Many reports indicate the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), in an unprecedented move, sent several students home Wednesday, for violating its dress code, in demonstration of “high standards of professionalism.”
A special task force is said to have moved through classrooms and lecture halls early Wednesday morning, identifying and escorting students whose attire was deemed “indecent” off campus. The affected students were instructed to return to their homes or hostels to change into what the university considers “more appropriate” clothing before being permitted to rejoin academic activities.
The move follows prior warnings from the UPSA administration about a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate dressing on school premises.
“They told us to go back and change. Some people were not even allowed to enter their lecture halls,” said one affected student who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity.
While the university has not yet released an official statement at the time of filing this report, the incident has stirred conversation across student and academic circles about the boundaries between personal expression and institutional expectations.
A Dress Code in a Professional Context
As a university widely recognized for grooming students for corporate and public service leadership, UPSA’s actions appear to align with its long-standing emphasis on professionalism, discipline, and corporate ethics. The dress code enforcement may also be viewed as part of the university’s broader strategy to instill workplace readiness from the classroom to the boardroom.
Though controversial, such policies are not uncommon in professional institutions globally, especially those focused on preparing students for conservative or regulated industries such as law, finance, governance, and international business.
This latest move could mark the beginning of a more stringent era of compliance on campus. It may also prompt renewed dialogue among stakeholders on issues of individual rights versus institutional responsibility in shaping future-ready professionals.
