tutor

faculty

adjunct instructor

student advisor

administrative assistant

Palm Beach State College

My day would start with me coming in and setting up my workstation. I worked in the student learning center at Palm Beach State College. The students who were there were mostly there to fulfill their credit requirement for remedial preparatory classes. My day would start with signing with my supervisor I would speak with her for about 5-10 minutes about any new developments or if she needed me to work with a certain group of students. 

From there sometimes I would work the desk grading tests, sometimes I would work with students on individual questions that they had if they did not understand the material, and during the end of the semester most of my work pertained to helping students with their term papers and editing them, or helping them organize the structure of their essays. From there once my shift was over I would clock out and that was my day.

I have learned a lot working there, a lot about myself and a lot in general. I was able to reinforce my own understanding of Writing English, Grammar, and Reading Comprehension. Which was intellectually refreshing. I had learned how to modify my teaching methods to fit the learning styles of different students. I was often called upon to work with the more emotionally difficult and impatient students because I was the youngest person on the staff at the time I had just graduated college so I would speak with those students because I was closer to their age and better able to relate to them and their struggles. 

Management was efficient and established protocol was established the student learning center had been operating the same way with the same protocol for at least 15 years now they are very established and organized. 

The hardest part of my job was toward the end of the semester when many of the students I had developed a rapport with requested my help specificly and did not want to work with the other tutors. It was difficult because due to the demand at the time I was not able to work with all of them many of which had developed a higher level of rapport with me then with the other students. I often would meet with them on my own time for free to help walk them through it. Another difficult part of my job was that many of the students saw me as their friend due to my friendly and helpful nature, this presented difficulty sometimes because they would try to test me to see if they could get me to cut them slack that the other tutors or my supervisor would not allow. I learned from this job how to be a little firmer with people and how to better draw the line between work and friendship. 

My coworkers were all older than me and I learned a lot from them and their life experiences. They were full of wisdom and I learned things from life wisdom, to cooking receipes, to computer software tips, to investment ideas it was a pleasure working with them I learned a lot about myself from them.

The most enjoyable part of my job was being able to know that I made a difference in peoples lives. When I was able to see a student who English is their second language and watch them struggle before meeting me and after working with them throughout the entire semester watch them implement my strategies and see their insecurities vanish to see what was once a sore spot for them become easy. I really enjoyed working with students and watching their progress, I really enjoyed watching their confidence grow and knowing that I played a part in that is a really humbling and rewarding experience. Seeing how they looked up to me it really was something special it was something that I was honored and humbled to be in that position to know that these students actually look to me for advice, was very rewarding.

PBSC is an underfunded dictatorial bureaucracy with mostly uneducated administrators attempting to serve  very poorly prepared students(FL ACT average scores range from 45th position in science to 39th position in reading within 51 states & DC). Most are financially ill pepared to attend a college & work at least a full time job.  
The average student load is about 60% of a full load. The current semester did NOT have about 7600 students return from the prior semester and nobody knows the reason!!
Faculty are tightly controlled with related minimal motivation/creativity  and lack of empowerment. Less than 10% of the faculty have a terminal doctorate degree. The adjunct (part time without offices) faculty teach 60+ % of the courses. There is a heavy emphasis on passing students for immediate employment as opposed to education. There is minimal physical assignment to another of the 5 campuses along with rank promotion.
There is a board of directors populated with political appointees by the governor. Most of the board members are lawyers. 
An active progressive faculty union currently represents over 80% of all full time faculty. Adjunct faculty are NOT allowed to hold union membership. Older faculty, ones with their last degree over 10 years prior are restricted from promotion.  
The many hopes are paved with good intentions by a few, realistically describes this dysfunctional College.
A new personable CEO, in spite of being an attorney, is attempting   to improve operations without input from faculty &/or individuals having orgaizational  saavy as advisors in management structure & performance measurements. More of the same is the more likely results given the history of this College. Sad

My experience at Palm Beach State College was disappointing overall. While the position offered valuable interactions with students and reasonably priced benefits, the internal structure and support systems made it difficult to succeed in the role.

Training was minimal to nonexistent. I was passed between multiple coworkers, one of whom was unfamiliar with the responsibilities and another who could only provide limited guidance. Even after some time in the role, I still did not have access to essential systems, which made it challenging to perform basic duties.

Support from management and HR felt limited. In situations where serious concerns were raised, the response often prioritized institutional protection over resolving issues. As a result, employees left or were left to navigate problems on their own. It became clear that keeping detailed records and written documentation was necessary to ensure accountability and protect oneself.

Interdepartmental communication was inconsistent, which often led to confusion and avoidable mistakes. While few coworkers supportive, the overall culture did not foster trust or collaboration, and high turnover reflected that reality.

This may be a workable environment for individuals who are highly self-reliant and comfortable operating with minimal resources. However, those who value transparency, communication and organizational support may find it a difficult fit.




This is a wonderful place to work, engaging with the community through higher education. There are many first generation in college students and PBSC is a wonderful resource. It has to be a labor of love, however, because the wages are below market rate for the same skill sets elsewhere. 
In 2015, a new college President was hired. and much of the leadership is in flux (many people retiring) so it is an interesting time to observe changes. There are several campuses, each has its own personality and very different policies, which can be challenging for staff and students. The President is working to unify the college to a greater degree. 
Most classes are taught by adjunct faculty who are, unfortunately, not considered when it comes to strategic planning. There is a lot of fear between full-time faculty (Union) and administration. This impacts staff is various ways, mostly in the lack of accountability in how faculty treat the staff (and sometimes the students). Some are very rude and unprofessional, far worse than in University environments in which I have worked.

Palm Beach State College is a quality higher-ed teaching institution.
As an Adjunct Professor I taught four classes a semester with brilliant results as attested to by having record-high attendance numbers and being nominated for Student Choice Teacher of the Year four years in a row and winning in 2010!  The Speech Department Dean was an exemplary educator. My department chair was an exceptional manager.  The department itself was like a family intent upon the same mission, giving our students the very best learning experience possible and imparting constructive communication skills they will use personally and professionally for the rest of their lives.  Hands down, the most enjoyable part of teaching is getting to know each and every student personally and helping them become the best they can be.  I also enjoyed reviewing homework because the work I assigned was very personal.  My students had to delve deeply into themselves and identify with the material being taught in very introspective, incisive, analytical ways.  Their trust in me was implicit and this will always be one of my greatest honors.

Working as an academic advisor has been a mixed experience, filled with both positive and negative aspects. On the bright side, the camaraderie among the staff has been a true highlight. Collaborating with dedicated colleagues who share a passion for education and student success has been both inspiring and enriching. Additionally, having holidays off provides a valuable work-life balance, allowing me to recharge and spend quality time with loved ones. The students I've had the privilege to work with have been a constant source of motivation and joy. Their enthusiasm for learning and their determination to achieve their academic goals are truly commendable.

However, there are significant drawbacks to this position. Poor leadership and favoritism within the organization have created a sense of frustration and discontent among many advisors. The low pay is not commensurate with the demands of the job, making it financially challenging to thrive in this role. Obstacles to professional growth and development further exacerbate this issue, leaving many advisors feeling stagnant in their careers.

Moreover, the job can be overwhelmingly stressful, with heavy workloads and constantly changing requirements. Despite the many positives, these cons make it difficult to fully embrace this position and lead to high turnover

The managers needs management training, some persons do not know how to speak to people in a respectful manner, extremely title driven, promote unethical practices and when you refuse to comply you are reprimanded, no job security, high turnover over rate which speaks volume that there is an internal issue esp with management that is overlooked. Lack of accountability. Team work is done with people they like so if someone doesn’t like for whatever reason you’re on your own. Too much internal politics and poli-tricks, lack of support to grow in the job even though it’s discussed in the initial interview about oh please smh! Poor HR management on how to handle real work issue. Contradicts their own policies. People are dishonest, condescending in there communication, poor communication, the worse place to work. These people need to get their thing in order esp as a college esp the role they play in the lives of this younger generations. Initially I was very excited to work but having a hands on experience I RAN OH 🏃🏃🏃! THE WORST PLACE I’VE EVER WORKED AND I WOULD NOT EVER RECOMMEND HERE TO ANYONE!

Palm Beach State College Foundation was a great place to work.  In my years there I made many friends.  As the scholarship manager I had the opportunity to engage with the administration, donors and students.  Many of the donors and students became and still are today great friends.  I enjoyed the diversity in the students and helping them apply for student scholarships and providing words of encouragement.  The workplace culture is very conducive to learning and the faculty is every dedicated to the students.

The hardest part of the job was having more students apply for scholarships than we could fund.  There were always more students needing help paying for college than money.  That made it hard for the students to achieve their educational goals.  

The most enjoyable part of the job was the great feeling that comes with helping others achieve their dreams and goals.  PBSC was a big part of my life and I learned alot about myself and how important it is to give back to make our community a better place.  I will continue to stay involved in education and the non-profit world.

The pay is so below par that it is almost exploitative. You will not be paid what you are worth. There are no benefits, no healthcare, no Social Security, no paid time off, no job security, no raises and no representation. There are almost no full time teaching positions and the administration has no respect nor consideration of part time faculty. There have actually been confirmed cases of faculty squatting in college buildings and living in the public park across the street because of the unlivable wages. You will not be paid for 30 days at the beginning of every semester and your students working entry level retail jobs will earn more than you. Many of the students are not prepared for college level work and your classroom will be filled with 'special needs' students that you are expected to teach - without additional training nor pay. Management and the Board of Trustees don't even have the decency nor intelligence to be embarrassed of their poor treatment of part time faculty. It's truly appalling.

Responsibilities: Scheduling meetings & appointments; organizing files; drafting & proofreading files; taking inventory; receiving guests; assisting student organizations; and assisting in advertising materials for campus events. I learned more on communication such as active listening & speaking, organizing & prioritizing tasks, time management, strategic planning, problem solving & critical thinking, resourcefulness, detail-orientation, and technological proficiency (creating & printing advertising materials, such as, posters & flyers via Microsoft Publisher and Large format printer; creating Powerpoint presentations for meetings; and scheduling appointments via Outlook). Management was the best I've ever had; very supportive, family-friendly, and caring. The work environment was so laid back & comfortable, and we were collaborative on all projects & worked as a team. I enjoyed the friends I had at work & the projects created. The harrdest part was leaving this job when I graduated.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Tutor 42 salaries reported	$16.21 per hour
Faculty 26 salaries reported	$50,188 per year
Adjunct instructor 14 salaries reported	$35.21 per hour
Student advisor 1 salary reported	$42,583 per year
Administrative assistant 12 salaries reported	$15.50 per hour

Working at Palm Beach State College: Company Overview and Reviews

Palm Beach State College

Palm Beach State College Ratings

Popular jobs at Palm Beach State College

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected