Student Professional Development Guidelines

All students must commit to and follow the Student Professional Development Guidelines during their enrollment at Paul Mitchell The School Huntsville. 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. 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 Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
  3. All courses require continuous attendance.
  4. The prescribed attendance schedule must be maintained each week.
  5. Students are only allowed to be tardy two (2) days per month before disciplinary action may occur as determined by and at the discretion of the Education Leader or Director. Students must clock in before 9:00 AM to be considered on time.
  6. 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.
  7. A student that is clocked in is expected to stay for the entire day, 5-day students from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM and 3-day 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday and Thursday and 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Fridays. A student is only allowed three (3) times per month to leave prior to the end of the school day before disciplinary action may be taken.
  8. Students who are late or cannot attend school must contact the school and talk to the school service desk immediately. Students must call in by 8:30 AM. Students who will be late or absent and do not call in time will be placed on the “No Call, No Show” (NCNS) list. Students are only allowed to be on the NCNS list one (1) days per month before disciplinary action may occur as determined by and at the discretion of the Education Leader, Future Professional Advisor, or Director.
  9. Students must request time off from school from the Future Professional Advisor, Education Leader, or Director.
  10. Cosmetology & Esthetician 5-day students are required to be in attendance a minimum of seven (7) hours per day, 35 hours per week, and are considered to be full-time and 3-day minimum of nine and a half (9.5) hours per day Wednesday through Thursday and seven (7) hours on Friday, 26 hours per week.
    Cosmetology Instructor Training (1563 & 650) students are required to be in attendance a minimum of seven (7) hours per day, 35 hours per week, and are considered to be full-time and 3-day minimum of nine and a seven (7) hours per day Monday through Wednesday, 21 hours per week. Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day will be set according to the calendar each year.
  11. Lunches and breaks are scheduled for all students. 5-day students will take two (2) ten-minute breaks and one (1) 30 minutes for lunch, and 3-day students will take three (3) ten-minute breaks and one (1) 30-minute lunch between 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM. Students should communicate with their instructor if they have not had lunch by 1:00 PM.                                                                                                                                                      Observe the appropriate breaks for your school schedule. Breaks are as follows:
    Student Schedule Breaks Lunch
    9.5 hr/day three (3) 10 min. 30 min. lunch
    7 hr/day 10 min. in the morning & 10 min. in the afternoon 30 min. lunch
  12. 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 clocking out on the time clock, 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. Students must clock out on the time clock for lunch for 30 minutes every day. Students will not receive credit for the hour if they fail to clock in/out for lunch.
  13. Students may not clock in or out for another student.
  14. 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.

Professional Image

A professional image is a requirement for successful participation in school. Future Professionals must maintain the following professional dress code:

  1. Core and Phase One Future Professionals must wear all black.
  2. Phase Two and cosmetology instructor training Future Professionals must wear black or white in any combination.
  3. Clothing must be professional, clean, and free of stains or bleach spots. Any rips, rough patches, or holes must fall below fingertips.
  4. Shoes should be black, professional, and comfortable closed-toe for all Future Professionals.
  5. Hair must be clean and styled prior to arriving at school. Ponytails are not acceptable. Men’s facial hair must be well-groomed. Bobby pins and elastic bands must be hidden. Hair accessories must not cover more than a fourth of the head.
  6. Any cosmetics must be applied prior to arriving at school.
    The following is a list of unacceptable dress:
    1. Foot thongs, Crocs, beach sandals, and opened-toed shoes.
    2. Tank tops, sleeveless tops, or tops that reveal underarms.
    3. Sweatpants.
    4. Printed T-shirts other than those with a PAUL MITCHELL logo; acceptable T-shirts must be clean and professional, and you must dress them up.
    5. Skirts shorter than four (4) inches from the bend in the back of the knee or slits that reveal or potentially reveal undergarments. Leggings must be worn for dresses or skirts shorter than four (4) inches from the bend in the back of the knee.
    6. Leggings are not classified as pants. Leggings must be solid, opaque and come below the knee, your bottom must be covered completely by a shirt or dress.
    7. Hats, visors, bandanas, caps, head wraps, or beanies.
    8. Spandex, biking shorts, yoga pants, athletic pants or shorts.
    9. Hooded jacket, or top; jackets are not allowed in the clinic classroom.
    10. Sunglasses (not allowed on the face, top of head, or attached to clothing).
    11. Shirts that show off mid-riff, excessive cleavage, or excessive shoulder, back, and/or chest.
    12. Fanny packs or tool belts.
  7. Personal hygiene must be maintained to include, but not limited to, daily baths, daily application of deodorant, daily oral care and fresh overall scent.
  8. Paul Mitchell the School Huntsville is a smoke-free campus. Future Professionals must maintain the fresh overall scent at all times.
  9. Future Professionals who fail to comply with the professional dress code will be asked to clock out and return with appropriate attire for the next scheduled class.

Sanitation and Personal Services

  1. Future Professionals must keep stations and classroom areas clean, sanitary, and clutter-free at all times.
  2. Future Professionals must clean their stations, including the floor, after each service.
  3. Hair must be swept up immediately after a service is completed, before blow drying.
  4. Stations must be cleaned at the end of the day, prior to clocking out for the day.
  5. Future Professionals may have their hair or other services done on student service days only. To receive a service, Future Professionals must do the following prior to starting the service:
    1. Notify a Service Desk Coordinator and complete the service request form located at the service desk.
    2. Be scheduled off the service books by the Guest Service Leader.
    3. Pay for service supplies including perms, tints, bleaches, rinses, conditioning, treatments, manicures, nails, etc.
    4. If a service guest comes in and the service desk personnel needs the Future Professionals giving the personal service or the student receiving it to take care of the guest, then the Future Professionals must reschedule their personal service and complete the assigned service guest appointment.
    5. 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.

Communication Guidelines and Professional Conduct

  1. Visitors are allowed in the 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 Professionals phones for a limited time. Please keep your calls to three (3) minutes or less. If there is an emergency, please instruct your family and friends to call the service desk at (256) 464-8886.
  3. Cell phones are permitted to be used for educational purposes only and when a school team member has given explicit permission.
  4. Future Professionals may not visit with another Future Professionals who is servicing a client.
  5. Future Professionals may not gather around the reception desk, reception area, or offices.
  6. Food, drinks, and water bottles are allowed only in the student lunchroom.
  7. Paul Mitchell The School Huntsville is a smoke-free campus. This extends to electronic cigarettes.
  8. Stealing or taking school or another's personal property is unacceptable and grounds for termination.
  9. Audio and/or visual recording is not permitted while on campus.

Learning Participation Guidelines

  1. Peer teaching and tutoring are encouraged. Taking credit for another’s work or cheating during exams is unacceptable.
  2. Future Professionals will be expected to maintain an average of 70% 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, reading, 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 an elective class, they must focus on educational activities only and may see a Learning Leader for further direction.
  9. Future Professionals must comply with school personnel and instructor’s assignments and requests as required by the curriculum and Future Professionals guidelines and rules.
  10. Future Professionals may not perform hair, skin, or nail services outside of school unless authorized to do so by school administration. Conducting unauthorized hair, skin, 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 equipment and may use a station drawer only while working at that station. Paul Mitchell The School Huntsville 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 worksheets are due at the end of the school day on the designated hour completion mark located at the top of the worksheet.
  14. If a Future Professionals fails to complete a worksheet 100%, the Future Professionals will be placed on the Back on Track list and will remain on the list until the worksheet is completed.
  15. If a Future Professionals 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 class start date.
  16. Theory Class: The school requires a Future Professional to complete all theory hours as part of their graduation requirements. Refer to the graduation requirements.
  17. Future Professionals must bring their entire technical kit, makeup kit, books, iPad, and all learning materials to school every day. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.