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 > Kwantlen Polytechnic University > Kwantlen's Timeline of Success

Kwantlen's Timeline of Success

2011

Earl Mabaquiao

  • For the fifth year in a row, Kwantlen Polytechnic University is named a Top Employer in B.C. After an extensive review by MediaCorp Canada of over 75,000 employers throughout Canada, Kwantlen is selected as one of B.C.'s top organizations that lead their industries in attracting and retaining quality employees.
  • Kwantlen accounting alumni named to Business in Vancouver's Top Forty under 40
  • Kwantlen fashion design and technology student takes top prize and is named "Canada's breakout designer" during Montreal Fashion Week.
  • Kwantlen Eagles Badminton team win National Gold

2010

Aboriginal Gathering Place Ike Barber Olympics torch carrier

  • For the fourth year in a row, Kwantlen Polytechnic University is named a Top Employer in B.C. After an extensive review by MediaCorp Canada of over 75,000 employers throughout Canada, Kwantlen is selected as one of B.C.'s top organizations that lead their industries in attracting and retaining quality employees.
  • Kwantlen women's soccer team repeats as provincial champions.
  • Kwantlen's artificial turf field at Newton Athletic Park officially opens.
  • New degrees offered: Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University is named a 2010 Progressive Employer of Canada, the only Canadian post-secondary institution to be named on the list this year. Kwantlen is recognized for its generous maternity benefits package as well as having the flexibility to allow employees leave of absences or to move from full-time status to part-time status as their parenting responsibilities demand.
  • Kwantlen celebrates the official grand opening of the Aboriginal Gathering Place. A ceremony is held at Surrey Campus with guests from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, local First Nations, University, and community. The Aboriginal Gathering Place is a space that supports the social and educational activities while recognizing the important contributions of the Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Katzie, and all other Aboriginal Nations.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University receives a donation of $2.5 million, largest in the University's history, from B.C. philanthropist Irving K. Barber to establish the Irving K. Barber Endowment for Educational Opportunities. The endowment funds programming and services that make it easier for students to make the transition to university-level study, from an academic assessment upon entering Kwantlen to monitoring and follow-up assessments, tutoring, supplementary instruction and seminars.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University is recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2010. As one of 50 organizations in Canada to earn this prestigious distinction, Kwantlen is proud to become one of only six Canadian post-secondary institutions that has been named Canada's Greenest Employer for 2010.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University business student Suzanne ten Haaf is selected by the 2010 Winter Olympics Torchbearer committee to represent the University in the Olympic torch relay. Suzanne carried the torch on February 8 (Day 102) in Surrey from E Whalley Ring Road to Safeway on King George Boulevard.

2009

Kwantlen Eagles women's soccer ISH University Mace $1 million from Coast Capital Savings

  • Kwantlen Eagles women's soccer team wins British Columbia Colleges' Athletic Association provincial championship and later finishes with a bronze medal at Canadian Colleges' Athletic Association national competition.
  • For the third year in a row, Kwantlen Polytechnic University is named a Top Employer in B.C. After an extensive review by MediaCorp Canada of over 75,000 employers throughout Canada, Kwantlen is selected as one of B.C.'s top organizations that lead their industries in attracting and retaining quality employees.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University announces the official opening of its Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, a leading-edge research facility that focuses on innovations in biocontrol and on developing commercial applications for bio products to help build a sustainable and secure agri-food system. The ISH is a partnership between the University, industry and the community designed to meet the demand for more sustainability in horticulture.
  • Accompanied by Premier Gordon Campbell and Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, Kwantlen President and Vice-Chancellor David Atkinson officially open newly expanded Library and Surrey Main at the unveiling ceremony.
  • A new degree offered: Bachelor of Arts in English.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University breaks ground to build Aboriginal Gathering Place to encourage Aboriginal students to enrol at Kwantlen and to enhance support services that help students complete their education.
  • Kwantlen was presented with its official university mace by Kwantlen First Nation Chief Marilyn Gabriel and Kwantlen First Nation artist Drew Atkins. Atkins carved the mace specifically for Kwantlen. It has a variety of traditional First Nation components in it that also connect to Kwantlen and represents the hard work, perseverance and tireless effort of Kwantlen students.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University held its first university convocation ceremony and celebrated the graduation of its first students as a university. For the first time in Kwantlen's history, its certificates, diplomas and degrees were also conferred by Kwantlen chancellor Arvinder Singh Bubber, who is also the first Indo-Canadian to be appointed chancellor of a Canadian university.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University's efforts to build on its new university status received a significant boost thanks to a $1 million donation from Coast Capital Savings. The $1 million gift is part of a partnership that will lead to collaboration between the two organizations on several fronts. It marks milestones for both organizations, being the largest single donation received by Kwantlen in its history and Coast Capital's single biggest community investment to date. In recognition, Coast Capital Savings will receive naming rights to all four Kwantlen Polytechnic University libraries, including its new state-of-the-art Surrey Campus library.

2008

University Inauguration University Status University Status

  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University's School of Business receives accreditation renewal for a five-year period by Certified Management Accountants of Canada (CMA) for its Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting program.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University is accepted as a member in the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), Canada's association of leading university and higher education institutions.
  • For the second year in a row, Kwantlen Polytechnic University is named a Top Employer in B.C. After an extensive review by MediaCorp Canada of over 75,000 employers throughout Canada, Kwantlen is selected as one of B.C.'s top organizations that lead their industries in attracting and retaining quality employees
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University celebrated its university status at a university inauguration ceremony on October 3, where its founding Chancellor, Arvinder S. Bubber, and founding President and Vice-chancellor, David W. Atkinson were officially installed.
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University celebrates its first official day as a university on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.
  • Arvinder Singh Bubber is appointed Kwantlen's first chancellor, and will serve a three-year term through 2011.
  • Four new Bachelor of Arts degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts in History; and Bachelor of Arts-Double Minor in Anthropology or Geography. Bachelor of Arts in English set to launch January 2009.
  • David Atkinson is named Kwantlen's new President as of July 1st.
  • Premier Gordon Campbell announces that Kwantlen University College will become Kwantlen Polytechnic University. As a polytechnic university, Kwantlen will be better positioned to serve the fast growing segment of the population with higher education needs that are increasingly career-focused.
  • Surrey Campus – Building C first floor Student Services expansion opens.

2007

Cloverdale

  • Premier Gordon Campbell officially opened the new Kwantlen University College Trades and Technology Centre, which will provide leading-edge trades and technology training for more than 900 students in an environmentally friendly building.
  • New degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts Minor in Mathematics.
  • Kwantlen's Environmental Protection Technology program receives National Accreditation from the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists. Prior to this, they had provincial accreditation as measured against the Canadian Technology Standards.
  • Kwantlen School of Business achieves prestigious international accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The School of Business at Kwantlen University College joins the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University as one of British Columbia's three accredited business schools.
  • Kwantlen School of Business is the second largest business school in Western Canada—consisting of over 150 business faculty and 3500 students annually who are enrolled in one of the 17 business credentials available.
  • For the first year, Kwantlen Polytechnic University is named a Top Employer in B.C. After an extensive review by MediaCorp Canada of over 75,000 employers throughout Canada, Kwantlen is selected as one of B.C.'s top organizations that lead their industries in attracting and retaining quality employees.

2006

D Building

2005

Building-C170

2004

Hort Research

  • New degree offered: Bachelor of Arts in Community Criminal Justice.
  • Three new research institutes: Institute for Sustainable Horticulture; National institute for Research in Sustainable Community Development; Institute for Advancement of Personal and Community Health and Wellness.

2003

2003-Soccer170

2002

2001

2000

BaseballPoster170

1999

1999-Surrey170

1998

phase II d

  • Surrey Campus expansion groundbreaking ceremony including a millennium time capsule that was buried at the corner of G Building to mark the beginning of Phase II construction. The capsule contains among other things, a series of ceramic medallions made by students. The spot is marked with a ceramic plaque giving the details of the capsule.

1997

Interior-Design-Grads170

  • First degrees awarded: 11 students receive a Bachelor of Applied Design in Interior Design.

1996

1995

  • Status and name officially changes to Kwantlen University College. It becomes a bachelor's degree-granting institution and is allowed to grant honorary degrees in its own name.
  • First honorary degree recipient: environmental education Barry Leach, Doctor of Letters.

1994

  • First year summer courses are offered at all campuses.

1993

  • Langley Campus opens. Includes new Horticulture centre with greenhouses. First crop from greenhouses is poinsettias.

1992

Richmond Campus

1991

  • Langley Campus groundbreaking ceremony.
  • Richmond Campus construction launch ceremony.
  • Kwantlen ceremony celebrates its 10th anniversary.
  • Alumni Association planned for Kwantlen.

1990

1990, Surrey Campus

  • New Surrey Campus opens, replacing portable trailers.
  • Kwantlen establishes President's Honour Roll with 171 students achieving a CGPA of 3.75 or more on the inaugural list.
  • Co-op education launched at Kwantlen.

1989

  • Kwantlen College Faculty Association (KCFA) splits from Douglas College Faculty Association.

1988

  • Province announces approval for permanent campus for Kwantlen College to be built in Surrey. With a $20-million price tag, the new campus will accommodate 4,000 students.
  • Land is purchased to build a permanent Richmond Campus.
  • Kwantlen begins honouring contributions of faculty and staff with first annual Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony.

1987

  • Applied Science Engineering transfer program developed for the Richmond Campus. Program is first of its kind in the Lower Mainland.

1986

Surrey groundbreak

  • June 25 – Kwantlen announces plans for a new campus in Surrey. Site selected is at 72nd Avenue and 126th Street. Construction expected to be completed in 1990.
  • Student achievement recognized by an Awards Ceremony held in November. This is a new event for Kwantlen and it continues to take place annually.

1985

  • Kwantlen College Technology Centre hosts first annual TechnOlympics.

1984

  • In the fall, Kwantlen has its largest enrolment to date with 1,288 full-time equivalent students.

1983

  • First year of Kwantlen's Scholarship program.

1982

  • Kwantlen College logo designed by Stuart Richardson, faculty member of the Graphics and Visual Design program.

1981

  • First Kwantlen President Tony Wilkinson (April 1981 to June 1986).
  • Kwantlen splits from Douglas College, taking over all of the campus locations south of the Fraser River, including a leased facility in Richmond and portable trailer campus located at 140th Street in Surrey.
  • First students, 149 in total, graduate from Kwantlen College. First convocation held in December. Credentials given: 14 associate degrees, 97 certificates and 38 citations.

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