Student Professional Development Guidelines

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

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 5-day students are required to clock in/out 4 times a day: when they arrive at school, when the leave for lunch, when they return for lunch, and when they leave at the end of the day. Full-time 3-day students will clock  out 6 times a day: when they arrive at school, when the leave for lunch, when they return for lunch, when they leave for dinner break, when they return for dinner break, and when they leave at the end of  the day. Part-time students are required to clock in/out 2 times a day: when they arrive at school and when they leave at the end of the day. Additionally, all students are also required to sign in/out upon entering and exiting the building.  If a student fails to clock in or out for their schedule on the student timeclock, 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. A student may not dispute attendance more than 30 days after the occurrence.

  2. The school is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for day students, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM for 3-day students, and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM for part-time students. 
  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. 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. Full Time and 3 Day Students are required to clock in by 9:00 am. Part  time students are required to clock in by 5:00pm. Full Time and 3 day students arriving later than  09:15 am and 5:15pm for Part time will not be allowed to clock in for the day. Only students with a legitimate excuse for being late will be allowed to clock in for the day.
  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 AM; night students must call in by 4:30 PM. 
  7. Students must request time off from school from the Future Professional Advisor or Education Leader.
  8. Students are required to be in attendance minimum of seven (7) hours per day, 35 hours per week for full-time 5 day program, seven and a half (7.5) hours per day, 30 hours per week for the full-time  4 day program, and ten (10) hours a day, 30 hours a week for full time three day program students  and five (5) hours a day, 20 hours a week for the part time program. There will be no school on holidays such as Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, New Years Eve (for part time students only), and New Year’s Day.  These holidays will be set according to the calendar each year. Students cannot attend over 40 hours a week for time missed. If students miss hours at any time, they may sign up “drop in” to make up the time.
  9. Students attend Core the first 210 clock hours for cosmetology and 190 clock hours for esthetics of enrollment.  During this time the student must maintain a monthly attendance of 80%. If at the conclusion of the month, the student’s progress report is not 80% attendance, the student may be dropped from the program and asked to re-enroll in the next class start date.
  10. Lunches and breaks are scheduled for all students. Day and Three (3) Day students will take 30 minutes between 11:30 am-1:00 pm according to their schedule or their clinic booking. Students should communicate with their instructors if they have not had lunch by 1:00 pm. Three (3) day students will also have a 30 minute dinner break 5:00-5:30 pm according to their clinic booking. Students should communicate with their instructors if they have not had a dinner break by 5:30 pm. Night students will take a 20 min break.

Observe the appropriate breaks for your school schedule. Breaks are as follows:

Student Schedule Breaks Lunch 
10 hr/day 15 min. in the morning & 15 min in the afternoon 30 min. lunch, 30 min. dinner
7 or 7 1/2 hr/day 15 min. in the morning & 15 min in afternoon 30 min. lunch
5 hr/day 20 min at mid-point of schedule n/a
  1. Documentation of time: Students may not leave the school premises during regular hours without an instructor’s permission.
    1. All full-time students who leave school premises for more than 15 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. Part-time students who leave school premises for more than 20 minutes must sign the the sign-out sheet, and having an instructor book them out.
    3. All full-time students who leave school premises for less than 15 minutes must sign the sign-out sheet. 
    4. Full-time 4 and 5-day students must clock out on time clock for lunch for 30 minutes everyday. Students will not receive credit for the 30 minutes if they fail to clock in/out for lunch.
    5. Full-time 3-day students must clock out on the time clock for lunch for 30 minutes and minutes for dinner every day. Students will not receive credit for the 30 minutes if they fail to clock in/out for lunch. 
  2. Students may not clock in/out or sign in/out for another student. 
  3. 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: All Future Professionals must adhere to the following professional dress code while in attendance:

  1. Future Professionals must wear all black. Esthetic’s must wear all black scrubs.
  2. Phase Two Future Professionals and Instructors in Training may wear black, gray, or white in any combination.
  3. Clothing should be professional and clean.
  4. Shoes can be any color, closed toe, professional, practical, and comfortable.
  5. Hair should be styled prior to arriving at the school.
  6. Any cosmetics should be applied prior to arriving at the school.
  7. The following is a list of acceptable dress:
    1. Jeans or clothing made of jean material if they are black in color. Any rips or tears must fall below the fingertips, when standing up.
    2. Sweatshirts, printed T-shirts and/or jackets with the Paul Mitchell logo, the school logo, and logos of other approved PMAE vendor may be worn.
    3. Stylish hats, scarves, and Headbands.
    4. Shorts and/or skirts that fall to the knees.
    5. Tights or leggings should be worn with skirts or dresses that fall above the knees for all Future Professionals.
    6. A 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. Slippers, moccasin shoes or boots, Uggs (class Ugg like), foot thongs, beach sandals, or garden crocs.
  2. Ponytails
  3. Sleeveless tops, Tank tops, spaghetti string tops, or belly shirts.
  4. Sweatpants, Hooded sweatshirts, tops or jackets.
  5. Sweatshirts, jackets and printed T-shirts other than those with the Paul Mitchell logo, the school logos or a PMAE approved vendor logo.
  6. Shorts and/or skirts that fall above the knee when standing up.
  7. Baseball hats, visors, bandanas, caps, beanies, or headwraps.
  8. Spandex or biking shorts (biker shorts).
  9. Headphones, headgear, and/or earphones are not permitted in the classroom or the clinic classroom.
  10. Sunglasses.

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

Casual for a Cause Guidelines: Participation in Casual for A Cause allows you to wear blue jeans for the day!

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 Learning Leader.
    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. Those who are on Back on Track may perform a service on another Future Professional who is not on Back on Track.

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. Students may use the student phones for a limited time. 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. The school is a smoke-free campus.
  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 Professionals locker at any time, refer to the locker policy.

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 75% on all theory tests and assignments.
  3. Future Professionals may not be released from required theory class to take a client.
  4. Only desk personnel may schedule or change client service appointments.
  5. All services must be checked and the service ticket initialed by an Learning Leaders.
  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 a specialty class, mini class or learning center, 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 Professionals 
    4. Listening to or reading school resource center materials, including educational videos, audiotapes, and books
  9. Future Professionals must comply with school personnel and instructor’s assignments and requests as required by the curriculum and student 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. All equipment, tools, and personal items must be secured in their assigned locker. Paul Mitchell The School - Delaware 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 clinic practical worksheets are due on the assigned day of each month by 4:30 PM for day students, 8:00 PM for three (3) day students, and 10:00 PM for night students.
  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. 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 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.