Archive for August, 2025
A leader leaving
The last couple of years were especially challenging for Kwantlen’s outgoing president, Alan Davis, but he was a superb leader for most of his term. I’m grateful to have worked at our university with him at the same time. Here’s a fitting send-off from Kwantlen’s senior administrative team:
Dr. Alan Davis is not a big fan of farewells and doesn’t want a fuss about his departure as President, but we did want to recognize him and a few of the changes we have seen during his leadership over the past 13 years. What follows is just a sample of those changes.
In 2012, KPU created the Brewing and Brewery Operations program, which earned many awards and catalyzed the industry in western Canada. We have added Entertainment Arts programming that plugged into B.C.’s thriving film, television and gaming sector and KPU has also added a bachelor’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Next week, KPU will establish a Faculty of Graduate studies as it continues to work towards adding its first masters programming.
Through it all, student success remained a guiding light for Dr. Davis, which he told the Runner in January. “In the end, if we’re a strong institution, then we’re better able to fulfill our mission, which is to teach students. Student success is what we’re all about.”
The university also became deeply involved in social justice during Dr. Davis’s time. The role of Indigenous Elder in Residence was created in 2015, and the university has benefited from Indigenous writers, artists, and designers in residence. We’ve added tuition waivers for students from the seven local First Nations and developed the xéʔelɬ Pathway to Systemic Transformation Framework. In 2020, KPU launched the Task Force on Anti-racism. Flowing from that, we now have an Office of Equity and Inclusive Communities and an EDI Action Plan. The university has signed the Scarborough Charter, the 50:30 Challenge and is seeking to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
There has also been growth in the areas of research and scholarships. KPU added the Applied Genomics Centre, the KPU Research Farm, the Seed Lab along with many major grants and research chairs. Teaching and Learning Commons was also added to support faculty and KPU started Canada’s first Zero Textbook initiative to reduce the cost of learning for students. To support and create more opportunities for mature students, the university expanded Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).
We have also seen several new buildings, including: the brew lab, which was built in Langley in 2014, the new Wilson School of Design, the revamped Spruce building, which opened in 2018, and Civic Plaza became KPU’s fifth campus in 2019. KPU has received funding to build a new day care facility in Surrey and it is also working to add student housing for the first time.
Dr. Davis has been at the helm of KPU for more than a quarter of its history. He has overseen unforgettable positive development of the institution as it matured into the polytechnic university status it gained in 2008.
Despite the externally driven challenges the university faces today, KPU remains far stronger than when Dr. Davis arrived. That is great for our students and their education.
Thank you, Dr. Davis.
Gone, home
I handed in my final two sets of marks the other day. My retirement starts September 1. I have some off-boarding things to do before then – get rid of my laptop, throw out old student exams confidentially, pass off some projects, etc. Most of my department cadre is already gone, and my leaving isn’t creating any waves with the current crew. That’s OK, if notable, too.
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