Student Development and Activities

Center for Campus Connections

International and Multicultural Programs Office

The role of this office is to attract, support, and educate the diverse learners in and for the diverse world. Specifically, we:

• Assist ethnic minority students through personal advising, peer support, mentorship programs, and programming.
• Advise multicultural student organizations (e.g., Black Student Union, Latino and Spanish Student Association, Third Culture Group, Caribbean Club, Middle Eastern Student Union, and International Student Association).
• Organize multicultural programs and events for PBA community.

The Office of International and Multicultural Programs is located on the second floor of the Lassiter Student Center within the Center for Campus Connection and can be reached by calling 561.803.2550.

Student Activities

The Office of Student Activities exists to assist Palm Beach Atlantic University students in exploring, discovering, and preparing all to strengthen the Body of Christ. Student Activities carries out this mission with Christ-centered, educational and developmental programming using students’ God-given gifts and talents in planning events and serving students. Student Activities provides each student with unique programming experiences that assist in building community among students, faculty and staff by creating venues to engage the mind and foster relationship from a Christ-centered perspective. Student Activities includes over 80 campus-wide programs, student organizations, Commuter Students, and Game Room services. Some Student Activities events are:

Students may choose to get involved in planning events, assisting with student organizations, promoting events or attending events. for more information contact Student Activities by phoning 561.803.2560 or at student_activities@pba.edu. Check out our Facebook page at “PBAEvents” follow us on Twitter at PBAstudact! We are located on the second floor of the Lassiter Student Center.

Student Leadership Development

The mission of Student Leadership Development is to help students gain a complete understanding of servant leadership as modeled by Jesus; to assess and develop the leadership potential of all Palm Beach Atlantic students; to serve and encourage the student leaders on campus; and to help student leaders to achieve their highest potential as servants of Jesus Christ and His church by offering innovative, engaging, and relevant training and programming opportunities. The Office of Student Leadership Development is located on the second floor of Lassiter Student Center and can be reached by 561.803.2661. Office hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Student Organizations

Over 70 student-run organizations offer various ways for students to plug in. Optionally, students may start a new Student Organization. Listed below are some of the student organizations that prospective and current students may get involved in. for a complete list, check out the clubs and organizations page under Departments under Student Activities in myPBA.

• Agora Club is a club where they discuss different political and controversial issues.
• Alpha Psi Omega is an honorary professional fraternity for those students who have excelled in theatre.
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP) prepares pharmacy students for residencies, promotes networking and clinical pharmacy in a health-system environment.
• Student Athletic Training Organization raises money to send students to workshops, seminars, and conventions.
• Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) promotes Christian applications within the pharmacy profession and enables students to develop spiritual, moral, and ethical principles to aid them when faced with professional dilemmas.
• Christian Pharmacy Fellowship International motivates and equips pharmacy students to practice faith in Jesus Christ in their personal and professional lives.
• College Democrats spark political initiative in the campus community and promote the ideals of the Democratic Party.
• College Republicans support the principles, objectives and platform of the Republican Party and work for the election of all duly nominated Republican Party candidates.
• Concert Choir is open to all students, but requires an audition.
• Delta Epsilon Chi nurtures leadership in the fields of marketing, merchandising, advertising, salesmanship, culinary arts, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, financial services and international business.
• The History Club is designed to promote interest in history, provide career information for majors and minors, and get students involved in history projects off campus.
• Jazz Ensemble is open to all students, but requires an audition.
• Kappa Delta Epsilon is an honorary professional education fraternity whose purpose is to promote the cause of education by fostering a spirit of fellowship, high scholastic standards, and professional ideals among its members.
• Kappa Epsilon empowers its members to achieve personal and professional fulfillment by developing confidence, self-esteem, interpersonal skills, and a leadership vision.
• Kappa Psi promotes professional contacts, development of leadership opportunities, and development of philanthropy opportunities.
• Lambda Pi Eta is the honor society of the National Communication Association.
• Marine Biology Club promotes the conservation and education of marine environment.
• Newman Club promotes understanding and fellowship among Catholic students.
• N.O.W (Night of Worship) promotes the growth and development of students and their faith through weekly worship.
• Nurse’s Christian Fellowship is dedicated to helping nurses and students to demonstrate Christ to patients and to one another.
• Nu Delta Nu-Men’s social organization committed to building a strong brotherhood and commitment to Christ.
• Oratorio Chorus is open to all students, performs the choral masterworks.
• Palm Beach Atlantic Student Nursing Association allows students an opportunity to participate in professional activities and the legislative process.
• PBA Symphony is a university/community orchestra, which is open to all students but requires an audition.
• Pep Band is open to all students, but requires an audition.
• Phi Beta Alpha is the local chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, the National honor society for students in continuing higher education.
• Phi Delta Chi strives to advance the science of pharmacy and its allied interest, to foster and promote a fraternal spirit among its members, and promote innovate lasting leadership skills.
• Pre-Health Club provides knowledge of the medical field and how to succeed in its competitive environment.
• Pre-Pharmacy Club aids admission and entry to the Pharm.D program.
• Presidential Ambassadors is an organization of students who act as Ambassadors of goodwill for PBA. They promote ongoing, strong, and positive relationships among students, alumni, administration, faculty, staff and parents as well as the greater West Palm Beach community.
• Psi Chi Honor Society is the national honor society in psychology.
• Psychology Club provides avenues of communication for all students interested in psychological study.
• Philosophy Club provides students who are interested in philosophy with a forum for meeting with one another outside of class. The club is fairly informal; membership is open to any person, animal, plant or mineral provided she or he is interested in philosophy, open to ideas of others, and has $5 dollars for member dues.
• Science Club is open to all students to further the interest in science through discussions, guest speakers, and field trips. A traditional event is the “Science Club Bug Race” held during Homecoming week.
• Sigma Tau Delta is a national honor society whose selected members have excelled in English and Literature.
• Spanish and Latino Student Association (S.A.L.S.A.) celebrates the Latino/Hispanic heritage.
• Symphonic Band is open to all students, but requires an audition.
• Student-Athlete Council acts as a liaison between students, student support personnel and the Department of Athletics.
• Swing Club brings people together to learn how to dance swing.
• Student Government, the representative and recognized voice of the student body of Palm Beach Atlantic University, is charged with the responsibility to coordinate and represent student interests and concerns in all areas of college life.
• Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) encourages free enterprise at Palm Beach Atlantic and in the surrounding community.
• Students Veterans Group is a group for students who are currently or have served in any armed forces unit.
• Theta Alpha Kappa is the National Honor Society for Religious Studies and Theology whose purpose is to encourage, recognize, and maintain excellence in such studies among students.
• To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) PBA chapter of the national organization.
• Welcome Week Steering Committee is the student group that organizes and leads the fall and spring orientation programs.
• Women’s Chorale is open to all female students and performs on campus and in the community.
• Women’s Studies Group provides a forum for the discussion of issues of interest and concern to women students. The group also organizes a series of educational events for the PBA community and offers an annual scholarship.

Chapel

Some ask, “Why do you have chapel at PBA?” Busy schedules coupled with the rigor of a full academic load leave many with little time to breathe, much less take another hour that might be better spent studying, working or resting. If we were just body and mind, the argument would be worth noting. The University believes, however, that God has made us body, mind and soul. Chapel deals with that “soulish” part of who we are. It is an exciting opportunity to meet with God, discover His wisdom and strength for our lives and experience His work on a personal and campus-wide level.

Each week students select from one of four chapel services. All services have the same focus and message, but three of the services highlight a contemporary worship format while one is more formal. Student participation is a hallmark of all chapel services. This participation can take many forms from “upfront roles” such as playing in the band on a praise and worship team or singing in a choir to “behind-the-scenes participation” on our creative team or prayer team, for example.

At the core of chapel is worship and spiritual formation built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and rooted in the Bible. The goal is to help the campus community experience a growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Chapel may be the means God uses to light a spark of spiritual interest in a student’s heart or to fan into a flame the fire that is already burning. The Chapel staff strives to keep chapel relevant, engaging and oriented in such a way as to build campus community.

All full-time (graduate and undergraduate) day students must attend chapel. Students must accumulate a minimum of 24 chapel credits during each year of enrollment. Completion of the 24 chapel credits during the year is a prerequisite for continued enrollment and graduation from PBA.

Grievance Policy (Non-Academic Complaint)

A non-academic complaint is any alleged injustice including unfair treatment, error, or behavior inconsistent with University policies, mission or values. Complaints regarding harassment or discrimination will be addressed by the Office of Human Resources.

1. The student should take his/her complaint to the staff member who oversees the program/office/department for which he/she has a complaint. Initial concerns may be communicated verbally or in writing by the student to the staff member.
2. If the resolution with the staff member proves unsatisfactory to the student, he/she may make a formal complaint in writing to the staff member’s immediate supervisor. It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate that he/she has already communicated with the staff member who oversees the program/office/department. Any complaint that has not followed the prescribed steps will be referred back to the appropriate staff member.
3. The supervisor will review the student’s complaint and provide a written acknowledgement within ten business days.
4. The written complaint will be logged for internal processing; however, it will not become a part of the student’s official record.
5. If the resolution with the supervisor proves unsatisfactory to the student, he/she may take the complaint to the Director, Dean, Vice President or designee in writing. It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate that he/she has already communicated with the staff member’s immediate supervisor. Any complaint that has not followed the prescribed steps will be referred back to the appropriate staff member.
6. In the event that the complaint is directly related to the Director, Non-academic Dean, Vice President or designee, the complaint will be forwarded to the Senior Vice President for Administration and Planning.
7. The Vice President or designee will review the student’s complaint and provide a final written response.

Quality Enhancement Plan

In Fall 2008 Palm Beach Atlantic University began a five-year pilot program to enhance student learning in the areas of critical thinking and writing. The plan, called Think for Yourself — Write for Others, focuses on classroom instruction in several general education courses. Students who take enhanced courses will benefit from consistent focus on the application of critical thought to the subject through critical reading, research, and argumentation, and on the skills necessary to communicate their thoughts effectively in writing.

Student Development and Services

At Palm Beach Atlantic University, Student Development is designed to support the academic mission of the University, foster student learning inside the classroom and outside the classroom, and develop the student holistically. We provide programs, services, and activities that help students grow and develop intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially within the context of a Christian community. Student Development includes the Office of Career Development, Center for Campus Connections, Health & Wellness, Residence Life, Student Accountability, Student Success Center, and Workship. More information on the various Student Development services can be found in this chapter of the catalog.