Dress and Grooming

The attire and grooming of both men and women should always be modest, neat and clean. It should also be consistent with the dignity of a representative of BYU–Hawaii and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Modesty, appropriateness, and cleanliness are important values that reflect personal dignity and integrity, through which students, staff, and faculty represent the principles and standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the BYU–Hawaii ohana commit themselves to observe these standards, which reflect the direction given by the Board of Trustees and the Church publication For the Strength of Youth.

The Dress and Grooming Standards are as follows:

General Dress Standards

A clean and well-cared-for appearance should be maintained. Hairstyles should be clean and neat, avoiding extreme styles and colors that bring undo attention to self.

Shorts, dresses, and skirts must be knee-length or longer. Jeans, pants, or shorts, or other clothing that are worn-through, frayed, torn, or have holes in them, even if the holes are below the knee, are not acceptable attire. Shirts must be worn at all times in public areas while on campus. Clothing is required to have sleeves and must cover the shoulders, back, and stomach. Clothing must not be form-fitting, revealing, sheer, or low-cut. Messages and pictures on clothing must be appropriate to standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shoes are to be worn in all public campus areas. Flip-flops and slippers are permissible.

Tattoos are not appropriate. Students who already have tattoos must cover them at all times. It is a violation of the Honor Code for students to acquire new tattoos.

Grooming Standards for Men

Men must have hair that is trimmed above the collar of a dress shirt and above the ear. “Man buns” or ponytails are prohibited. Sideburns must not extend below the earlobe or onto the cheek.

Earrings and other body piercings are not acceptable for men.

Men are expected to be clean shaven; beards are not acceptable. A mustache is acceptable but must be neatly trimmed and must not extend beyond or below the corners of the mouth.

Exception to Clean Shaving

If a student has a medical condition that would be exacerbated by keeping the clean-shaven standard, that student may request a limited exception by completing each of the following steps:

1. The student should set an appointment for a medical exam at the BYU–Hawaii Student Health Center. The purpose of the appointment is to enable the clinician to confirm the medical need to not shave.

2. If the student suffers from pseudofolliculitis barbae or another skin-related condition, the student may be required to show evidence of the condition. This may entail the student needing to shave every day for at least three days prior to the appointment. The patient's medical history alone is not sufficient. Other conditions will be considered and diagnosed individually.

3. The patient will be charged for the medical exam regardless of diagnosis; therefore, it is in the patient's best interest to make sure the condition is present and visible enough for the clinician to make the diagnosis based on physical findings at the time of the visit, rather than solely on the basis of the patient's medical history.

4. If the clinician is able to make the diagnosis based on the physical findings at the time of the appointment, he or she will provide the patient with a letter verifying the medical diagnosis.

5. This letter should include the clinician’s professional estimate regarding the timeline of treatment for the medical condition and likelihood of cure, if any, from the condition.

6. The student can then present the letter to the BYU–Hawaii Office of Honor as documentation of a temporary medical condition and request a temporary exception.

7. The Office of Honor may grant a temporary exception to the clean-shaven policy by way of letter.

8. The Office of Honor will monitor the temporary exception that must have a clear beginning and end date, not to exceed 4 weeks, at which time the student must obtain an extension of the exception by following the above procedure.

9. If an exception is granted, the student may use their letter from the Office of Honor as evidence of permission to not shave.

10. It is only with this letter of verification that students are allowed to not shave.
11. Students who have been granted this exception must produce the letter when requested by any office or professor on campus.

12. If an accommodation is granted, the student must wear a beard that is full-grown, not a goatee, soul patch, etc. The beard must be trimmed closely to the face, neat, and maintained.

The Office of Honor will keep record of the accommodation and track compliance.

Grooming Standards for Women

Body piercings, beyond one piercing per ear, are not permitted. Any other fashion or fad body piercing is not acceptable.
Leggings may be worn under clothing that is knee‐length for normal wear. Leggings alone are not acceptable attire for the classroom or in general areas of campus including in class, in the testing center, dining area, or library.

Dress for Exercise or Sports Participation

Sports and exercise dress must comply with the general dress and grooming standards and should be neat and clean. Appropriate dress for athletic participation as well as for dance aerobic classes includes modest t-shirts so that the midriff and back are covered. Shirts must have sleeves and shorts must extend to the knee.

Worn alone, leggings are permitted to be worn during the time of exercise or sports activities such as those sponsored by Seasider Sports. Appropriate shoes are required at all times. When traveling to and from exercise locations, athletic activities, or the beach, students must be dressed in compliance with BYU–Hawaii dress and grooming standards.

Dress for Beach

Clothing, including swimming suits, must be modest in fabric, fit, and style. Bikini, two-piece, or French-cut style swimming suits are not permitted. Informal lava‐lavas are to be worn only to cover swim wear when commuting to and from the beach, but are not appropriate to be worn otherwise, such as in the cafeteria, during classes, to take tests, etc.

Sunbathing is not permitted in Residence Hall areas.