Policy on Standards of Dress

National Louis requires students enrolled in the Kendall College of Culinary and Hospitality Management to dress appropriately for safety and strongly encourages students to dress in a way that conveys professionalism whenever on campus. All instructors, regardless of academic program, can require specific dress (e.g., business professional) for classes, guest speakers, field trips, presentations, career fairs, etc.

Dress Code- Hospitality Management Program

Students are strongly encouraged to dress in business casual attire whenever on campus. Business casual extends to footwear. Examples of business casual include:

  •       Pants paired with blazers, vests, tailored shirts, or sweaters
  •       Skirts paired with blazers, vests, tailored shirts, or sweaters
  •       Dresses or dresses paired with sweaters or blazers
  •       Appropriate footwear includes dress shoes, loafers, boots, flats, dress sandals, or deck or boat shoes

Dress Code- Culinary Arts Program

Culinary Arts students who are in a teaching kitchen, in culinary classes, baking and pastry classes, or representing the college are required to be dressed in full uniform. When on campus and not in culinary classes or the kitchens, students must be either in full uniform or adhere to the above referenced business casual guidelines. A partial uniform is not appropriate. Immediately upon entering campus, culinary students are required to change into appropriate attire. Students are not permitted to wear any part of their chef uniform off campus.

Dress Code Enforcement

Instructors will enforce the dress code in all Culinary and Hospitality classes. Instructors have the final decision making authority to determine whether or not a student’s dress meets the dress code policy. First offenses will result in a conversation between instructor and student. Second offenses will be reported to the dean or program director and the Associate Director of Student Development. Third offenses will result in one of the following sanctions:

  •      Inability to participate in course
  •      Loss of participation points
  •      Lowering of final grade by one letter grade

Students with multiple offenses will be referred to the Associate Director of Student Experience and may face additional sanctions.

In the case when an instructor requires formal business attire and a student is not in compliance, the student will not be permitted to participate in class regardless of the number of offenses. Staff and faculty will also enforce the dress code policy when students are not in class. All dress code policy violations that occur outside of the classroom will be reported to the Associate Director of Student Development and students may be asked to leave the building. Students with multiple offenses may face sanctions.