BYU Officially Clarifies Beard Policy

Brigham Young University has officially clarified its beard policy, but for most, the dress and grooming standards will remain the same.

The Honor Code at BYU, which is signed by every student prior to attending the university, states that men should be clean-shaven. BYU spokeswoman Carrie Jenkins says that those standards remain the same.

The change in the policy comes with the exceptions. In the past, BYU has allowed exceptions to the beard ban on a case-by-case basis—usually for those acting in a theater or film production, or for medical reasons—but was rather inconsistent.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that for the first time ever, school officials met and outlined the beard policy, which now officially includes the following exceptions:

• Medical conditions, such as scarring or sensitive skin
• Acting roles for theater performances or films that require facial hair
• Religious reasons, such as belonging to the Muslim faith

The change in policy went into effect at the start of the semester in January and only applies to the BYU campus located in Provo, Utah.