RVU's new on-campus dress code policy

Let's be honest with ourselves and recognize that our actions and the way we conduct ourselves on a daily basis say a great deal more about our professionalism compared to the mere outfits we wear. If students dress in casual dress, this has little to no impact on our ability to function on a daily basis. I understand more "professional" dress when interacting with the community and physicians, but there is no use to create a facade when the school could be working on other more fundamentally important issues. Med school is already stressful enough that wearing dress clothes on a daily basis and the dry cleaning bill associated with it are not necessary. No use starting my current $40 weekly dry cleaning bill 2 years early so I could spend my time sitting in the lecture halls or labs. Let's get some more student input on issues such as these, rather than jamming it down the throats of students only to recant a year later and say "well, I guess that didn't work out as well as expected."

As a rising 4th year student, former student ambassador, current anatomy fellow, and prospective student interviewer I verbally endorse all RVU has to offer on a daily basis. I wholeheartedly support my school and all of its staff behind the scenes that have helped foster a learning environment responsible for producing well prepared student doctors. An important element to our school's atmosphere and subsequent reputation is the fact that each student's opinion is not only listened to, but can ultimately play a role in upgrading existing policy. This allows progress while still implementing comprise between all parties affected by a certain decision. Unfortunately, recent policy change in the required dress code and 4th year credit requirements have been implemented without adequate student input. It is disheartening to see my school begin to fade away from the successful foundation upon which it has gained an excellent reputation amongst its students, staff, and community. Hopefully compromise can be achieved and our student's opinions can continue to play a pivotal role in shaping RVU for the better. Thank you for your consideration in this important matter.

Agree with patient contact, any contact with the public outside the class. Can't think of any reasons to have a dress code on campus besides for publicity/media coverage

Class of 2019

As a new student, I am disappointed that this dress code policy was implemented without any notification. During my interview I was very pleased with the laid back mentality of the school's dress code and I was under the impression that it was not going to change. I just graduated from a school with a strict dress code policy (BYU), and I do understand the importance of a dress code that will promote learning, but at some point, the dress code policy can begin to hinder student progression. I hope that we can come to a consensus of what we all believe to be "the best fit".

The student body should have been adequately involved in this decision. Furthermore, I am concerned that this decision is not in the best interest of students or future patients. While on campus for class, we are not routinely interacting with the public or patients, but rather there to learn. T-shirts and flip flops do not interfere with that. Wearing modest clothing is certainly reasonable, which I did while on campus, but this dress code goes beyond modesty. It imposes unnecessary restrictions on students in an environment that is already stressful by it's core nature as a medical school.

A fantastic way to breed resentment is to make changes that affect a specific population without any representation from that population.

As a recent graduate from RVU to a top tier/competitive specialty, I am incredibly discouraged by RVU's course of action in this matter. I, like many of you I'm sure, chose this school for multiple reasons, one being the fact that students have a say about their education during their four years at the institution. I have always talked very highly about our school to outsiders (both in person and via popular forums) especially to those considering applying/attending. I 100% believe my success at RVU was in part due to their "laid-back" attitude when it came to me attending (or not attending) lectures/PBL's/CIS's as well as their overall understanding that the students know how to succeed and the school should simply do their best to not get in the way. This new policy is quite disheartening to me as I have heard of other changes since I attended that all seem to point towards a faculty and administration that is no longer completely focused on awesome board scores (don't let them fool you, boards are 90+% of matching where you want!). I know for a fact I wouldn't have been able to study as well or as long if I had to do it in business casual clothes. Yet it was incredibly easy and natural once third year came around to "dress up" everyday which only makes me roll my eyes at the notion they are trying to get everyone ready for the future. And simply, as bad as this new policy is, the fact that they gave you little to no warning on the matter upsets me to no end. I will not bad mouth the school by any means but unless I see things swing back to giving students more say in all matters associated with them, I cannot endorse the school like I once did. I hope an SGA member can see this and bring it up at the next meeting because I can't think I am the only alumni soured by this recent move of the administration.

Please provide a forum for students to discuss major policy changes before they actually are adopted. I am not as upset with the dress code as I am with the implementation. I believe it shows a lack of respect to the students and doubts their ability to compromise when policies are made behind closed doors.

Professionalism is not reflected in how you look, it's reflected in how you act. RVU students already act professionally - there is no need to artificially present a veneer of "professionalism" via a dress code.

Since I already wear collared shirts every day, this dress code does not affect me personally. However, I still believe that imposing it as a requirement is detrimental to our reputation. Students want to know they're going to get "what they signed up for" when they choose a medical school. This, and other changes made this summer regarding problem based learning, may show that RVU is not one of those schools. It feels like a dishonest trick to suddenly impose these rules on people who chose the school when the policy was different. It feels like someone is changing a contract you've already signed, and that simply isn't fair, professional, or good for our reputation.

Even the corporate world is moving towards a casual code, leaving it up to their employees to use good judgment about when to wear what. Professionalism is an attitude not an outfit & the last thing medicine needs is more people thinking the opposite. Mindfulness, kindness, diversity & communication training would be of greater benefit to the student body as far as professionalism goes then a dress code.

I'm sure that the new policy changes regarding dress are an effort to improve school image. That being said, nothing speaks more negatively of a school than disregard for its students and their opinions. I am deeply disappointed in these changes and every member of staff who implemented them without consulting the student body when it effects us to such a great extent.

No dress code please!

In absolutely no way, as an adult learner, do I feel my casual dress to lectures impedes my learning or anyone else's learning, for that matter. I chose RVU in large part because of the faculty and focus on education and board scores. These topics absolutely matter, not trivial things like the comfy yoga pants I live in as a full-time student and mother of three.

I was really comfortable at RVU but I feel blindsided by all the changes for the upcoming school year. I thought RVU was better than this; I thought they cared for our opinions. I was proud to say that my school cared but I'm not sure they actually do.

RVU is doing a very good job of making an ambassador want to do the exact opposite. I have a pretty prevalent online presence advocating for RVU and the education I receive here, but the un-consulted, and frankly unprofessional changes that are being made are making it harder and harder for me to do so in good conscience.

One of the main reasons that I chose RVU was because of the laid back environment and the ability to study in comfortable clothes. I anticipate this greatly affecting my study capabilities as well as my desire to attend lectures. This change will drastically decrease morale on campus, student presence of campus, and test scores across the board.

An impingement on basic human rights.

Disallowing shorts and t-shirts is an unacceptable direction in the modernization of academic institutions. We are moving backwards here people.