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General Information

History

Ava L. Parker, J.D., became Palm Beach State College’s first woman president in 2015 and leads with a strategic approach that stresses innovation, student success, and business and community collaboration. Parker’s emphasis on preparing a technologically capable workforce has resulted in PBSC emerging as a top institution for STEM education, with focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering technology, and the implementation of advanced technologies in PBSC classrooms. Under Parker’s leadership, PBSC opened its fifth campus, located in Loxahatchee Groves, gained significant funding support from both public and private sources, and launched many initiatives, including PBSC Online, the Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler Equity Institute, and a partnership that makes the Palm Beach Gardens campus the future site of an interactive arena which will house TGL, the high-tech golf league being developed by TMRW Sports in conjunction with the PGA Tour. The partnership will provide internships and career development opportunities for students as well as access to new technologies and industry professionals. 

Recent PBSC accomplishments: The College has been named an Aspen Prize Top 150 Community College by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program five times out of seven that the biennial prize has been awarded; is ranked among the Top Online Colleges by Newsweek and Statista; is recognized as one of the Top 100 Colleges for Hispanic Students by Hispanic Outlook magazine; has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security; and has been chosen a “Top 10” Military Friendly® School for the fourth consecutive year by VIQTORY, a highly regarded military publisher. PBSC was also recently selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program, providing the global company’s hourly employees with access to the College’s more than 130 degree and certificate programs.

Mission, Vision, Values

Accreditation and Membership

Palm Beach State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate and baccalaureate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Palm Beach State College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Foundation for Palm Beach State College

The Foundation for Palm Beach State College provides value by expanding awareness of and engagement in the College while accepting, stewarding and distributing philanthropic gifts in accordance with donors’ wishes. The Foundation establishes community relationships to further initiatives and opportunities to carry out the Palm Beach State College mission, transform students’ lives and impact the economic and cultural prosperity of Palm Beach County. Celebrating 50 years of service, today's Foundation for Palm Beach State College drives institutional advancement through philanthropic giving, grants and partners, friends, donors and alumni who are committed to the students we serve and the community we share. For more information, please visit www.pbsc.edu/Foundation.

Office of Communications and Public Affairs

The Office of Communications and Public Affairs is a multifaceted, multimedia department responsible for informing and engaging internal and external stakeholders in the mission of Palm Beach State College. OCPA partners across the institution to elevate PBSC’s brand and spread awareness of the College’s milestones, outcomes and impacts, while publicizing and marketing its academic programs, community and workforce initiatives, and the innovations and achievements of its students, faculty, staff and alumni. Visit the OCPA webpage to learn more.

Institutional Learning Outcomes

Locations

Serving residents of the western communities of Palm Beach County, the Belle Glade campus opened in 1972. The permanent facility was built in 1977 and occupied in January 1978. With the support and guidance of local education, community and civic leaders and organizations, the campus has expanded its footprint and general education offerings, occupational training, student support services, and community outreach to meet the diverse educational needs of the area.

The Belle Glade campus offers the Associate in Arts degree for transfer to four-year institutions as well as an Associate in Science degree in Nursing, various career and technical programs and continuing education courses. High-skills career programs are housed at the sustainably built 33,982-square-foot Technical Education Center and prepare students for immediate employment in fields such as welding, diesel repair and service, cosmetology and barbering. The 467-seat Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center at Belle Glade presents a variety of entertainment and cultural performances and is available for rental by individuals and organizations. 

Palm Beach State College serves the greater south Palm Beach County area from its campus in Boca Raton, conveniently located adjacent to Florida Atlantic University. Many students take advantage of the close partnership between the two institutions, transferring into FAU baccalaureate programs after completing their associate degrees at PBSC. In addition, all Palm Beach State students enjoy full-use privileges at the FAU library.

Constructed in 1955, Lake Worth is the College's largest and longest-established campus. Bordered by Lake Osborne and John Prince Park, the 114-acre campus offers bachelor’s degrees as well as numerous programs for those planning to transfer to universities or enter/advance in the workforce. As Palm Beach County's primary provider of workforce training and education, the campus offers a wide range of career pathways in health care, business, cybersecurity, engineering technology, public safety, and industrial and technical trades.

The campus serves the richly diverse population of the greater Lake Worth area and is home to the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College and the Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler Equity Institute. Outstanding campus features include the spacious Watson B. Duncan III Theatre, which functions as a performing arts instructional facility and presents world-class cultural and entertainment events and visiting artists for the public. The campus also houses the Public Safety Training Center, the largest facility of its kind in Palm Beach County. The Panthers intercollegiate athletic teams play and practice at this campus.

Palm Beach State College’s newest campus in Loxahatchee Groves opened its doors in 2017. Named in honor of former PBSC president Dr. Dennis P. Gallon, the 75-acre campus provides increased access and convenience for residents of central-western Palm Beach County. 

Today, the campus offers Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, certificate programs, dual enrollment for high school students, and credit and noncredit courses and workshops. With a focus on health science, business and computer science programs, the campus features cutting-edge laboratories with virtual reality learning technology and an Anatomage Table, the highly advanced 3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection system for anatomy and physiology education. In 2020, the campus established the Frank DiMino Center for Medical Innovation, which is enabling the campus to expand its training programs in high-demand health care fields. The campus also houses the Julie and John Kime Library Resource Center and an exquisite 230-seat lecture hall, which has become a popular venue for hosting community educational programs, events and meetings.

The campus's Bioscience Technology Complex houses an expanded science curriculum and programs in engineering and electrical power technology, and its Center for Innovation in Health Sciences features programs in ophthalmic medical technology and diagnostic medical sonography. The campus also has a 50,000-square-foot Library Learning Resource Center, modern multimedia classrooms and laboratories, a horticultural nursery, Panthers basketball court, and community athletic fields. A cultural hub for northern Palm Beach County, the campus is home to the Helen M. Salzberg Center for Visual Arts, which provides opportunities for students and local artists to share and advance their work, and the 750-seat Eissey Campus Theatre, which presents community educational programs as well as entertainment for all ages. The campus also will be the site of an interactive arena that will house TGL, the high-tech golf league being developed by TMRW Sports in conjunction with the PGA Tour.