All students of LMU-CDM must maintain appropriate attire, personal hygiene, and cleanliness, reflecting a professional demeanor. It is imperative that students exercise sound judgment in selecting their attire for various educational activities. Ensuring patients' comfort is paramount; therefore, students must avoid any behavior or appearance that may cause discomfort to patients.
Dress Code Enforcement
Students who come to school dressed unprofessionally will be asked to leave, change into appropriate attire, and return. Absence from classes or exams due to inappropriate attire will be considered an unexcused absence. The dress code is enforced when in the LMU-Tower. If a school sanctioned event requires different attire (i.e. yoga), students may wear appropriate clothing that is not revealing. The following attire guidelines are to be adhered to by all students while on campus and any LMU CDM associated sites:
- Clean, Wrinkle-Free Scrubs: All students must wear clean, wrinkle-free scrubs while on campus. Maintaining scrubs professionally is essential to uphold the standards of cleanliness and hygiene expected in a healthcare environment. Clean scrubs should also be worn by D4 Student Doctors while treating patients during their enternal CBDE rotations. Some practices may provide Student Doctors with other ‘office-conforming’ attire which should be worn instead of scrubs.
- Scrub Jacket or White Coat: In addition to scrubs, students are required to wear a scrub jacket or white coat when needed. This enhances professionalism and clearly distinguishes healthcare team members within the campus environment.
- Optional T-shirt Under Scrub Top: A short or long-sleeved T-shirt may be worn underneath the scrub top for additional comfort. However, it should be plain and devoid of any logos or graphics that may detract from the professional appearance.
- Footwear: Waterproof closed-toe shoes, with low/no heels, must be clean, well-maintained, and free from scuffs or visible wear and tear. Crocs with holes and Uggs are not acceptable.
- Campus-Wide Requirement: The above-listed attire shall be worn by all individuals on campus, including during the day, evenings, and weekends. Consistency in attire contributes to the overall professionalism and cohesion of the campus community. This includes all offsite clinic locations.
- Prohibited Attire: logo t-shirts with inappropriate or political messages/graphics are prohibited on campus.
- Headphones or earbuds are prohibited during lectures.
These attire guidelines are implemented to maintain a professional environment conducive to learning, patient care, and collaboration within the campus community.
When representing LMU-CDM in any type of public forum, such as a conference or certain on- campus events, the dress code is, at the very least, business casual. At some public forums a higher standard is expected. Again, the student must display correct judgment and match the appropriate clothing with the event.
Courses with a laboratory component will require that students dress as directed for these courses. The syllabus for each course will explain in more detail the appropriate attire. Students on clinical services are required to wear clean scrubs. Refer to the clinic manual for specific attire. Outside of clinic activities, such as conferences, students are expected to wear professional business attire.
In addition, the use of jewelry and accessories must be minimal and cannot interfere with clinical procedures or patient care. Hair must be neatly styled and secured away from the face and clinical workspaces to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination. Facial hair must be well-groomed and trimmed to comply with infection control guidelines. If wearing a beard or mustache, students must ensure that it is neatly trimmed and maintained.
Inappropriate Attire
The following items are examples of inappropriate dress code during normal school hours.