Aah - gotta love conformity and "fixing" a problem where none existed. This was forwarded to me by a low-rung, underpaid staff person.
Team
iTech's dress code was developed by a committee with representation from all functionally areas of iTech. It was this committee's charter to examine the current dress code requirement that mandates that all iTech personnel wear a uniform type of shirt. Based on their findings, I endorse and place the following iTech dress code policy effective immediately.
As the official custodian of technology and information for the University of Southern Mississippi, iTech provides highly visible services to faculty, staff, students, and administrative personnel. Recognizing this, each of us should strive to have our appearance reflect the quality of our work. With a great deal of interaction with the public, image is very important for customer satisfaction. Those who dress sloppily or wear clothing with potentially offensive images or words will do not promote the appropriate image of their peers. Every individual's dress is expected to and should reflect pride in your personal appearance, the University, iTech, and your profession. When meeting with a student, faculty, staff members and a vendor or at a conference/seminar, even when held off-site, you are the ambassador of The University of Southern Mississippi and iTech. Each manager, supervisor, and director is responsible for ensuring that all team members observe acceptable dress standards. To that end, the following are two types of dress considered acceptable work attire:
1) Uniform iTech Dress - iTech department shirts, *worn properly with pants or skirts. Or 2) Professional Dress - department name tag with suit jackets, dress, shirts/tops, ties, belts, skirts, blouses, dresses, dress pants/slacks, dress shoes, etc. Minimal acceptable professional dress should be button-up oxford and dress slacks or khakis for men and dresses, skirts/dress pants and dress shirt for women. * Shirts designed to be tucked in and buttoned should be.
Unaccpetable clothing:
. Skirts less than minimum of 3 inches below the fully extended hands and fingers held to one's sides . Midriff that is exposed . Jogging or sweat pants. . Shorts . Undergarments that are visible . Mini-skirts, tank tops, tube tops, and theme t-shirts . Clothing that is tight, baggy, or revealing . Sundresses . Sleeveless unless accompanied by a jacket or sweater . Ripped, torn, or contain noticeable holes . Soiled, stained, or odorous . Excessively wrinkled clothes
Supervisors must approve exceptions such as religious beliefs or customs.
Compliance:
Team members who do not adhere to this policy will be asked to leave until within compliance. If an individual is requested to leave by their manager in order to comply with this policy will be charged personal leave for the period they are gone. If a person has over two episodes of failure to comply will result in a counseling form being completed and placed in their personnel file.
I would like to thank the committee's effort on formulating dress code standard. The intent of this policy is to set the bar and establish high standards for our professionalism, and dedication to service.
Thank you,
Coffman, Homer Chief Information Officer The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive #10001 Hattiesburg, MS 39406 homer.coffman@usm.edu www.usm.edu
This is similar to the dress code at Hattiesburg Middle School. At that organization, the dress code was found to reduce fighting, competition among students and promote respect for the teachers.
I'm glad to see the USM is following in the footsteps of a junior high school. SMTTP!
This just adds to the paternalistic "SFT knows best" type of atmosphere that exists at USM right now. I'm just waiting for the dress code for other staff members, faculty, students, etc. In fact, everyone at USM should wear the same uniform to show PRIDE in your university, correct? SFT is beginning to look more and more like Chairman Mao every day.
I hope all of the I-Tech people leave immediately for higher paying jobs where they are treated like grown-ups.
quote: Originally posted by: Angeline "Unaccpetable clothing:. Skirts less than minimum of 3 inches below the fully extendedhandsand fingers held to one's sides. Midriff that is exposed.<SNIP>Undergarments that are visible. Mini-skirts, tank tops, tube tops, and theme t-shirts. Clothing that is tight, baggy, or revealing.<SNIP>"
BumMER. Sounds like no fun at all
Seriously, the institution where I work requires maintenance personnel to wear uniforms. But the institution provides the uniform, cleaning, etc. Para-professional and technical staff are expected only to "dress appropriately for the job."
Well, my reaction to the Itech people in uniforms is highly negative. Where before I would have perceived them as individuals, computer nerds coming to help me with my technical problems, now I perceive them as members of an army, in uniform, come to impound my computer or moniter my e-mail or otherwise deny me of previously held rights. My reaction is anger and fear. Perhaps this is, in fact, the intent.
quote: Originally posted by: foot soldier "Well, my reaction to the Itech people in uniforms is highly negative. Where before I would have perceived them as individuals, computer nerds coming to help me with my technical problems, now I perceive them as members of an army, in uniform, come to impound my computer or moniter my e-mail or otherwise deny me of previously held rights. My reaction is anger and fear. Perhaps this is, in fact, the intent."
The way I hear it the intent of the policy is to prevent a repeat of an "incident" involving a STUDENT WORKER for iTech who showed up in the Dome to do some computer work wearing a t-shirt and shorts. So, everyone in iTech gets punished for a student wearing their normal student outfit. The policy is not clear on whether or not student workers will be forced to abide by its regulations, and iTech, like very office on campus, relies heavily on work-study student workers.
The other bad thing about the policy is that iTech is spending thousands of dollars on the new shirts/uniforms when their staff is severely underpaid and there is great need for more technology upgrades. But, hey, we're all about efficiency and business models here at USM, right?!?