After an extensive search through official UW policies and inquiries about any policies surrounding the dress code at UW, it can be safely said that there are no official policies pertaining specifically to dress code.
According to the International Student Guidebook, “There is no dress code at uWaterloo.” The only enforcements found are surrounding UW Co-operative Education and Career Action employees. As stated on their website, their dress code is business casual. Co-op students are also expected to be dressed appropriately when attending interviews.
There also seems to be no rules surrounding attire enforced specifically for professors and lecturers.
“If there is a dress code for professors in every department, I’m unaware of it,” said lecturer Jen Doyle.
As a method of self-expression, lecturers don’t seem interested in setting limits.
Associate professor Janice Aurini said, “In absence of a policy, I have no basis by which to approach a student on their attire, or comment on it. I think it will be highly inappropriate of me.”
Lecturer Andrew Deman said, “We’re all adults here, and I think that students often try to find themselves while at university; experimentation in fashion is an important tool of self-expression, and cultivating tolerance for others, including those whose clothing offends you, is likewise an important thing for our students to develop.”
If an issue arose where individuals wore offensive attire such as provocative or inappropriate logos around campus or at lectures, there are no policies in place providing guidance as to what one should do in such an event. Police Services at UW also have no control over what individuals should wear.
Of the lecturers and professors Imprint spoke to, all agreed that they have never come across a student who was dressed inappropriately, and if they did, they would settle the situation in the most appropriate manner according to the context.
However, despite the lack of any formal policy, there may still be unwritten rules influencing what students wear.
“I think that dress codes are frequently present even when they aren’t enforced. A quick look around the campus suggests this.” Doyle said.
