or skirt with shirt or blouse or dress, but some
                professional positions may require a tie, sports coat or suit, at senior managers' discretion.
                As a general rule, the higher level the position and the more contact with the outside public,
                the higher the dress standard.

                3. Non-Professional Facilities Employees: This group of employees consists of trades,
                grounds, heating plant and custodial employees, and summer facilities employees. Uniforms
                and safety shoes may be required by the department, but if not required, attire should be
                clean and neat. As a general rule, jeans, sweat suits, shorts, baggy-style pants, tennis shoes,
                and sandals are not acceptable.

                4. Work-Study Students: Students frequently work in support of regular department
                employees in return for state and federal financial aid subsidies.  Dress for these employees
                is casual but not controversial. Some consideration must be given to the fact that students
                have limited means and are usually working between classes. If safety clothing or equipment
                is deemed necessary by the department, such clothing or equipment will be furnished by the
                department. Tee-shirts bearing language or art which is likely to offend others, torn clothing,
                unkempt appearance, or revealing clothing which exposes parts of the body typically
                covered in that work setting should be avoided.

        B. Summer, School Year Vacation Period, and Friday Standard: This is the basic
        standard for periods between Commencement and the beginning of Fall classes; also
        covers other periods when classes are not in session due to school "breaks"; and
        Fridays other than the last Friday of the month during the school year.

                1. Professional Employees, and Academic and Administrative Support
                Employees: Attire will be "business casual." The principal differences
                between business dress and business casual are increased informality, such as
                the absence of tie, the substitution of polo shirt for dress shirt, the substitution
                of sweater for sports coat for men, and more informal skirts, dresses, pants and
                shoes for women. Business casual dress in some areas may necessarily be
                "dressier" than in others due to the nature and frequency of contacts with the
                general public, the Board or government officials.
  
                        a. Exceptions: Anytime scheduled meetings or other work commitments
                        involve the general public, outside business representatives, Board
                        members or government employees outside the institution, good judgment 
                        in choice of attire is expected. This will normally mean wearing business
                        dress attire for that day.

                2. Non-Professional Facilities Employees: No difference from the School
                Year Standard.

        C. Last Friday of the Month: "Dress Down" Day: Dress down days have become
        very popular as a strategy for improving moral and college spirit among employees.
        Dress down days will apply to professional employees and academic and
        administrative support employees only.

                1. Designated Day: The last working Friday of each month, January through
                December will be considered a dress down day. Attire for dress down days
                will be "relaxed casual." Relaxed casual dress may include jeans, shorts of
                reasonable length (not cut-offs) and tennis shoes.

                        a. Exceptions:

                                (1) Anytime scheduled meetings or other work commitments involve
                                the general public, outside business representatives, Board members
                                or government employees outside the institution, good judgment in
                                choice of attire is expected. This will normally mean wearing
                                business dress attire for that day.
               
                                (2) Individuals employed in areas where safety equipment or other uniform
                                or dress considerations are in place due to occupational health and safety
                                or other business related reasons, must adhere to those safety standards
                                deemed appropriate by the department head. This may preclude the
                                wearing of shorts or tennis shoes, for example.

                2. Other Designated Dress-Down Days: The President may, from time to time,
                designate other days as dress down days in the interests of employee morale or                    
                in the interests of school spirit.
   
        D. Special Issues:

                1. Religious, Racial, Gender-Specific or Ethic Attire: Nothing in this policy
                is intended to abridge rights at law relating to non-discrimination, or hinder the
                advancement of diversity at the institution. Significant flexibility in freedom of
                choice will be shown in relation to religious or ethnic attire. If controversies
                arise, the opinion of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Virginia will be
                sought and relied on by the parties to the controversy.

                2. Facial Hair, Jewelry, Hairstyles: Nothing in the policy is intended to
                regulate individual choices such as beards, jewelry or hairstyles. Job-related
                safety when operating potentially dangerous machinery with moving parts, or
                jobs with public health considerations such as serving or cooking food may
                nevertheless require some personal adjustments.

Revised and approved by the Board of Visitors, September 7, 2002.

Back to the Table of Contents                                                                        Next Policy