Student Professional Development Guidelines

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All students must commit to and follow the Student Professional Development Guidelines during their enrollment at Paul Mitchell The School Chicago and Paul Mitchell The School Lombard. These guidelines were established to assist in creating a safe, focused, and enjoyable learning experience.

Attendance and Documentation of Time

  1. The school records attendance in clock hours and gives appropriate attendance credit for all hours attended. The school does not add or deduct attendance hours as a penalty. Attendance is calculated using a computerized timeclock. This device may consist of an app that can be used on your phone, a biometric scanner in the school, or similar device. In order to ensure proper clock hours are credited, full-time students are required to clock in/out four times a day: when they arrive to school, when they leave for lunch, when they return from lunch, and when they leave at the end of the day. Part-time students are required to clock in/out two times a day: when they arrive to school and when they leave at the end of the day. 3 Day students are required to clock in/out six times a day: when they arrive to school, when they leave for lunch, when they leave for dinner, and when they leave at the end of the day. If a student fails to clock in or out for their schedule on the student time clock, the student will not receive hours. If the student wishes to dispute any hours they feel earned, the student must provide documentation to verify attendance on the missing time form. The documentation would include the student sign in sheet, the specialty class attendance role, and/or the guest service summary. This must be done within 24 hours.
  2. All courses require continuous attendance.
  3. CHICAGO: 5 day and 4 day students may not miss Wednesdays. 3 day students may not miss Mondays.
    LOMBARD: Full-time and Part-time students may not miss Saturdays. Barbering students may not miss Mondays.
  4. Students must be on time, as tardiness inhibits the learning process. Students who are late for theory, a specialty class or a guest artist class may attend the class, but must be accompanied into the classroom by a learning leader. Students are never excused from mandatory theory class to work in the clinic classroom.
  5. Students who complete the required number of hours in their course of study, but do NOT complete all of their academic requirements are considered to be an incomplete graduate and are required to continue attending until all requirements are completed. If the student is absent for 14 consecutive calendar days, they will be withdrawn. The School will not release an official transcript until all graduation requirements are met.
  6. If a student has been absent for 14 consecutive calendar days, he or she may be dropped from the program. This includes graduates who have not completed their graduation requirements.
  7. CHICAGO: Students who are late or cannot attend school must contact Paul Mitchell The School Chicago’s absent line (312) 445-2424 immediately. All students must call in by 9:30 AM.
    LOMBARD: Students who are late or cannot attend school must contact Paul Mitchell The School Lombard’s absent line (630) 396-2620 immediately. All students must call in by 9:30 AM.
  8. Students must request time off from school from the Future Professional Advisor. Mandatory days must be scheduled off two weeks in advanced.
  9. 5-day schedule students are required to be in attendance seven (7) hours per day, 35 hours per week; 4-day schedule students are required to be in attendance seven (7) hours per day, 28 hours per week; 3-day schedule students are required to be in attendance ten (10) hours per day, 30 hours per week; part-time day and night students are required to be in attendance 4.5 hours per day, 22.5 hours per week. Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day will be set according to the calendar each year. (4-day and 3-day programs are Paul Mitchell the School Chicago only, Part Time programs are Paul Mitchell the School Lombard only).
  10. Lunches and breaks are scheduled for all students. All full time day students will take 30 minutes for lunch between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Students should communicate with their instructor if they have not had lunch by 1:30 PM. Part-time night students and Part-time day students will take a 20 minute break. 3 Day students will take 30 minutes for lunch between 12:00 noon and 1:30 pm, and 30 minutes for dinner between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm. (3 Day program is Paul Mitchell the School Chicago only, Barbering and Part Time Night programs are Paul Mitchell the School Lombard only).
  11. Documentation of Time: Students may not leave the school premises during regular hours without permission.
    1. Students who leave school premises or those who leave early must document their time by clocking out on the time clock, signing the sign-out sheet, and having the Future Professional Advisor book them out.
    2. Day students and 3 day students must clock out on the time clock for lunch for 30 minutes every day. Students will not receive credit for the time if they fail to clock in/out for lunch. (3-Day program are Paul Mitchell the School Chicago only)
    3. Students have twenty-four (24) hours or one (1) school day to request adjustments to their time clock punches; after twenty-four (24) hours, no time clock adjustment will be made.
  12. Students may not clock in or out for another student.
  13. Students must keep a record of all services each day on the “service tracking sheet,” which must be completed daily and turned in with each worksheet.
  14. If a Core student’s progress report is not or will not be at or above 88% attendance by the end of their time in Core, the student may be dropped from the program with the option to re-apply for the next available start date, according to the reentry policy. If at any time prior to the end of Core, the student is not projected to meet 88% attendance by the end of Core, the student may be dropped at that time with the option to re-apply for the next available start date, according to the reentry policy.

Professional Image

All Future Professionals must adhere to the following professional dress code while in attendance:

  1. Future Professionals may wear black, white or gray in any combination.
  2. Clothing should be professional and clean.
  3. Shoes, in any color, should be closed toed, professional, practical, and comfortable.
  4. Hair should be styled prior to arriving at the school.
  5. Any cosmetics should be applied prior to arriving at the school.
  6. For shirts and blouses, armpits and midriff (belly) must be fully covered.
  7. For skirts and dresses, the garment must be opaque and may not be higher than three (3) inches above the knee, unless opaque, black, white or grey tights or leggings are worn.
  8. Clothing may not contain political messages and/or branding, profanity, and/or other industry related logos.
  9. If worn, capes, smocks, and aprons must be all black or black with a Paul Mitchell logo.
  10. Name tag, as provided by the school. All Future Professionals are required to wear a name tag while in attendance.

Examples of acceptable attire may include:

  1. Bottoms:
    1. Jeans or clothing made of jean material. Rips or tears are acceptable as long as no skin is showing through above the knee.
    2. Shorts, skirts, and skorts that are not higher than three (3) inches above the knee unless opaque tights or leggings are worn.
    3. Nice pants or capris.
  2. Dresses and jumpers that are not higher than three (3) inches above the knee, unless opaque tights or leggings are worn.
  3. Printed and unprinted sweatshirts, T-Shirts, and/or jackets may be worn, but may not contain political messages and/or branding, profanity, and/or other industry related logos.
  4. Stylish hats and headwraps in black, white or gray may be worn but may not contain political messages  and/or branding, profanity,  and/or other industry related logos.
  5. Paul Mitchell or school-branded apparel that otherwise meets the requirements.

The following is a list of unacceptable attire for all Future Professionals in attendance:

  1. Foot thongs, flip-flops, beach sandals, Crocs sandals, and slippers.
  2. Baseball hats, visors, bandanas, caps, or beanies.
  3. Underarms must be covered, so no tank tops or spaghetti strap tops. No tube tops or belly revealing shirts.
  4. Sweatpants that are cotton or pajamas material.
  5. Spandex biking shorts, leggings, or athletic gear. (If leggings are worn, they must be worn with a top that is at least fingertip length to fully cover the front and back of the human wearing it).
  6. Hooded sweatshirts.
  7. Shorts and/or skirts that fall 3 inches above the knee.
  8. Sunglasses — we want to see your beautiful eyes.

Future Professionals who fail to comply with the Future Professional dress code will be asked to leave and return in appropriate attire.

Sanitation and Personal Services

  1. Future Professionals must keep workstations and classroom areas clean, sanitary, and clutter-free at all times.
  2. Future Professionals must clean their stations in the clinic classroom, including the floor, after each service.
  3. Hair must be swept up immediately after a service is completed, before blow-drying.
  4. Clinic stations must be cleaned at the end of the day, prior to clocking out for the day.
  5. Future Professionals may receive services on Tuesday through Thursday. To receive a service, students must do the following prior to starting the service:
    1. Notify a Learning Leader.
    2. Be scheduled off the service books by a Service Desk.
    3. Pay for service supplies including perms, color, lightener, rinses, conditioning, treatments, manicures, nails, etc.
    4. Personal services are considered rewards and scheduled for Future Professionals who are up to date with all projects, tests and practical skill assessments. School assignments and successful learning are the priority.
    5. If a service guest comes in and the service desk personnel needs the student giving the personal service or the student receiving it to take care of the guest, then the students must reschedule their personal service and complete the assigned service guest appointment.

Communication Guidelines and Professional Conduct

  1. Visitors are allowed in the service reception area only. Visitors are not allowed in the classrooms, student lounge, or clinic classroom area.
    Visitors Policy: The term visitor applies to anyone who is not entering the school to receive a service. All visitors must enter through the guest entrance. Except in cases of emergency, visitors are required to make appointments in order to minimize disruptions of the education program. As required by law, all visitors must sign in and out. Students are not permitted to bring visitors into the buildings during the school day without the approval of the appropriate administrator, unless this person is a service guest in which they must enter through the guest entrance. Persons violating this regulation will be requested to leave the building immediately. Persons entering the school without proper authorization will be considered trespassers and may be subject to police action.
  2. Only emergency calls are permitted on the business phone. Please keep your calls to three (3) minutes or less.
  3. Cell phones are permitted in assigned areas of the school.
  4. Future Professionals may not visit with another Future Professional who is servicing a service guest.
  5. Future Professionals may not gather around the service desk, service reception area, or offices.
  6. Food, drinks, and water bottles are allowed only in the lunchroom.
  7. Both Paul Mitchell The School Chicago and Paul Mitchell The School Lombard are smoke-free campuses.
  8. Stealing or taking school property or another’s personal property is unacceptable and grounds for termination.
  9. School administration has the right to access and inspect a Future Professional's locker at any time, refer to the locker policy.
  10. iPods and MP3 players are allowed in clinic classroom with low volume and discrete headphones.

Learning Participation Guidelines

  1. Peer teaching and tutoring are encouraged. Taking credit for another’s work or cheating during exams is unacceptable and is grounds for termination.
  2. Future Professionals will be expected to maintain an average of 75% on all theory tests and assignments.
  3. Future Professionals may not be released from required theory class to take a client.
  4. Only service desk personnel may schedule or change client service appointments.
  5. All services must be checked and the service ticket initialed by a Learning Leader.
  6. Future Professionals are expected to be continuously working on school-related projects, assignments, clinic practical worksheets, reading theory, or test preparation during school hours.
  7. Future Professionals will receive clock hours during the times they fully participate in their learning experience.
  8. When Future Professionals are not scheduled with service appointments or are not scheduled to attend theory or a specialty class, they may focus on the following:
    1. Completion of practical skill assessments through CourseKey
    2. Completion of theory review worksheets
    3. Performing a service on another Future Professional
    4. Listening to or reading school resource center materials, including educational videos, audiotapes, and books
  9. Future Professionals must comply with school personnel and Learning Leader’s assignments and requests as required by the curriculum and Future Professional guidelines and rules.
  10. Future Professionals may not perform hair, skin, barber or nail services outside of school unless authorized to do so by school administration. Conducting unauthorized hair, skin, barber or nail services outside of school will be reported to the state board and may result in your inability to receive a professional license.
  11. Future Professionals are responsible for their own kit and equipment and may use a clinic station drawer only while working at that clinic station. All kit, equipment, tools, and personal items must be secured in the Future Professionals assigned locker. The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen articles.
  12. Parking is allowed in assigned parking areas only or cars may be towed at the owner’s expense.
  13. All practical skill assessments are due upon reaching the specified hours on each worksheet.
  14. If a Future Professional fails to complete the practical skill assessments or required weekly theory hours they will be placed on the Back on Track List. Future Professionals have one week to get caught up before they receive a coaching advisory.
  15. The school requires a Future Professional to complete all theory hours as part of their graduation requirements. Refer to the graduation requirements.