Men’s Dress Code

Athletic Dress

Appropriate for P.E. classes, sports participation, sports practice, Fitness Center Gym, and Fitness Center Balcony use.
Acceptable
  • Athletic pants, sweats, or knee length loose-fitting shorts (knee-length is defined as coming to the top of the kneecap when standing).
  • Athletic shoes
  • T-shirts with sleeves
  • Manufactured, loose fitting, sleeveless shirts [SL 11/08]
  • Dress designated by P.E. instructor or coach.
  • Official team uniforms.
Notes
  • Athletic Dress may not be worn to watch athletic events or during co-ed activities.
  • When not involved in activity, students are to follow Casual Dress guidelines.
  • Some activities (like sit ups and leg lifts) are not appropriate to do in shorts when the opposite sex is present.
  • Spandex may not be worn as an outer garment.
  • Tank tops are not permitted.
  • Sleeveless shirts must be manufactured as a sleeveless shirt and be checked by a Dorm Supervisor. [SL 11/08]
  • May not be worn in the Main Building, the Dining Hall Complex, or the Cedarholm Library at any time.
  • Men may walk to and from the Gym in Athletic Dress from the back of the dorms, behind the Dining Complex to the Gym entrance. They may not walk in front of the Main Building/Dining Hall Complex/Library/Welcome Center.

Recreational Dress

Appropriate for biking, skating, skiing, hayrides, watching athletic events [SL 1/13], and similar activities.
Acceptable
  • Jeans and T-shirts.
  • Sweatpants.
  • Painter’s or Cargo pants.
  • Army wear.
  • Shorts to top of knee (except for watching athletic events).
Notes
  • Shorts may not be worn to watch athletic events or to participate in co-ed activities.
  • Tank tops and sleeveless shirts are not permitted.

Casual Dress

Appropriate for on- or off-campus activities and games, all of campus after 6:00 p.m. except while in the (Dining Hall Monday through Friday). All day Saturdays. Sundays on campus (but not in the Dining Hall).
Acceptable
  • Nice-looking, clean casual slacks, jeans, or cargoes.
  • Casual collared shirts and polo shirts.
  • Sweaters, sweatshirts, hoodies.
  • Long and short-sleeve T-shirts and button-up shirts.
  • Athletic/Casual or tennis shoes.
  • Sandals or flip flops.
Notes
  • Ripped, patched, torn, inappropriately faded, worn-out jeans are not permitted.
  • Regular undershirts as outerwear or with v-neck sweater vests are not acceptable.
  • All flat bottomed shirts (such as polos, Hawaiian shirts, and rugby shirts) may be worn untucked (dress type shirts with tails must be tucked in).
  • Untucked shirts, sweaters, or sweatshirts must be long enough to cover skin at all times no matter the activity.

Class Casual Dress

Required for all of campus from Monday through Friday, from 12:10 p.m. through 6:00 p.m. including eating in the Dining Hall, Sunday evening meal, evening classes, Final Exams [EC 5/11], and Summer School.
Acceptable
  • Nice-looking, clean, casual slacks and khakis.
  • Casual collared shirts.
  • Sweaters
  • Class Casual shoes with socks.
  • Jackets and zip-up jackets (logos must be smaller than your hand) [SL 8/09].
Notes
  • Long or short sleeved T-shirts are not appropriate for Class Casual Dress.
  • Untucked shirts are not permitted.
  • Tennis shoes, sandals/slides, and flip-flops are not permitted.
  • Jeans and cargo pants are not permitted.
  • Sweatshirts and sweatshirt “hoodies” are not permitted [SL 8/09].
  • Athletic shoes are not appropriate.

Note: ROTC Cadets may wear fatigues to class when required.

Class Dress

Required for all of campus Monday through Friday until after 12:10 p.m. for morning classes, chapel, midweek church services, Sunday Breakfast and Noon meal and announced events.
Acceptable
  • Dress pants.
  • Non-casual, Docker-type pants.
  • Dress shirts with ties.
  • Sweater may be worn over dress shirt and tie.
  • Turtlenecks without zippers (high enough to replace collar and tie).
  • Class Dress and Dress shoes with socks.
  • Jackets and zip-up jackets (logos must be smaller than your hand) [SL 8/09].
Notes
  • Casual pants (jeans, cargo pants, multiple seams & pockets, patch pockets, drawstring styles, athletic wear, etc.) are not permitted.
  • Jean jackets are not permitted.
  • Sweatshirts and sweatshirt “hoodies” are not permitted [SL 8/09].
  • Flannel shirts, polo shirts, denim shirts, and T-shirts, are not permitted.
  • String ties are not permitted.
  • Tennis shoes, canvas shoes, sandals, Class Casual shoes, Army/hiking/work boots, and slides are not permitted.

Note: ROTC Cadets may wear fatigues to class when required.

Church Dress

Required for Sunday services; college and Academy plays, concerts, recitals, dress rehearsals; special meetings, and when announced.
Acceptable
  • Suits or sports coats with coordinating dress pants.
  • Dress shirts and ties.
  • Dress shoes and socks.
Notes
  • Church dress is dressier than class dress.
  • String ties are not permitted.
  • Denim is not appropriate.
  • Class Dress shoes may be worn with a Sports Coat (but not with a suit).
  • Sweatshirts and sweatshirt “hoodies” are not permitted [SL 8/09].

Semiformal and Formal Dress

Required for banquets, artist series, and when announced.
Acceptable
  • Suits or tuxedos.
  • Dress shirts.
  • Ties or bow ties.
  • Dress shoes and socks.

General Guidelines

Hair

  • Hair must be cut in a traditional, conservative style, tapered, and must be above the collar, off the ears, and above the eyebrows.
  • Grooves, shelf cuts, extreme faddish styles, etc. are not permitted. Hair must be blended without obvious lines.
  • Men may not bleach, color, or highlight their hair.
  • Sideburns below the middle of the ear, mustaches, and beards are not permitted.
  • Men are to be clean-shaven.
    • Exception: Married students, graduate students, and older students (23 or older) living off-campus may have mustaches to the corners of the mouth.

Clothing- Coats, Pants, Shirts, Jackets, Hoodies, Hats etc.

  • Socks must be worn at all times except with sandals or with Athletic or Recreational Dress.
  • All pants must fit at the natural waist.
  • All clothing and T-shirt logos must be in good taste.
  • Clothing with wording, logos, or pictures that are inappropriately placed to draw attention to specific areas of the body is not permitted.
  • Clothing (jeans, pants, shirts, etc.) may not have rips, tears, holes, frays, or noticeable fading in inappropriate areas of the body no matter the level of dress.
  • All clothing should be loose fitting.
  • Sleeveless shirts may not be personally cut to be sleeveless, may not have oversized armholes, and may not have a neckline that reaches below the chest. [SL 11/08]
  • Hoodies are defined as pullover sweatshirt with a hood [SL 8/09].
  • Collars are to be down and not “flipped” up.
  • When a tie is required, the top shirt button should be buttoned [SL 11/08]. Neck ties should be pulled up covering the top button of the shirt.
  • Hats may not be worn in buildings (with the exception of the gymnasium during sporting events) and may only be worn facing forwards or backwards.
  • Only the Student Health Center Nurse or a dean can approve changes to a level of dress due to physical injury.

Jewelry and Tattoos

  • Tattoos, body piercing, and body branding are not permitted.
  • If a student gets a tattoo or body piercing prior to coming to Maranatha, he will be required to cover the tattoo if it is visible and to remove the body piercing, visible or not.
  • Necklaces and earrings are not permitted.
  • Bracelets are permitted [SL 10/12].
NOTE: Due to the blatant endorsement of nudity, promiscuity, and immoral life style of Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister Co.—as evidenced by their catalog and general advertising—the College deems it necessary and appropriate to ban any clothing that bears their name, trademarks, or other visible evidence of association with Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister Co.