Appearance Policy

Students attending College of the Ozarks have the responsibility to dress cleanly, tastefully, neatly, and modestly for any occasion. It is expected that men and women dress modestly and tastefully in a Christian environment.

General Appearance Expectations

Students are responsible for adhering to these policies on campus and at campus events.
Violations can be reported to the Dean of Students, who will evaluate and determine if expectations are met.
Repeated violations may lead to disciplinary action, including potential dismissal.
Consult with your resident director or the Dean of Students if uncertain about any aspect of appearance.

Guidelines

Hairstyles and Dress

Hairstyles and fashion choices must reflect neatness and respect for the College’s enviroment. Hair dyed in unnatural colors is prohibited for both men and women.
Avoid fads that draw excessive attention.
Pants or shorts with holes or rips are prohibited.
Undergarments must not be visible. Sleepwear must not be worn as outerwear.
Clothing items that display material or convey a message inconsistent with the mission of the College are prohibited.
Hats are prohibited at chapel, the cafeteria, and during professional dress occasions and events. Academic faculty and work supervisors may ask students to remove their hats during class or in workstations. Hats are never to be worn during prayer or while honoring the flag during the National Anthem or the Pledge of Allegience.
Shoes and shirts must be worn at all times on campus.

Tattoos

Tattoos must be covered while on campus or at college events. Tattoos do not need to be covered in the privacy of your residence hall unless they display material or convey a message inconsistent with the mission of the College, in which case they must be covered at all times.

Women’s Hairstyles

Must be clean and well-maintained.
Hair must not be shaved close to the scalp (medical exceptions apply).

Women’s Dress Code

Tops must have straps at least two inches wide; midriffs, see through clothing, or extremely tight-fitting garmets are not allowed. Avoid extremely tight-fitting tops or ones that show your stomach and/or cleavage in any position. Sleveless shirts are allowed but undergarments must not be visible. No spaghetti straps or strapless garments. Formal dresses may be strapless, but the back must not extend below the natural bra line.
Shorts must be modest in length. Shorts must provide full coverage of the buttocks in all positions (standing, sitting, bending, etc) and reflect a neat and appropriate appearance. Choose longer styles that are near the mid-thigh and align with a modest and professional standard. Shorts must also be a visible length in relation to the top worn. Skirts and dresses must reach at least mid-thigh in length and undergarments must not be seen in any position.
Only ear piercings are permitted. No facial or body piercings are allowed.

Men’s Hairstyles

Hair must be clean and well-groomed.
Hair must be kept off the collar (collar of a dress shirt) and ear.
To maintain a professional and respectful appearance, extreme or fad hairstyles that significantly differ from traditional grooming standards must be avoided. Hairstyles must relect a clean, classic look that does not draw unnecessary attention or distract from the overall environment. Examples of hairstyles to avoid include unnatural hair colors, designs shaved into the hair, or extreme contrasts in length (such as very long tops with shaved sides, or short haircuts with long hair in the back.)
Hair clips and hair buns are not permitted.

Men’s Grooming

Facial hair must be neatly trimmed; sideburns must not extend beyond the midpoint of the ear.
Makeup, nail polish, other similar cosmetics are prohibited for men. Earrings, facial, and other body piercings are not allowed.

Men’s Dress Code

Tank tops are allowed in some areas of campus but not in the cafeteria, classes or chapel. Tank tops showing chest or ribs from the side are not permitted. They must be designed as tank tops. This applies to the gym as well.
Pants, shorts and shirts must be modest in fit and length. Shorts must be at least mid-thigh or longer.
Shirts are required on campus for all activities including athletics, except for swimming.

Professional Attire

There are certain occasions when professional attire is required, including chapel, major convocations, graduation events, and other special occasions deemed necessary by the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students’ Office will specify if professional dress is required. As a result, professional dress is as follows:

Men must wear a dress polo shirt or a button up dress shirt with a collar, slacks, and closed-toed dress shoes. All shirts must be tucked in with ties strongly encouraged.
Women must wear dresses or blouses and skirts/slacks and dress shoes.
No jeans, shorts, cargo pants, sweatshirts (hooded or non hooded), or “T” shirts are allowed in chapel. Flip flops are also prohibited and are not considered acceptable.
Students required to work immediately before or after Chapel may wear their work attire to Chapel.

Work Attire

Work assignments for many students are in public areas. Such work stations may have dress expectations or requirements that exceed regular campus wear. Check with your work supervisor when reporting for work assignment.

The College reserves the right to determine what is acceptable in student appearance. The Dean of Students seeks to counsel with individual students who may need to alter their appearance to meet the expectations of the College. All appeals for infractions of the dress and appearance rules shall end in the Dean of Students office. Disciplinary actions for students who violate the appearance standards may range from a warning to suspension depending upon the frequency and severity of the infractions.