Dress Code for Teacher Education Students

It is the intent of the Teacher Education Program to promote professional development within our students that will not interfere with or detract from the school environment, nor disrupt the educational process, and will set positive examples for students and future teachers.

In order to facilitate these goals, all students of the Teacher Education Program must comply with the following guidelines. In general, students are expected to dress in a professional style.

Appropriate Clothing

1. Students must wear clean, neat and un-torn attire.
2. For women, dresses, skirts, pants, pantsuits, split skirts, shirts and blouses are suitable. All clothing should be modest and not excessively short, tight or revealing. Any shirt, blouse or dress that covers the back and midriff and does not have a plunging neckline is acceptable. Footwear (shoes, boots and sandals) should complement professional attire.
3. Suitable attire for men includes pants, shirts, shoes/boots and socks. Shirts are to be tucked and buttoned. Traditional Hispanic and Native American style straight cut shirts are not required to be tucked, but cannot be excessively long. All clothing should be modest and not excessively tight or revealing.

Appropriate Grooming

1. Personal hygiene is very important when working closely with students and with school employees. Strong or excessive odors or fragrances should be avoided.
2. Hair should be clean and neat and facial hair must be trimmed and groomed.

Inappropriate Clothing

1. Clothing, jewelry or hairstyle that disrupts the educational process or endangers students, including, but not limited to those items which include messages, language, or logos that advocate sex, drugs, violence, bigotry, hate, profanity, alcohol, tobacco or gang activity are not permissible.
2. Any excessively tight or form-fitting article of clothing is not considered professional dress.
3. Tank tops, shorts, cut-offs, fatigues, spandex, spaghetti straps, halter-tops, low-cut garments and short shirts are considered inappropriate dress.
4. Tattered, frayed, ripped or excessively worn and faded clothing are not considered professional dress.
5. Transparent, translucent or sheer clothing may not be worn.
6. Clothing associated with gang activities, including athletic jerseys and headgear that may be associated with gang affiliation, is not permissible.
7. Clothing that bares any part of the mid-section, even if the mid-section is bared unintentionally is not acceptable.
8. Portion of the student’s underwear or undergarments shall not be visible at any time.
9. Earrings may be worn. Other pierced areas of the face or body not covered by clothing shall be left without any ring or stud. Other body decorations such as tattoos shall be completely covered to the extent possible while the student is on school premises or at a school activity.

Enforcement

Host teachers are responsible for ensuring that their students are in compliance with the dress code. Students should direct questions concerning this dress code and what is appropriate to their teacher. Any student dressed inappropriately will be sent home to change and will be responsible for making up any lost time. In addition, the student may also be subject to disciplinary action for noncompliance with ENMU Teacher Education Program dress policy.