Student Activities At PJC
Published or Revised June 05, 2023
The “heart” of PJC's campus student activity and student government program are the many clubs and organizations which exist and function for the students. These organizations are open to all students. Curriculum-oriented clubs may limit their membership to students enrolled in a given curriculum or to those maintaining a certain scholastic average. To see current student activities, click here for the main PJC calendar. Student activities are a separate category. Students are encouraged to initiate and develop new clubs, organizations and activities consistent with the purposes and philosophy of Paris Junior College. Anyone interested in forming a new club should contact the Director of Student Life in the J.R. McLemore Student Center (Paris campus).
Student Government Association
A student council was formed in 1937. The organization and constitution were reorganized in 1970, and renamed the Student Government Association with the executive officers elected by the student body. Vice presidents of all student organizations automatically are members of the student governing body. The chief duties of the Student Government Association, working with the faculty and administration, are: conducting student elections, arranging the social calendar for the year, providing equitable representation within the student association of each student organization, discussion of campus affairs as they pertain to student life, and planning the course of action for implementation of these activities and programs. This governmental agency provides policy-making decisions over all student organizations and serves to promote better relations between the administration and the students and to protect the best interests of the students. The Student Government Association holds membership in the Texas Junior College Student Government Association. Click here to read the SGA Constitution.
African-American Student Union
Paris campus This organization is open to all students who wish to promote awareness and mutual respect for the contributions and concerns of persons of African-American heritage. The club participates in campus activities, attends cultural functions, and develops special ethnic-related programs.
Alumni Affairs
The Paris Junior College Ex-Student Association was organized May 28, 1934. The purpose of this organization was to develop and maintain a loyalty to, and spirit of service for Paris Junior College among the former students. The name of the organization has been changed to the PJC Alumni and Friends Association. On May 30, 1944, Ex-Student Association members created the Paris Junior College Memorial Foundation as a memorial to former students who lost their lives in World War II. The Foundation today awards hundreds of scholarships each year to PJC students from endowments exceeding $11 million.
Athletics
Paris campus Paris Junior College sponsors basketball, volleyball, soccer and fast pitch softball for women, and baseball, golf, soccer and basketball for men. The college is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Region XIV Athletic Conference. College athletic scholarships are available in all sports. The official Dragon colors are dark green and gold.
The Blend Club
This organization is open to all students interested in awareness of world cultures by appreciating different people, traditions and world issues for a better understanding of and connection to the world around us. The club participates in campus activities, sponsors an international film festival and develops programs that lead to cultural awareness and student success.The Blend Club is an active organization in Paris, Greenville, and Sulphur Springs.
Cheerleading
Paris campus Paris Junior College offers coed cheerleading. Scholarships are available. Tryouts are held each spring for the following year.
Delta Psi Omega
Paris campus Students interested in drama activities are encouraged to join Delta Psi Omega, the National Theatre Honor Society for two-year colleges. The club engages in a variety of educational and social activities each semester, including hosting UIL One-Act-Play contests. Students should check with the Fine Arts faculty for further information.
Eco Club
Greenville Center This organization is open to all students interested in promoting ecological and environmental awareness, and at the same time who wish to learn how to grow healthy vegetables in a backyard-type environment. The student volunteer group seeks to learn about sustainable living in a modern world. Other topics and learning activities will involve preserving food, preventing and controlling plant insects and diseases, water conservation, recycling, composting, and generally preserving the ecosystem.
Fine Arts Activities
Paris campus All students are eligible to participate in performing arts activities at Paris Junior College. These activities consist of being in plays, working behind the scenes in plays, singing in the College Chorale and Chamber Singers, or playing in the instrumental ensemble. To participate in music activities students must enroll in appropriate one- or two-semester hour classes. Enrollment in an appropriate drama class is invited, but not required, for participation in play productions. The Foyer Gallery in the Visual Art Building provides guest artist and student exhibitions, and lectures of special interest during the fall and spring semesters. All students, faculty and staff, and the general public, are invited to attend the exhibits and lectures free of charge.
HARTS Club
Paris campus Open to all who are interested in the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration field. Develops industry awareness and student success.
Informal Sports
Paris campus The informal sports program involves a process of self-directed participation. It is an individualized approach to sport which allows students to participate for fun and fitness. A current PJC I.D. card is required for admission to the Old Gymnasium and its weight room, during informal sports hours, Sunday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The PJC Recreation Center, located at 950 Austin St. in Paris, is open for student use. Check with the Office of Student Life in the J.R. McLemore Center for hours of operation.
Intramurals
The intramural sports program provides structured, competitive and non-competitive sport opportunities for men, women and co-intramural participants. The program offers a variety of tournaments for students, faculty and staff. The program does not require the intensified training and high degree of skill associated with varsity athletes. An individual’s playing ability is not considered as important as his/her desire to enter into the true spirit of competition and good sportsmanship. Paris Campus A few of the sports organized for Paris Junior College students, faculty and staff are basketball, volleyball, soccer, and flag football. Information concerning these sports and others, may be obtained from the Student Activities Coordinator in the Student Center. Greenville Center/Sulphur Springs Center None available at this time.
Jewelry Student Association
Paris campus PJC’s Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology Student Association maintains and improves the quality of jewelers, horologists and gemologists in the jewelry industry, keeps students actively involved with activities on the Paris campus, and keeps TIJT alumni abreast of current jewelry, horology and gemology department activities on and off campus.
Nursing
Paris campus The Nursing Students Association of Paris Junior College is affiliated with the Texas Nursing Students’ Association and the National Student Nurses’ Association. The purpose of this organization is to foster pre-professional growth as a nurse. Bi-monthly meetings are held and efforts are made to insure that nursing students are aware of development at all levels: local, state and national. Contact the nursing department (Paris campus) for more information.
Student Art League
Paris campus The Student Art League is dedicated to the promotion of visual fine art at Paris Junior College and Lamar County. The intent is for members to stimulate visibility of the arts in the community as well as the college through group projects, fundraisers, and public community art events, and support visual art exhibits in the Foyer Gallery on the college campus. Students interested in art activities are encouraged to join the organization.
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the only national scholastic honor society for junior colleges recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges. It was founded in 1918, and a local chapter has been at PJC since 1932. Its purpose is the promotion of scholarship, development of leadership and service, and cultivation of fellowship among students. To be eligible for membership, a student must have completed one long-term semester at Paris Junior College, must have accumulated 12 semester hours (exclusive of developmental courses), have a grade point average of 3.5, and be within the upper scholastic 10 percent of the regularly enrolled student body. To maintain active membership, a student must be regularly enrolled each semester with a minimum of 3 semester credit hours, and at the end of any given semester must have a grade point ratio of 3.0, which is a “B.” Phi Theta Kappa is an active organization in Paris, Greenville, and Sulphur Springs.