It is 8:30 a.m. and you have class in 30 minutes. You could put yourself together quickly, but who cares? It’s early and most other students will probably show up in the same state as you. You grab whatever unwashed shirt and shorts are on your floor, pick up your bag and you are on your way without a second thought.

Better yet, you had a long night and stayed out a little too late and had no friend to borrow clothes from. Attendance is mandatory and you have already used your freebies. What the heck; it’s college. You show up in a crop top, shorts and wedges. You get a few stares but none the less, you make it through the day without a second thought. Most of us (especially seniors) care little about our overall appearance when going to class. Have you ever wondered what your professors may think, especially in small classes and discussions.

Professors agreed that students should try not to be distracting when it comes to dress. It may just be me but if someone shows up in their outfit from the night before, I find it a bit distracting. I find myself drifting into thought and asking: Did they go to Bentley’s or The Barking Dog for Loose Tuesday? Do they own other clothes, or was that on purpose? What is that stain and how did it get there? 

I wondered if professors thought the same thing. 

To find out, I asked various professors the following questions:

  • As a professor, do you ever pass judgment on a student based on the way he or she presents his or herself or their physical appearance (i.e., the way they dress or have their hair styled).
  • Has this ever affected your grading of a students’ work?
  • How do you think a student should dress for class? Are there any expectations you hold for students and how they present themselves in an academic environment?
  • When you were in college, what was your go-to outfit? Did you ever dress up for a particular class or because you thought it was what a professor preferred?

Some of the answers were general. Some professors, such as Annie Laurie Nichols, of the communications department, stated that she grades her students based on content. She also stated that:

“Class is not a club; I’d rather you show up in jeans and a hoodie than a see-through top and miniskirt. My classroom policy about everything is “don’t be distracting,” and some clothes are definitely distracting.”

Nichols’ response to the first question: “Sometimes I wonder about super baggy pants, see-through tops, or super short shorts. It makes me wonder what the student’s goal in coming to class is.”

A second communications professor, Michael Studeman, brought into play the communication theory of the “Third Person Effect.” He stated, “I do not think I pass judgment on people based on the way they dress, style their hair, speak, or anything else. But I also recognize that these types of judgments often occur subconsciously and without our realizing it, and so I won’t deny that I am probably subject to them at times.”

Although he may be subject to normal human tendencies, in regards to whether or not it effects his grading, Studeman says, “Certainly not.”

Though for his late afternoon classes, he tends to have certain expectations. 

“I can’t lie: when a student shows up wearing pajamas it does confuse me a bit. Jeans and a t-shirt are fine. I also think this is somewhat up to the instructor’s discretion. Just as in the real world there are jobs requiring suits and jobs with no dress code at all, I think that some variation in these expectations on a college campus is a good thing.”

Professor Amber Westcott-Baker similarly remarks that she “very rarely” passes judgment on students based on this. Although it is not a common thought, she did happen to mention an instance at a previous institution.

“My last institution [University of California Santa Barbara] was much more laid-back about dress. We were right on the beach, so it was not unusual to see students dressed in little more than bathing suits,” Westcott-Baker said. 

“The only time I really remember judging a student for what she was wearing was [at UCSB] when she was making a presentation to the class on behalf of her employer wearing basically gym attire — spandex shorts and a sports bra.”

Westcott-Baker also notes that she is, “way more concerned about how prepared for class and engaged in learning a student is than how he or she is dressed.”

William H. Lawson used to find ways to impress his professors in school.

“My go to outfit [in the mid 90s] was Doc Martin boots, jeans and a button up flannel shirt. I had a [Communications Professor] that I really respected, and I found out he liked Pearl Jam so I would wear a tour T-shirt to class at least once a week.  He probably thought I didn’t own many clothes.”

He added, “Dress is all about attitude and personal expression.  That being said, when you’re in college your job is to go to class and study.  It is your career at the moment.  I think students should be comfortable, but not in pajamas.  Students should dress appropriate to the way they want others to view them.”

Lawson also noted that he does not base students grades on the way they dress.

So students, there you have it, professors may give you an odd look if you go to class in somewhat inappropriate attire but overall, your grades are safe! Just make sure to look professional for your presentations and leave the gym clothes and sports bras for just that — the gym.

For more fashion tips on how to look your best for class, check out What do I Wear.