2023-2024 Student Handbook
President’s Message
Dear Students,
Welcome to Palm Beach State College! Whether you are a new or returning Panther, I hope this academic year exceeds your expectations and brings you closer to your education and life goals.
Since its founding in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college, PBSC has grown from 41 local students in three classrooms to 40,000 students studying on five campuses—located in Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Loxahatchee Groves and Palm Beach Gardens—and online.
In the pages of this handbook, you will learn about the services and activities designed to help you reach your full potential and keep you on the road to graduation and career success. I encourage you to take full advantage of these resources as well as the facilities and technology tools available to you, from our Student Learning Center that offers free tutoring to our innovative labs to our Counseling Center that supports student well-being collegewide.
This handbook also covers our academic policies, campus safety, useful contacts and webpages, and other topics important to every student. Please take time to review it, including the Student Code of Conduct, which is central to PBSC’s values, culture and community.
You are now part of a diverse student body from all areas of the state, the nation and more than 150 countries. Get to know your classmates and professors. Participate in student government and take part in the various clubs, events and special projects. Community partners and industry experts share their knowledge as guest lecturers, and many PBSC programs feature internships. So, in addition to lifelong careers, lifelong friendships also start here, fostered by these connections.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2023, Palm Beach State College has been integral to the remarkable growth of Palm Beach County. Our graduates continue to fuel this prosperity and rise to the top of every profession and industry. We can’t wait to see what you will accomplish.
Panther Proud!
Panther Strong!
Sincerely,
Ava L. Parker, J.D.
President
Palm Beach State College