Perdue Code of Professionalism Teaches Dress For Success

SALISBURY, MD---Recent college graduates entering the career market for the first time more and more often are not dressed for the part. According to a recent USA Today Life section cover story, “Many [young applicants] have spent the previous four or five years in college happily dressing like slobs. Once they graduate, they don’t have professional wardrobes or the money to assemble one quickly, even if they know what to buy.” This semester, Salisbury University’s Franklin P. Perdue School of Business took a step to correct that potential setback for its students, instituting the Perdue Code of Professionalism. The code, adopted by all Perdue students, prohibits such business dress faux pas as wearing baseball caps in the classroom or during extra-curricular business school activities. “Look at guys in college,” said Jared Shapiro, co-author of Going Corporate: Moving Up Without Screwing Up, in the USA Today article. They’ve got pierced ears; gel-spiked hair; goatees; urban, flashy clothes; baggy jeans; big boots; un-ironed shirts; lint; stains [and] nothing matches.” Not so at the Perdue School. “We teach our students from the start that dressing for success is crucial to their careers,” said Dr. William Moore, dean of the school. “Certainly developing the mindset for what is expected in the business world is part of the education process.” According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, other universities are following suit. At Western Illinois University, marketing students now sign contracts promising professional appearance and mannerisms in the classroom. Even before the Code of Professionalism, Perdue students were expected to maintain those same standards Now that the expectation has become official, Moore and his faculty hope it will give SU students the edge over others when it comes to landing that all-important first job. For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.