Voluntary academic decorum: ethical self-regulation, autonomy, and institutional integrity in higher education

Abstract This article develops the concept of voluntary academic decorum as an ethical framework that conceptualizes faculty appearance and professional comportment as expressions of moral autonomy rather than objects of administrative regulation. Using a qualitative comparative documentary design, the study analyses nine institutional statutes and ethical codes from Latin American, European, and Anglo-Saxon universities through interpretive content analysis. The findings reveal a cross-regional shift toward non-coercive models of ethical governance. Latin American institutions emphasize orientative norms grounded in dignity and autonomy, European universities frame professionalism through democratic coexistence and institutional respect, and Anglo-Saxon systems privilege academic freedom and trust-based professionalism. Across regions, the absence of prescriptive dress regulations indicates a reliance on self-regulation, ethical responsibility, and shared institutional values. The article contributes a novel conceptual construct that integrates virtue ethics, relational ethics, and academic freedom, offering a theoretical contribution to debates on ethical governance in higher education. The findings highlight the importance of governance models based on exemplarity, proportionality, and cultural inclusion rather than aesthetic uniformity.