PERSONAL APPEARANCE STANDARDS

PERSONAL APPEARANCE POLICY 1024

1024.1 Purpose and Scope

This policy provides guidelines for the personal appearance of members of the Villanova University Public Safety Department.

Requirements for department uniforms and civilian attire are addressed in the Uniforms and Civilian Attire Policy.

1024.2 Policy

Villanova University Public Safety Department members shall maintain their personal hygiene and appearance to project a professional image that is appropriate for this department and for their assignments. Department personal appearance standards are primarily based on safety requirements, appearance conformity and the social norms of the community served, while considering matters important to members of the Department.

1024.3 Grooming

Unless otherwise stated and because deviations from these standards may present officer safety issues, the following appearance standards shall apply to all members, except those whose current assignments would deem them not applicable, and where the Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police has granted an exception.

1024.3.1 Personal Hygiene

All members must maintain proper personal hygiene. Examples of improper personal hygiene include, but are not limited to, dirty fingernails, bad breath, body odor and dirty or unkempt hair. Any member who has a condition due to a protected category (e.g., race, physical disability) that affects any aspect of personal hygiene covered by this policy may qualify for an accommodation and should report any need for an accommodation to the Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police.

1024.3.2 Hair

Hair shall be clean, neatly trimmed or arranged, and of a natural hair color. Hairstyles with shaved designs in the scalp are prohibited. Hair adornments shall be primarily for the purpose of securing the hair and must present a professional image.

Hairstyles for male department members must not extend below the top edge of a uniform or dress shirt collar while assuming a normal stance.

When working a field assignment, hairstyles for female department members must not extend below the bottom edge of a uniform or dress shirt collar while assuming a normal stance. Longer hair shall be worn up or in a tightly wrapped braid or ponytail that is secured to the head above the bottom edge of the shirt collar.

Dyed, tinted or bleached hair must be within a naturally occurring color range and must be professional in appearance.

1024.3.3 Mustaches

Mustaches shall not extend below the corners of the mouth or beyond the natural hairline of the upper lip and shall be short and neatly trimmed.

1024.3.4 Sideburns

Sideburns shall not extend below the bottom of the outer ear opening (the top of the earlobes) and shall be trimmed and neat.

1024.3.5 Facial Hair

Facial hair, other than sideburns, mustaches and eyebrows, is prohibited, unless authorized by the Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police or the authorized designee.

1024.3.6 Fingernails

Fingernails shall be clean and neatly trimmed to a length that will not present a safety concern. The color of fingernail polish shall present a professional image. Jewelry or ornamentation on fingernails is prohibited.

1024.4 Appearance

All VUDPS employees shall maintain a professional appearance in accordance with Villanova University and Departmental directives.

1024.4.1 Jewelry

For the purpose of this policy, jewelry refers to rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, wristwatches and tie tacks or tie bars. Jewelry shall present a professional image and may not create a safety concern for the department member or others. Jewelry that depicts racial, sexual, discriminatory, gang-related or obscene language is not allowed. See the Uniforms and Civilian Attire Policy for jewelry specifications that apply while wearing the department uniform.

(a) Earrings shall be small, worn only in or on the earlobe and only by female department members. Earrings shall be limited to no more than two earrings per ear. Hoop and dangling earings, etc., are not permitted.

(b) One ring or ring set may be worn on each hand of the department member. No rings should be of the type that would cut or pose an unreasonable safety risk to the member or others during a physical altercation, if the member is assigned to a position where that may occur.

(c) One small bracelet that identifies a medical condition may be worn on one arm, but ornamental or other types of bracelets are prohibitted.

(d) Wristwatches shall be conservative and present a professional image.

(e) Tie tacks or tie bars worn with civilian attire shall be conservative and present a professional image.

1024.4.2 Body Modifications

Tattoo: an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by insertion of pigment under the skin.

Branding: a mark made by burning (hot or cold) or otherwise, to a portion of a person’s body or skin, resulting in a scar making it permanent.

Intentional Scarring: also known as scarification; scratching, etching, burning/branding, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words or otherwise into the skin as a permanent body modification.

Tattoos, branding or intentional scarring are not permitted on the face, neck, ears, scalp. or hands. Exceptions may be made for employees for permanent makeup (e.g. micro-blading, lip liner) that conforms to the cosmetic guidelines within this directive.

Tattoos, branding or intentional scarring that exhibit gang. supremacist or extremist group affiliation; that convey sexual, racial, religious, national origin, or ethnic intolerances; that are sexually suggestive or explicit; that depict or promote drug use; that promote a partisan political statement or expression; or that portray derogatory or offensive characterizations contrary to the values of this department are prohibited.

1024.4.3 Body Piercing or Alteration

Body piercing (other than earlobes) or alteration to any area of the body that is visible while on-duty or while representing the Villanova University Public Safety Department in any official capacity, that is a deviation from normal anatomical features and that is not medically required, is prohibited. Such body alteration includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Tongue splitting or piercing.

(b) The complete or transdermal implantation of any material other than hair replacement (i.e., foreign objects inserted under the skin to create a design or pattern).

(d) Branding, scarification or burning to create a design or pattern.

1024.4.4 Dental Ornamentation

Dental ornamentation that is for decorative purposes and that is not medically required is prohibited while on-duty or while representing the Villanova University Public Safety Department in any official capacity. Such ornamentation includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Objects that are bonded to front teeth.

(b) Gold, platinum or other veneers or caps used for decorative purposes.

1024.4.5 Glasses and Contact Lenses

Eyeglasses and sunglasses shall be conservative and present a professional image. Contact lenses with designs that change the normal appearance of the eye and that are not medically required are prohibited while on-duty or while representing the Villanova University Public Safety Department in any official capacity.

1024.4.6 Cosmetics and Fragrances

Cosmetics shall be conservative and present a professional image. Use of cologne, perfume, aftershave lotion and other items used for body fragrance shall be kept to a minimum.

1024.4.7 Undergarments

Proper undergarments shall be worn as necessary for reasons of hygiene and general appearance standards.

1024.5 Religious Accommodation

Requests for exceptions from this policy based on religious accommodation shall be directed in writing to the Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police.