REXBURG — Brigham Young University-Idaho is now letting its students wear shorts on campus.

The university made the announcement last week.

“Students on each campus will be allowed to wear shorts, provided those shorts are in keeping with the principles and expectations given,” the school said in a press release.

The shorts should reach just above the knee, said the university.

“Dress for men and women should: be modest in fit and style,” it said. “Dressing in a way that would cover the temple garment is a good guideline, whether or not one has been endowed. Accommodation may be made for athletic participation.”

The announcement caused Facebook to light up with comments on the sudden change.

Bryce Porter wrote that the amended dress code gives students greater freedom.

“Ultimately it was to change the rules from hard and fast rules to teach correct principles and let them govern themselves,” he wrote.

Some students noted that shorts weren’t allowed in professional settings. Yet Berkley Starks noted that he wears shorts routinely on the job.

“I wear shorts every day and work in a highly professional IT field,” he said. “There are certain professions with uniforms, and my employer knows if I ever am going to be customer facing, I’ll wear slacks and a polo at least, but 95 percent of the time, it’s shorts and a graphic tee.”

Sammie Herman wrote of having a job that required professional dress but only around customers.

“We know shorts are not acceptable, but if we’re in the office, shorts are free game, same with sweats️. Every job is going to be different,” Herman said.

Haley Brems noted that Rexburg summers call for wearing shorts.

“It is also practically unbearable half of the year to not wear shorts outside,” she said.

Brems added that she likes the idea that grooming standards require that clothes cover temple garments whether or not students have been endowed.

“I don’t think that there’ll be many problems of students being able to push the boundaries of the dress and grooming standards because it’ll be easy to tell if the clothes cover garments or not, and they will be turned away for that,” she said.

One current student noted a fellow student who was exceptionally tall and how difficult it was for her to find clothing that covered her sufficiently.

“This is a very exciting (and late) update to the Honor Code,” said BYU-Idaho senior Anne Maughan Bienz. “I had a roommate who was 5’10” and none of her jeans covered her ankles due to her height. She was turned away from the testing center multiple times because of something outside of her control.”

Kelly Faley wrote she was concerned about the change in the dress code.

“I already see students push the boundaries with their dress and grooming (girls wearing belly shirts, guys wearing ripped jeans, non-natural hair colors). I can see the short shorts already,” she said.

BYU-Idaho senior Sarah Smith said she was happy to see the change in dress code.

“I’m entering my final two semesters, and I’m excited to wear shorts for my scooter drive to school in the morning,” she said

Smith added that she wears clothes that meet university standards.

“I hemmed my own pants, so that I can wear appropriate length shorts,” she said. “That being said I feel like even before the change, there were always students that pushed the dress code. I saw huge rips and belly shirts at school. Only once did I see a professor take a student out, and they came back in wearing their sweater. Later she would still come in with belly shirts, but she would try pulling it down or out of sight of the professor. Students pushed the boundaries before and they will do it now.”

Former student Nathan Blumenberg said he thinks the recent change is a great idea.

“I graduated from BYU-I in 2019 and hearing this I thought it could be wonderful as summers do get warm,” he said. “However, looking back on my time and where I am in life, not allowing shorts wasn’t that big of a deal. I do wonder if the presence of more short shorts will become a concern for campus. However, I’m sure many students are happy with this new change as it allows them more options in the summer months.”

While the ban on shorts has been lifted, the university still expects its students to dress modestly as it will help them draw closer to God.

“This change better aligns the topics addressed by Church leaders in their interviews with their core ecclesiastical responsibilities,” it said. “Thus, as an ecclesiastical interview, it will focus on a student’s efforts to grow spiritually and meet ecclesiastical expectations, which is an important part of accomplishing the religious mission of CES institutions.”

The change in the dress code took effect on Wednesday.