2009-2010 CATALOG
PALM BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Palm Beach Community College, founded in 1933 as Florida's first public community college, is a diverse, comprehensive institution dedicated to serving the educational needs of Palm Beach County. Integrally linked to the community through strong partnerships, the College provides associate and baccalaureate degrees, professional certificates, workforce development and lifelong learning.

Palm Beach Community College's mission is to create and sustain a dynamic teaching and learning environment that provides a high-quality, accessible, affordable education, preparing students to contribute and compete ethically and successfully in a diverse global community.

About the Catalog

The Palm Beach Community College Catalog is an information and reference guide on College policies, facilities, degree and certificate programs, course offerings, services and personnel. Since the statements contained in the catalog are for informational purposes only, it should not be considered the basis of a contract between the institution and the student.

Generally, the provisions outlined in the catalog are applicable as stated, but PBCC reserves the right to initiate changes including but not limited to academic requirements for graduation without direct notification to individuals. Any statement in this catalog is subject to change by the College. Though the College catalog is produced as a reference guide, each student is responsible for keeping apprised of current requirements for graduation for a particular degree program.

A Catalog Addendum may be published online by July 1 of each year, depending on the number of changes incurred since the Catalog was printed. Availability of a Catalog Addendum (if published) would be on the College’s Web site only. Many policy changes are listed on the Student Updates Web page, located at:
www.pbcc.edu/StudentUpdates.xml.

PBCC Disability Support

Palm Beach Community College does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment of employment in, its programs or activities. The following persons, whose offices are at the Lake Worth campus, have been designated to coordinate compliance with the non-discrimination requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:

Disability Support Services/Access
Susan Lang (561) 868-3375

Employment Access
Dr. Ellen Grace (561) 868-3135

Facilities Access
John Wasukanis (561) 868-3615

This publication can be made available in alternate formats to persons with disabilities. Please make requests well in advance of need to:

Susan Lang
Palm Beach Community College
Disability Support Services, MS #55
4200 Congress Avenue
Lake Worth, FL 33461-4796
Telephone: (561) 868-3375 (V/TTY)

Equal Access
Palm Beach Community College is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status or sexual orientation. For more information, see the Non-Discriminatory Policy in the Admissions section of this catalog.

Religious Observances Policy
The College shall make reasonable accommodation in admissions, class attendance, scheduling of examinations and work assignments in regard to religious observances, practices and beliefs of individual students, as required by Florida statute. Students are required to make arrangements in writing with teachers and other appropriate College personnel at least one week prior to an anticipated religious observance. A student who is denied accommodations may appeal in writing to the supervisor of the faculty or staff member who denied the request within 10 class days from the time of the denial. If the student is not satisfied with the determination at this level, an appeal may be made to the next level of academic management. To expedite the process, the maximum time period between all appeals and responses will be 10 class days.

The student may appeal to the dean of student services for a committee hearing if the student is not satisfied with the results of the preceding steps. The committee, to be appointed by the vice president of student services, will hear the facts and provide a recommendation to the vice president of student services, whose decision on the matter shall be final.

Sex Crimes Prevention Act
The Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires registered sex offenders/predators to provide to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement notice of each institution of higher education in the state at which the offender/predator is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student. Any member of the PBCC community who wishes to obtain further information regarding sexual offenders/predators in their area may refer to the FDLE Web site at: www.fdle.state.fl.us or call 1(888) FL-PREDATOR or 1(888) 357-7332.