N.C. Central students to receive tips on professional dress

N.C. Central University students will soon get tips on how to dress.

A recent initiative proposed by N.C. Central Student Body President Kent Williams Jr., will provide students with a card giving suggestions for proper professional attire.

The initiative, which will begin after winter break, is needed because students are dressing inappropriately for business interviews and on campus in general, Williams stated in an e-mail.

“Many students attend class and walk around the campus in their pajamas, do-rags, and sagging pants. Students also attend business interviews without the proper attire on,” he stated.

“We do not want to dictate what our students wear, but we want them to think about their image.”

Williams acknowledged that student reaction has been mixed.

“We have had to make sure we inform the students we are not trying to enforce a dress code,” Williams stated.

Matthew King, a sophomore history education major at NCCU, said dress code cards would lead to more confident students.

“I think that the dress code cards are helpful to some degree because you tend to feel better about yourself if you look better. By dressing up you give yourself a good boost in confidence.”

However, King said some students dislike the cards because they think they promote stereotypes.

“They think that you’re trying to categorize them because they don’t think ‘what I wear determines how I learn or how I function,’” he said.

“But I think the majority of students would be able to learn better and have more opportunities.”

The handouts will be funded by the NCCU Student Government Association with the backing of the Board of Trustees, NCCU Career Services and the vice chancellor of student affairs.

They will not be mandatory, and Williams sees them more as guidelines for appropriate dress in professional situations than as a dress code.

Johnnie Southerland, director of career services at NCCU, said he believes the initiative will strengthen employment prospects at the school because proper dress is a hiring factor for potential employers.

“There’s a dress code at career fairs and the reason we have a dress code is because some of our recruiters interview on the spot, and some size them up,” he said.

“We’re making sure you’re dressed because anything could happen, such as situations that could result in you getting a job and an internship.”

This initiative was inspired by a similar program at Winston Salem State University. The school’s career services developed cards with dress recommendations and placed mannequins in the office to demonstrate proper business attire for students.

Monica Boyd, job location and development coordinator at WSSU, said the cards and mannequins helped students who were confused about what is considered to be acceptable attire, even down to the small details.

She also said the students were appreciative of the guidance.

“There was absolutely no protest at all, which was great. The students seem to be grateful for the cards because it provided them with a reference that there are certain things that you can wear.”



Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.







ONLINE REFER: http://www.wssu.edu/WSSU/About/Administration/Division+of+Student+Affairs/Career+Services/Dressing+for+Success.htm



(we want to link to the male and female campus do’s and don’ts on the righthand sidebar. ask sara if you have questions)