IPS, Valley View University to enforce dress code

AUTHORITIES of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) and the Valley View University (VVU) are determined to enforce the principles of the dress codes of the institutions to ensure that the students dress appropriately and also to fit corporate standards.
This measure has been necessitated by the kind and style of dressing by some of the students on the campuses, particularly the ladies, a situation which has become a great concern by the school authorities.
The two institutions state clearly in their dress codes what the students are expected to wear on campus, but the two authorities have their dress codes which are embodied in the student’s handouts and which the students are expected to abide by, but unfortunately, they don’t and instead dress in their own way.
At the IPS both men and women are expected to ensure that their dressing is always neat, modest, not distracting and consistent with the dignity of scholarship and professionalism.
According to the IPS dress code, a student, alleged to be improperly dressed, or having an inappropriate outfit, shall be reported to the head of department. If the incident occurs in a lecture hall, the lecturer may ask the student to leave the lecture hall and/or take note of the incident as witnessed by other members of the class and later report to the head of department.
A student who is reported for inappropriate dressing for more than twice, shall face disciplinary action which shall result in suspension for one semester.
The process of assessment shall not be biased or challenge the student’s taste or fashion sense provided it fits the institute’s business casual dress standard.
For the women, their clothing will be considered inappropriate when it is sleeveless, strapless or backless, while dresses, skirts and shorts must be knee length or longer.
They are expected to avoid excessive ear piercing, as more than one is regarded inappropriate and all other body piercing are not acceptable.
Revealing attire is also not acceptable and by this, it is meant exposing the tummy, waistline, chest, breast and underwear.
Even though some may see torn jeans and dirty jeans as fashionable, the institute does not accept them.
The men are required to wear trousers and shirts with collar and tie or decent African wear, and it is also not acceptable for them to wear sleeveless ‘T’ shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos and pictures.
A female student said some lecturers sent students who did not dress well out of the lecture halls, adding that though the institute always had a dress code, the authorities had not been able to enforce it.
The Registrar of IPS, Mr William Boamah Dapaah, said the action had become necessary because the dressing of students, particularly that of the women, had become a source of worry to the administration.
Mr Boamah Dapaah said the authorities would not entertain any indecent dressage from the students.
On their part, the authorities of VVU will not accept any shorts, tight-fitting slacks, bare shoulders, spaghetti straps and revealing skirts, since they are considered immodest.
For female students, skirts must be long enough to avoid indecent exposure, while transparent, sheer or tight-fitting blouses, and tube tops or skirts are not permitted.
Again dresses with low necklines or the type which does not fully cover the shoulders and armpit, are not permitted in the school.
Noticeable make-ups, coloured nail polish, and obtrusive unnatural hair, coloured or weave-on must be avoided as much as possible.
Men's dress or general campus wear should consist of trousers and shirt, while belts must not be worn below the waist.
Men may not go bare footed or without shirts when in public places such as classroom, library or cafeteria.
The hairstyles for both males and females must be neat, clean and well groomed at all times, while T-shirts or tops with cartoons are not acceptable as regular school wear except outdoor recreational activities, and dresses with obscene or insulting messages and pictures cannot be worn on campus.
The Vice-President for Students Life and Services of the VVU, Dr Daniel Opoku-Boateng, said it was the desire of the school authorities to ensure that students dress to fit the corporate standards.
Dr Opoku-Boateng said the dress code was part of the holistic, physical, and spiritual philosophy of the school's educational policy.