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 Missouri Columbia. 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 sign-in sheets and hours are rounded to the half hour. To ensure proper credit for clock hours, full-time students are required to clock in/out 4 times a day: when they arrive at school, when they leave for lunch, when they return from lunch, 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.
  2. The school is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
  3. All courses require continuous attendance.
  4. The prescribed attendance schedule must be maintained each week.
  5. Students must be on time, as tardiness inhibits the learning process.
    1. You are able to schedule to arrive late. You may schedule to arrive late the day before by using the booking out early request form. A learning leader’s signature is required to be approved.
    2. If you show up after 8:30 a.m. you must visit the front desk to be put on “the oops” list before leaving to avoid a re-direction.
    3. You need to contract the front desk by 7:30 a.m. if you cannot be present at 8:30 a.m. 
    4. Students may arrive after 8:00 a.m. if they are able to present a valid doctor’s note or excuse or other documented extreme circumstance for their tardiness. Please contact Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia’s Service Desk at (573) 449-7527 by 8:30 a.m. if you know you are going to be late and to share the reason.
    5. Students who are late for theory class may not enter the classroom until the next scheduled break, and will not receive hours for the time they have missed.
    6. Students who are late for any cutting, coloring, perming, or special class, may attend the class, but must be accompanied into the classroom by a Learning Leader.
    7. Students are never excused from mandatory theory class to work in the clinic. All students must maintain a minimum of 80% attendance.
  6. Students who are late or cannot attend school must contact the school and talk to the school service desk immediately. Day students must call in by 8:30 a.m.
  7. Cosmetology, Barbering, Instructor Training students are required to be in attendance a minimum of eight and a half (8.5) hours per day; Monday through Thursday, 34 hours per week for the full-time schedule and Estheticians students are required to be in attendance a minimum of nine and a half (9.5) hours per day, Monday through Wednesday, 30 hours per week for a full-time schedule. Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day will be set according to the calendar each year. Students should not bank hours and attend over 34 or 30 hours per week to make up for missing hours. If a student will miss hours during the week, arrangements must be made with the Future Professional Advisor to make up those hours within the same week, or the hours missed will count against the hours allowed to miss and overtime charges can occur.
  8. Core classroom attendance — only 21 hours may be missed in Core class or the Student will have to start the Core class over. The 21 hours missed will count toward the student’s attendance percentage. Students attend Core the first 6 weeks (210 clock hours) of enrollment. During this time the student must maintain a monthly attendance of 90%. If at the conclusion of the month, the student’s progress report is not 90% attendance, the student may be dropped from the program and asked to re-enroll in the next class start date.
  9. 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.
  10. Students may be suspended for 10 days for excessive absence, lack of theory attendance, or unexcused absences.
  11. In the event of an emergency, inclement weather, or disaster, all Students and faculty will be notified by a staff member as to the closing and subsequent re-opening of the school. The general rule to follow is that if the school is open, you are required to be here. You have a responsibility to plan your day accordingly if you know inclement weather is imminent. A school closing message will be placed on the schools phone answering service, Paul Mitchell the School Missouri Columbia’s Facebook Page, and the schools website notifying both students and clients of the closing.
  12. Lunches and breaks are scheduled for all students. All students will take 30 minutes for lunch between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Students should communicate with their instructor if they have not had lunch by 1:00 PM.
  13. Documentation of time: Students may not leave the school premises during regular hours without an instructor’s permission.
    1. Students who leave school premises for more than 10 minutes or those who leave early must document their time by signing the sign-out sheet, and having an instructor book them out.
    2. Students who leave school premises for less than 10 minutes must sign the sign-out sheet.
    3. Day students must sign out on the sign-out sheet for lunch for 30 minutes every day. Students will not receive credit for the hour if they fail to sign in/out for lunch.
  14. Students may not sign in or out for another student.
  15. Students must keep a record of all services each day on the “service tracking sheet,” which must be completed daily and turned in every month.
  16. If a student fails to pass the Core written and/or practical exam on their second attempt, they may be asked to withdraw from the program and re-start in the next Core class start date.
  17. Theory Class: The school requires a Future Professional to complete all theory hours as part of their graduation requirements. Refer to the graduation requirements.

Professional Image

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

  1. Future Professionals may wear any color combination.
  2. Clothing should be professional and clean.
  3. Shoes should be 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. The following is a list of acceptable dress:
    1. Jeans or clothing made of jean material if they are black or gray in color. Any rips or tears must fall below the fingertips when standing up.
    2. Sleeveless tops.
    3. Sweatshirts, printed T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, and/or jackets with the Paul Mitchell logo or the school logo may be worn.
    4. Stylish hats, scarves, and stylish head wraps.
    5. Shorts and/or skirts that fall below the fingertips.
  7. Tights or leggings should be worn with skirts or dresses that fall above the knees for all Future Professionals.
  8. Name tag — as provided by the school. All Future Professionals are required to wear a name tag while in attendance.

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

  1. Gym workout shoes, foot thongs, or beach sandals.
  2. Tank tops, spaghetti string tops, or belly shirts.
  3. Sweatpants.
  4. Sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, jackets, and printed T-shirts other than those with the Paul Mitchell logo or the school logo.
  5. Shorts and/or skirts that fall above fingertips when standing up.
  6. Baseball hats, visors, bandanas, caps, or beanies.
  7. Spandex or biking shorts.
  8. Headphones, headgear, and/or earphones are not permitted in the classroom or the clinic classroom.
  9. Sunglasses.

Future Professionals who fail to comply with the Future Professional dress code may be coached and may receive an advisory.

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.
  2. Only emergency calls are permitted on the business phone. Future professionals may use the future professional phones for a limited time. Please keep your calls to three (3) minutes or less.
  3. Cell phones, or other electronic communication devices, such as pagers or IM devices, are not permitted in classrooms, Clinic Floor or Service Desk, Color Bar, or Manicure/Pedicure phones or other electronic communication devices should be kept in student lockers and checked only on scheduled breaks.
  4. Future professionals may not visit with another Future professional who is servicing a client.
  5. Future professionals are to be courteous to patrons and fellow Future professionals at all times. Future professionals should have stations ready for all appointments and not keep customers waiting. Future professionals should avoid discussing subjects with patrons such as politics, religion, and sexual morals.
  6. Foul language, loud or boisterous conduct, or any other type of unprofessional conduct will not be tolerated.
  7. No eating, drinking, or chewing gum is permitted on the Clinic Floor.
  8. Future professionals may not gather around the Service Desk, the Service Desk area, or the offices.
  9. Food, drink, or water bottles are allowed only in the lunchroom.
  10. Smoking is prohibited on school grounds.
  11. Stealing or taking school or another’s personal property is unacceptable. If caught, it will result in immediate termination.
  12. Any student suspected of use or distribution of alcohol or illegal drugs while on school premises will be terminated.
  13. School administration has the right to access and inspect a Future Professionals locker at any time, refer to the locker policy.

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, Future Professionals must do the following prior to starting the service:
    1. Notify a Learning Leader.
    2. Be scheduled off the service books by a Learning Leader.
    3. Be current in practical skill assessments, theory attendance and test.
    4. Pay for service supplies including perms, color, lightener, rinses, conditioning, treatments, manicures, nails, etc.

Personal services must be rescheduled when the student is scheduled to take a guest. Students must re-schedule their personal service and complete the service appointment assigned to them. Personal services are considered rewards and scheduled for Future Professionals who are up to date with all practical exams, and clinic practical worksheets. School assignments and successful learning are the priority.

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 must take all appointments assigned to them. This includes last-minute walk-ins.
  4. Future Professionals may not be released from required theory class to take a client.
  5. Only service desk personnel may schedule or change client service appointments.
  6. All services must be checked and the service ticket initialed by an instructor.
  7. Future Professionals are expected to be continuously working on school-related projects, assignments, clinic practical worksheets, reading theory, or test preparation during school hours.
  8. Future Professionals will receive clock hours during the times they fully participate in their learning experience.
  9. 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
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Any school staff member will have the right to send any Future Professional home for infringement of the school rules, misconduct, or illness.
  14. More than ten (10) consecutive training days or fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days absent (which ever time frame is shorter) will necessitate an automatic termination from the school. Extreme circumstances that are beyond the control of the Future Professional may be reviewed by the school’s Director.
  15. Please reserve the front row parking for your clients. Approved Future Professional parking will be reviewed at orientation.
  16. 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.
  17. If a Future Professional fails to pass the Core written and/or practical exam on their second attempt, they may be asked to withdraw from the program and re-start in the next Core class start date.
  18. The school requires a Future Professional to complete all theory hours as part of their graduation requirements. Refer to the graduation requirements.