The Alumni Association of the British Columbia Institute of Technology was incorporated March 16, 1970.

The BCIT Alumni Association is a registered, non-profit society governed by a board of volunteer directors and financed by association affinity programs, sponsorship, and institute support. The Alumni Association was revitalized in 1984 at the time of BCIT's 20th anniversary. By 1990 it had over 25,000 members, offered 11 entrance scholarships and actively fundraising for current BCIT students. In 2012 the association has more than 140,000 members (graduates), of which approximately 115,721 are recorded and 80,000 are active on the database.

The Alumni Association hosts the following events:
Annual General Meeting, BCIT Alumni Open Golf Tournament, Distinguished Alumni Awards.

The Alumni Association sponsors the following student events:
Schmoozapalooza, hosted by BCIT Marketing Communications students.
Student in Free Enterprise (SIFE) annual FUSE Gala networking event. Fuse aims to reconnect accomplished BCIT Alumni with the best and brightest business students, as well as provide successful industry professionals with the opportunity to recruit new employees and source new contacts.

BCIT Archives exists to acquire, preserve, organize and provide access to the materials that uphold the legal and historical record of BCIT and the BCIT community. The need for establishing an Archives at BCIT was acknowledged and argued for by Library and Records Management staff starting in 2002. The BCIT Archives was first professionally staffed in 2005.

In June 1974, the B.C. government passed the Institute of Technology (British Columbia) Act, which made BCIT an autonomous educational facility, independent of the B.C. Ministry of Education. The first meeting of the BCIT Board of Governors was held on July 31, 1974.
BCIT is administered under the authority of the Minister of Advanced Education by a Board of Governors consisting of:
At least Eight members appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

One member of the faculty elected by the faculty members. One member of the support staff elected by the support staff.
*Two students elected by the students.

The President of BCIT and the Chair of the Education Council are non-voting members of the Board.

The Centre for Applied Research and Innovation (CARI) is the home of BCIT's three dedicated research groups: MAKE+, Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG) and Smart Microgrid Applied Research Team (SMART), supporting labs. Formerly known as the Technology Centre, it has been a hub of multi-disciplinary research and development projects for business and industry since 1989. Research activities at CARI focus on product and process development and evaluation; Smart Microgrid research; and product quality and process improvement relating to natural health and food products. CARI is also home to the Applied Research Liaison Office (ARLO), which supports faculty, researchers, students across BCIT and their industry partners.
MAKE+ is a group of multidisciplinary research staff focused on product and process development, evaluation, applied research projects, and education. The MAKE+ sub group PART (Product and Process Applied Research Team), is the only academic product development group in Canada registered to IS0 13485 (Medical Devices) Quality Management Systems.

The BCIT Educational Council was created in 1979 by a Board of Governors by-law. Represented on the Council were deans, vice-principals, department heads, Board-elected provincial representatives, alumni, students, representatives from advisory committees, unions, and associations as well as faculty and technical staff elected at large. The Board Secretary served as Secretary to the Council. The first meeting took place on October 25, 1979. Patricia Maertz served as secretary through 1988. Meetings were scheduled on the last Thursday of each month except July and August. Factual summaries of Council proceedings were published in BCIT Developments. Outlined in the by-law were the terms of reference of the Council. These included the review of: educational policies, programs and priorities of the Institute, reports of various committees established by the Council and
*the performance and effectiveness of advisory committees, as well as the establishment of a student appeals committee.
In November 1987 the Education Council approved terms of reference for Councils in the Schools of Engineering Technologies, Health Sciences, Business and Trades Training. The Schools’ Councils were to make recommendations to the B.C.I.T. Educational Council on matters relating to educational policy, programs and priorities, which potentially affected the Institute as a whole. In November 1987 the responsibilities of the Educational Council were redefined to include an annual review of the Institute’s mission statement and educational objectives, and the preparation of a report and recommendations on progress in achieving Institute objectives. In March 1995 a new Educational Council was established following amendments to the Institute of Technology Act in 1994.

Since its formation in 1979, the Educational Council has established a number of committees to deal with specific issues relating to educational policy and procedures. Over the years these have included committees on education, program evaluation, policy and planning, educational standards, programs and priorities, staff development, student services, student appeals, agenda, nominating, ‘set concept’, as well as ad hoc committees.

The BCIT Facilities and Campus Development department is responsible for all of the higher level strategic planning and implementation of BCIT’s major facilities. Some of these responsibilities include: facilities and capital planning, space administration, design and construction. The department is responsible for producing the campus master plan. The Campus Master Plan prioritizes the requirement for new facilities and infrastructure. It provides the guidelines for land use which include future building locations, parking lots, green space, pedestrian walkways, vehicular roads, etc. In June of 2019 BCIT Facilities and Campus Development took over Parking Operations from Safety, Security & Emergency Management (SSEM).

The First Nations Program and Services department was created at BCIT in 1994 after the Institute received funding through the First Nations Education Coordinator's grant from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology. Brenda Ireland, was the first Coordinator, First Nations Programs in 1995. The BCIT Indigenous Team has grown and adapted over the years since then. This includes several name changes over the years.

In 1998 BCIT was still the only institute in BC (possibly Canada) to employ a full-time cultural/spiritual advisor to support indigenous learners. Elders on Campus is still a strong program and BCIT. Elders are the keepers of Indigenous knowledge and encourage and promote understanding and respect for Indigenous perspectives, culture, and values across BCIT campuses and beyond. Bob George was BCIT’s first Indigenous Elder in residence and a rock for many who attended BCIT over the ten years that he held this position. Alf Dumont is the current Elder on Campus (2023).

The Indigenous Gathering Place opened in November 2011. It is a comfortable, welcoming and safe space for students, families and staff. Mi Chap Tukw, the BCIT Indigenous Gathering Place (IGP) is located on the Burnaby campus at SW1-1521. IGP was made possible through the Gathering Place Grant from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development of B.C in 2008.

The BCIT Learning & Teaching Centre (LTC) began with a task force on Instruction Innovation. Co-Chairmen, M. Angelo and C. Wilson submitted the final report in October of 1982. This report had many recommendations, one of which was the creation of an Office of Instructional Development “to provide those services needed for instructional innovation. This office will co-ordinate all aspects of instructional support such as Instructional Techniques, Instructional Design, Educational Media, Information Dissemination, etc.” (p.2) In xxxx

In 1962, shortly after assuming the Office of Principal, Cecil Roper called a meeting with senior staff at the UBC library to discuss how the library needs of BCIT students could be best met. Together with Sophie Laddy, Head of Science and Technology Division of the Vancouver Public Library an Advisory Committee was formed. The first meeting of the Committee was held on December 17, 1962. In 1964, Joan Jorgensen was appointed Head Librarian.
The library originally occupied a 4375 square foot space room in the main building of the Burnaby Campus. Basic materials were housed for general courses such as Physics, Mathematics, English and Chemistry with the intent to expand the collection to include materials on technologies taught at the Institute such as engineering, electronics, and business, forestry, medical and mining technologies. By 1966, the library had outgrown its allocated space. The Advisory Committee, under the leadership of Basil J. Stuart Stubbs, Head Librarian at UBC, submitted plans that were eventually approved, for the construction of a new library building.
The new building officially opened for service in August 1968. The new premises occupied two floors of 19,000 square feet each, providing adequate space to seat 500 students and to have a collection of 100,000 volumes. Provision was also made for a student lounge, a fully equipped student typing and calculating room, a microfilm reading room and a faculty reading room.
That same year Robert Harris succeeded Jorgensen as Head Librarian. The following year the service of providing audio-visual aids and equipment was incorporated into the library as the Audio-Visual Department. The Information Resource Centre was thus formed and came under the direction of Harris. Harris resigned in 1975 and was succeeded by Jos Carver. Under Carver, the automation of library operations began. By 1979, 75,000 records had been converted to microfiche. In 1983, IBM’s integrated library system DOBIS was purchased to meet the library’s needs. BCIT was the first academic library in Canada to have a computer database of resources.
In 1985, following administrative reorganization of the institute, Paula Pick was selected as Institute Librarian for the new multi-campus library, which consisted of the amalgamated facilities, staff and collections of the former Pacific Vocational Institute and BCIT Library. The two institutes merged officially on April 1, 1986.
The position of Institute Librarian has been held by the following individuals:

• Joan Jorgensen - 1962-1967
• Robert Harris - 1968-1975
• Jos Carver - 1976-1985
• Paula Pick - 1985-1993
• Brigitte Peter Cherneff - 1993-2007
• David Pepper – 2008–2015
• James Rout – 2016-2018
• Alison Nussbaumer - 2018-present

In 1975 the Marine Training Centre, began providing training in navigation and engineering. Following the establishment of the Marine Training Advisory Council in 1975, it was decided that the responsibilities of the Centre should be increased. As a result, in 1978, it was designated a Provincial Institute and renamed the Pacific Marine Training Institute (PMTI).

In 1994 the PMTI was amalgamated with the British Columbia Institute of Technology to become BCIT's Pacific Marine Training Campus.

The BCIT Marketing and Communications Department began in 1974 in conjunction with BCIT’s first year as an autonomous entity under a Board of Governors rather than under the direct control of the British Columbia Department of Education. BCIT Principal Gordon A. Thom created three new Executive Directorships in this year: Technology and Education; Administration; and Personnel, Information Services and Student Services. The Marketing and Communications Department started as an area of service provided under the Executive Director, Personnel, Student Services and Information Services. It was known as Information Services although the term “communications” was used to describe its duties and responsibilities. The first Director of Information Services was recruited in 1975 and was responsible for information dissemination among BCIT staff, students, faculty and the public. Ensuring relevant parties were aware of decisions and developments at BCIT and providing a mechanism for feedback. In 1975 the Director of Information Services began work on an information policy for BCIT and revived the newsletter “Developments” which enhanced internal BCIT communications.
In 1977 Information Services was moved under the Human Resources Division. During this time Information Services continued its broad-based program of internal and external communications. The department served as liaison between federal and provincial governments on the residence project, participated in presentations on Bill 82, and began work on revitalizing the Alumni Association.
In 1979 Information Services, still under Vice President Human Resources, underwent a name change and was known as the Public Relations department.
After the merger with the Pacific Vocational Institute in 1985 the department was again moved and given a name change. Now known as Community Relations, the Director of Community Relations/Development reported to the Vice President of Student Services and Educational Support.

From BCIT's founding until 1974 the B.C. Department of Education in partnership with an Advisory Council, chosen from business and industry, appointed the Principal as the Chief Executive Officer of BCIT.

The three divisions of Engineering, Business and Health were managed by three Directors who reported directly to the Principal. The Advisory Council formed seventeen advisory committees which met at least twice a year and advised Technology Heads at BCIT about the effectiveness of the programs being taught, opportunities for employment and updates in the industry. Recommendations went through the Principal who carried them to the main Advisory Council.

A more autonomous relationship developed between the provincial government and BCIT with the passage of the British Columbia Institute of Technology Act on July 4, 1974. The Act established a new system of governance for the Institute under a fifteen–person Board of Governors. Under Section 11 (3) of the BCIT Act the Principal was required to submit an Annual Report to the Board of Governors for the educational year. The position of Principal was expanded to encompass linking functions both between the Board of Governors and the Institute, and between the Institute and the external community. The Principal assumed the responsibility of implementing Board policy and administering the budget; she also served as the chief means of mobilizing the institute’s resources in recognizing and clarifying issues and expediting decision making. At the same time, three Executive Director positions were created in the areas of Technical Education; Administration; and Personnel and Information Services and Student Services, in order that BCIT could effectively carry on day-to-day operations while implementing a variety of administrative systems. With the Directors of the five Educational Divisions, the Bursar, the Registrar, and the Coordinator of Planning Services, the Executive Directors were members of an Executive Committee, a consultative body which advised the Principal and served as a channel of communication between the Chief Executive Officer and BCIT's staff, students and faculty.

In 1986 when BCIT merged with the Pacific Vocational Institute the title of the Chief Executive Officer of BCIT changed from Principal to President.

In 2004, BCIT's governing legislation became the College and Institute Act, RSBC 1996, ch. 5 (2). Under this Act, the President is defined as the Institute's Chief Executive Office, with the duty to “supervise and direct subject to bylaws, the instructional, administrative and other staff of the institution and exercise powers and perform duties assigned to the president by the board.” The President is to report to the Board of Governors annually on the progress of BCIT, make recommendations, and advise the Board on all matters concerning the operation of BCIT.

Individuals who have served as Principal include: Gordon A. Thom, Principal (1974-1985), Cliff McAdam, Acting Principal (July-August 1974), Dean H. Goard, Principal (1967-June 1974) d Jan 1986, E. Cecil Roper, Principal (1962-1967)

Individuals who have served as President include: Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, President (July 10, 2023-present), Paul McCullough, Interim President (July 1, 2022-July 9, 2023), Kathy Kinloch, President (2014-June 30, 2022), Chris Golding, Interim President (2013-January 2014), Don Wright, President (2008-2013), Verna Magee-Shepherd, Acting President (June 2007-March 2008), Tony Knowles, President (2000-May 2007), Brian Gillespie, President (1995-August 2000), John A. Watson, President (1989-1995), Roy V. Murray, President (1985-1988)

The Pioneers Club was formed in February, 1994. Membership was composed of faculty and staff who were employed at BCIT on or prior to June 15, 1966 and who contributed to the establishment of the two year diploma programs.

The BCIT Safety, Security and Emergency Management department works with BCIT academic programs and service areas in providing a safe, secure and disaster resilient environment.

Business was one of the three core areas of study available in 1964 when BCIT opened.
In 1990 the name changed to School of Business. In 2020 the name changed again to School of Business + Media.