Student Development and Activities

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.

Athletics

Affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a Division II member, Palm Beach Atlantic University offers opportunities for both men and women to participate in intercollegiate sports. The sports offered for men include baseball, basketball, soccer, and tennis. Women’s sports include basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. PBA also offers opportunities in cheerleading. Cheerleaders, and Sailfish Jack and Jill (mascots) perform at many athletic events. The Athletics Department is located on the first floor of the Greene Complex for Sports & Recreation.

Campus Ministries and Missions

Campus Ministries and Missions exists to invite this generation of students to worship and become fully surrendered followers of Jesus Christ, proclaiming His love to others in our community and throughout the world.

Campus Ministries and Missions focuses on the development of Christ-centered student ministry teams that serve the PBA community and beyond. Student leaders are chosen through an application process which enables them to clarify their vision, passion and area of service. Student leaders have special opportunities to enhance their ministry leadership skills through training at the annual Student Leadership Retreat, access to specialized conferences and resources, and a variety of regular personal and group encouragement and accountability gatherings.

Students may serve in an existing ministry or be assisted in starting something new. a sample of recent and emerging ministries includes:

Campus Ministries tries to be fluid, flexible, faithful, and committed to ministry that is organic at its root and biblically transformative. Campus Ministries does not try to be the “local church” for students, but is here to help students develop and express their God-given vision to create ministries that are an expression of God’s Kingdom on our campus and beyond. in so doing, Campus Ministries places high value on partnering with local churches and the need for students to be connected to a local church. We provide ongoing mentoring and support for existing ministry teams as well as helping students formulate vision and catalyze new ministry start-ups.

Student Missions provides students the opportunity to connect with God’s heart for the nations and to proclaim Christ’s love throughout the world. Leadership opportunities are available to serve on the missions planning team or as a mission team leader. The desire of Campus Ministries is that through involvement in mission teams and global awareness events, the entire PBA community will draw closer to God and learn to live a missional lifestyle regardless of vocation or location.

Recent teams have served orphans and street children, built buildings with indigenous ministries, assisted in planting churches, taught conversational English to university students, assisted with medical clinics, used surfing for ministry, served as a film crew and editing team and used music/drama in outreach events. Twenty teams are now sent out annually to diverse places ranging from the Caribbean, South and Central America, Asia, Africa, India and beyond!

Special events and services are also facilitated by Campus Ministries and Missions. These include:

• Missions Emphasis Week: a week of missions awareness and opportunities
• Church Connect Day: information fair with over 20 churches on campus
• Justice Emphasis Week: a week of focus on issues such as human trafficking, slave labor, the marginalized poor, etc.
• Ministry Jobs Listing: listing of paid and volunteer opportunities from local churches

Campus Recreation

Campus Recreation offers quality programs and services that enhance wellness through the promotion of healthy lifestyle and activity. Campus Recreation provides a safe environment to enhance sportsmanship, leadership, and quality of life for the campus community. Students, faculty, and staff are able to take advantage of a variety of recreation activities, fitness programs, and services. The goal of the Department of Campus Recreation is to offer quality recreation programs and services to PBA students, faculty, and staff. Programs and Services provided by Campus Recreation include:

• Facility - Greene Complex: Inside the Greene Complex is the Mahoney Gymnasium, Rubin Arena, Racquetball Courts, and Fitness Center. The Fitness Center is on the second floor of the Greene Complex for Sports and Recreation. The Greene Complex hours are available on the Campus Recreation homepage and on myPBA.
• Intramural Program: The intramural program offers competition in traditional sports. Each semester a variety of sports activities is offered for students, faculty and staff to participate. Sports include volleyball, flag football, basketball, softball, and soccer.
• Fitness Program: This program comprises of personal training, group fitness classes and fitness incentives. Fitness incentives are special designed six-week programs to incorporate fun in fitness activities with the added benefit of prizes at the end. a full schedule of group fitness class is available during varied times of the week. Group Exercise classes include Pilates, Core Crunch, Zumba and others. The schedule of classes, personal training information and services is available on myPBA.
• Club Sports: Current clubs offered are Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, PBA Spirit Squad (Cheerleading and Dance Team) and Fencing. More information on Club Sports is available on MyPBA.

Campus Recreation employs students to work within the department. Students are employed as intramural supervisors, sports officials, group exercise instructors, personal trainers, member service attendants, fitness attendant and rovers. Vacancies are posted at the Greene Complex or through College Central. To apply for a position with Campus Recreation visit MyPBA for an application.

People may also find information regarding Campus Recreation on the Campus Recreation Home Page. The Campus Recreation Office is located in the Greene Complex for Sports & Recreation. Students, faculty, and staff are required to show PBA ID each time they use the facility.

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 Connections 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 us out at Facebook.com/PBAEvents and follow us on Twitter: @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. Listed below are some of the student organizations that prospective and current students may get involved in. For a complete list, visit myPBA -> Departments -> Center for Campus Connections -> Student Clubs and Organizations.

• 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.

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.

Workship

Workship provides an excellent opportunity to combine learning with Christian service. Workship — welding the concepts of work and worship — has been a central part of the university since its foundation. Workship allows the PBA community to step out of the classroom and into the community to help people. a primary goal of the Workship program is that students learn the intrinsic value of service through meeting the needs of those in the surrounding communities. PBA’s active participation in the community through volunteerism has given the university a very special reputation in South Florida.

All daytime full-time undergraduate students must complete 45 hours of volunteerism every academic year, working with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government agencies, churches, and academic schools in efforts to meet the needs outside the University community. Students have many choices in how and where they will complete their hours of service.

Workship Department Resources

The Workship Department helps the University community locate and connect with places of service in the following ways:

• Welcome Week Workship Project: Students are encouraged to participate in various projects throughout Palm Beach County. Transportation & lunch are included. Sign-up is not necessary for this project.
• Workship Expo: Local nonprofit organizations spend a day on campus sharing volunteer opportunities with students.
• Regional, national, and international projects: These projects allow students to participate in short term trips, during weekends and school breaks, where they gain a hands-on awareness of the needs outside the Palm Beach community. During school breaks, groups of students, faculty and staff participate in service trips to other parts of Florida and other states and countries. These group projects provide an opportunity to work with a small cluster of 10 or more students on short-term projects, which yield immediate results. Students are given the opportunity to sign up for various group projects during each semester.
• Local Group Projects: Students have opportunities to participate in local Workship projects to make a visible difference in Palm Beach County by serving in various 3-8 hour projects. Students are informed about these opportunities via Student LISTSERVs, digital signage and Chapel slides.
• Clubs and Classes: Faculty, staff and students may create their own Workship projects, often designed to their particular interest or study. With Workship approval, clubs and classes can organize and participate in community service projects and receive Workship credit. 
• Individual Assignments: Students may choose to work individually in a specific field of interest. They can choose from hundreds of nonprofit agencies, churches and schools in the local area or create their own placements in an area of their choosing. a list of local volunteer opportunities may be accessed on the Workship page of myPBA.
• Special Events: The Workship Department arranges a variety of special events during the course of the year to highlight the importance of service for the university community. These include a Welcome Week Workship project for all incoming students and MLK Challenge where students, faculty and staff participate in “mystery projects”.

Requirements

For more complete information on the Workship program and the requirements associated with the program, please visit the Navigator Student Handbook at https://my.pba.edu/ics.