History
www.palmbeachstate.edu/History
From its humble beginnings in 1933 with 41 students in a building next to Palm Beach High School, Palm Beach State College has grown to become one of the largest institutions of higher education in Palm Beach County. More than 40,000 students enroll annually in face-to-face, online, live online and hybrid classes at five campuses: Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Belle Glade and Loxahatchee Groves. Over time, the College's mission has become more comprehensive to serve the educational needs of Palm Beach County residents. Palm Beach State College now offers bachelor's and associate degrees, professional certificates, workforce development and lifelong learning.
Establishing Florida's first public two-year college in the depths of the Great Depression may have seemed like folly in 1933. Large government expenditures were out of the question. Still, civic organizations and local citizens lobbied the County Board of Public Instruction to open a two-year public college for the area's high school graduates who were unable to find employment and couldn't afford to leave home to attend a university.
County School Superintendent Joe Youngblood and Howell Watkins, principal of Palm Beach High School, consulted with the University of Florida and the Florida State Women's College (Florida State University) and based Palm Beach Junior College’s curriculum on that of the two universities. Because of the Depression-era budget, teachers at Palm Beach High School volunteered to teach at the College for free.
John I. Leonard became the first president of Palm Beach Junior College in 1936. By 1948, the College had outgrown its original building and moved to Morrison Field, a retired Air Force base used in World War II. Just three years later, though, the Korean Conflict erupted, and Morrison Field was reactivated. The air base later became Palm Beach International Airport.
In 1951 Palm Beach Junior College moved yet again, to Lake Park Town Hall, where the quarters were so cramped students had to be turned away, and enrollment dropped significantly to less than 200. Chemistry class was held in the jail. The local media dubbed it "the little orphan college," but the Lake Park location is remembered fondly by its alumni for the camaraderie that existed there. Master English and Speech Professor Watson B. Duncan taught classes in the nearby church and even in the hallway.
Almost five years later the Board of Public Instruction of Palm Beach County donated 114 acres in Lake Worth to the College, and the state gave PBJC $1 million for buildings. The College finally had a permanent home. Harold C. Manor, Ph.D., became president in 1958 and began directing extraordinary growth in enrollment, services and offerings, including many technical and vocational programs.
In 1965, the state legislature ordered that black and white two-year colleges be merged, and the mostly white Palm Beach Junior College and the all-black Roosevelt Junior College became one. Six professors and staff members from Roosevelt were transferred to PBJC, and other faculty members were transferred to the school district.
In the 1970s and 80s the College established satellite centers, then permanent locations in Belle Glade, Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton. Edward M. Eissey, Ph.D., president from 1978 to 1996, was the driving force behind the building boom and the name change to Palm Beach Community College in 1988.
Dennis P. Gallon, Ph.D., served as president for 18 years, beginning in 1997. Dr. Gallon expanded the College’s comprehensive mission with more workforce education programs and expanded business and industry partnerships. In 2008, the College received State Board of Education approval to offer its first baccalaureate degree, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management. Upper-level courses in this degree program began in 2009, and the College was renamed Palm Beach State College in 2010 to reflect its expanded educational offerings.
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
Mission
Palm Beach State College provides accessible, student-centered teaching and learning experiences in academic, technical and lifelong learning to transform lives and strengthen our community.
Vision
Palm Beach State College is nationally recognized as an innovative academic leader advancing student success through its unparalleled commitment to excellence, engagement and dynamic partnerships.
Values
Conscientious
We serve the College community and global society as we aspire to do what is right, ethical and fair.
Belonging
We value all persons and backgrounds, and cultivate an inclusive community that nurtures diverse, equitable and civil perspectives.
Perseverance
We inspire hope and encourage our constituents to achieve their goals and pursue lifelong learning
Transformational
We positively and profoundly change the lives of our constituents by adopting programs and services that meet their needs.
Accreditation and Membership
Accreditation
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).
Accreditation also has been granted by professional organizations for certain specific programs. This is noted in this catalog on pages where the programs are outlined. The absence of such a notation indicates that professional accreditation has neither been sought nor granted.
Memberships
The College is an active member of the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Florida Colleges, as well as other professional organizations.
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.palmbeachstate.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
Palm Beach State College has five institutional learning outcomes (ILOs). Student achievement of the outcomes is used to measure the Associate in Arts degree and the competencies associated with general education. Other academic programs support these broad areas of learning. For more information about the ILOs, visit the ILO webpage.
Locations
Courses and programs are offered at College campuses in Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Loxahatchee Groves and Palm Beach Gardens. Each campus offers general education courses; however, certain programs may not be available at all campuses. View detailed campus maps at www.palmbeachstate.edu/Locations.
Belle Glade
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.
Boca Raton
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.
The Boca Raton campus provides students with innovative, flexible classrooms and laboratories with virtual technology tools. Known for addressing the learning needs of the entire local community, the campus offers classes for those seeking a college degree as well as those interested in job training, upgrading of skills and in receiving industry certifications. Extensive courses in architecture and photography are offered as well as programs in business, computer science, engineering technology and massage therapy.
Lake Worth
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.
Loxahatchee Groves
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.
Palm Beach Gardens
The Palm Beach Gardens campus opened in 1982 as a permanent, full-time facility and in 1990 was named the Edward M. Eissey Campus in recognition of the College’s third president, who had presided over its opening. Today, the campus offers Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees, certificate programs, and credit and noncredit courses and workshops. The campus sits on 123 acres in a lush, natural Florida setting that features many native plants, including a cypress preserve. The Myrna Rubenstein Pavilion at the center of campus features an ecological pond and waterfall. The pavilion and adjacent amphitheater serve as a gathering place for student activities and events.
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.