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 British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) officially opened October 4, 1964. Areas of study available were: Engineering, Health and Business.

On January 17th, 1958, the Minister of Education for the Province of British Columbia, the Hon. L. R. Petersen announced the appointment of the Royal Commission on Education for the Province of British Columbia for the “purpose of reviewing and assessing the educational system with he aim of improving its effectiveness in the light of world conditions and providing guidance for its future development.” Concurrent with the Commissions inquiry the Provincial Curriculum Advisory Board of the Department of Education appointed a committee directed by Mr. D. E. Bridge of the Vocational Training Branch of the Department of Labour, Ottawa to survey “The Need for Advanced Technical and Vocational Training in British Columbia.” As a result of the Royal Commission on Education, the Bridge Report and financial assistance from the Federal Government, an Advisory Council was formed early 1961 to begin planning what would become the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Dr. J. English, Deputy Minister and Superintendent of Education was appointed chairman and Mr. J. S. White, Director of Technical and Vocational Education, vice-chair.

Until 1974 BCIT was directly controlled and funded by the B.C. Department of Education, in partnership with an Advisory Council chosen from business and industry. The council appointed the Principal of BCIT as the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute. Two Vice-Principals were responsible for Administration and the growing Extension Division. The three divisions of Engineering, Business and Health were managed by three Directors reporting directly to the Principal. The 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. In 1963, the Department of Education took a radical departure from existing government policy and allowed the BC Civil Service Commission to delegate responsibility for selecting teaching staff to the Institute, via the Advisory Council and Principal.

In 1972, the Minister of Education established a task force to recommend future directions for BCIT. 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 BCIT 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 BCIT, and between BCIT 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 the institutes staff, students and faculty.

In 1978 the Boards of the Pacific Vocational Institute (PVI) and BCIT established a Joint Boards Committee, enhancing the relationship of the neighbours and providing a forum for cooperation between the institutions in matters of mutual interest. On May 31, 1985, the Honourable John H. Heinrich, then Minister of Education announced the decision to amalgamate the Pacific Vocational Institute (PVI) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. The merger culminated in a new organizational structure, a mission statement and a set of corporate objectives for BCIT. The expanded mandate for the new institution included:

• A centre of excellence for the trades
• The development of new technology programs
• The development of post diploma programs
• The development of bridging programs from trades to technology

The official merger took place on April 1, 1986. In July 1985, the President and the Board of Governors appointed Drug Svetic Vice President, Education; Duncan McPherson Vice President, Finance; Len McNeely Vice President, Administration; and Peter Jones Vice President, Student Services and Educational Support. The reorganization of BCIT’s educational division resulted five schools, adding an Executive Director of Trades Training and the introduction of an associate dean structure.

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 BCIT'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 annually on the progress of the Institute, make recommendations, and advise the Board on all matters concerning the operation of the Institute.

Fernando Vachon was born June 13, 1912, in St. Marie Beauce, Quebec. He was the youngest of four brothers (Romeo, Irénée, Donat) known for their contributions to the history of aviation in Canada. From 1948 to 1977, he worked for Canadian Pacific Airlines (CP Air) in Vancouver as maintenance supervisor, quality control supervisor, instructor, and inspector. From 1979 to 1985, he taught Aircraft Maintenance at the Pacific Vocational Institute in Richmond. Vachon’s achievements include the invention of a system to enable the parking of ski-equipped aircraft in hangars with concrete floors, the design of a system to detect communication failures, and the construction of a hemodialysis machine. He died January 14, 2005, in Richmond.

The first meeting of the Council of Post Secondary Library Directors [CPSLD] was held at the request of Dennis Franklin, Executive Secretary of the Academic Advisory Board for Higher Education in British Columbia. The meeting took place at the University of British Columbia [UBC] library on October 10, 1969, and was chaired by Basil Stuart‐Stubbs.
Representatives included;
Basil Stuart‐Stubbs, UBC, Del Affleck, Capilano College, Don Baird, SFU, I. F. Bell, UBC, Doug Bridges, Malsaplina College, J. Cheng, Okanagan College, R. L. Davison, Library Development Commission, Robert Harris, BCIT, Dennis Franklin, Academic Board, Dean Halliwell, University of Victoria, John Mansbridge, Selkirk College, Ron Welwood, Notre Dame University.
Issues addressed included the need for resource sharing and for new, library standards to be developed. It was decided at this meeting that the librarians would offer to act in an advisory capacity of an Advisory Committee to the Academic Board. Meetings were held two or three times a year to discuss items of mutual concern, to provide input to the Ministry on items of importance to the Council and to be a liaison to the Ministry on Library matters. The group was known interchangeably as the College and University Librarians of BC or College Librarians Group until 1976, when the title Post Secondary Library Directors Association (PSLDA) was adopted.
PSLDA's objectives were to

act as an advisory Body to government and other groups concerned with post‐secondary library services, such as the College Principles Group and the BCAC. to help facilitate exchange of information among post‐secondary library directors to promote the development of methods for cooperative endeavours to facilitate research planning and development in identified areas of concern to initiate conjoint response to developments within post‐secondary education.

In April, 1977, the PSLDA Strategies Committee consultation with the Ministry of Education proposed a revised set of objectives that would better meet the changing directions of provincial libraries. The new objectives included "to act as the council of college, vocational and technological institution libraries in relationship to the development of the network of BC Libraries." By 1978 the title Council of Post‐Secondary Library Directors [CPSLD] had been adopted.

Michael Kluckner is a writer, artist, illustrator and author of several books. His early books on the history of Canadian cities, heritage, planning issues and art, include; "Vancouver, The Way It Was," "Vanishing Vancouver," "Paving Paradise," and "British Columbia in Watercolour." They won several awards, including the Duthie Prize, the Vancouver Book Prize, the Toronto Book Prize (short list), the Hallmark Society (Victoria) Award of Merit and the Heritage Canada Medal of Achievement. "Toshiko" (2015) is his first graphic novel.
Kluckner worked for the BCIT Student Association creating illustrations for the Link, and other BCIT publications from 1976-1979 and then part time from 1980-1981. He taught night school at BCIT from 1980-1985.
From the 1990s until present Kluckner has been heavily involved with the Vancouver heritage community. Including serving on boards and volunteering in various capacities with: the Vancouver Heritage Commission, the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, the Vancouver Historical Society, the Grandview Heritage Group, Heritage Vancouver Society, the Langley Heritage Society; from 1996 until 2001, he was the British Columbia member of the board of governors of the Heritage Canada Foundation, and served as chair from 1998-2000.
For a brief period (2006-2009) Kluckner and his wife, author, Christine Allen, lived in Australia.

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.

Between 1965 and 1974 the BCIT Student Association was primarily concerned with student’s social and recreational activities, particularly sports. Funding for Student Association activities were provided by an activity fee of $15 levied against each student. In 1966 the Association produced its first year book. In 1969 the SA successfully lobbied the provincial government for the construction of a Student Activity Centre. The construction of the Centre was completed in 1971. In 1983, phase 1 of the new Campus Centre was opened. The building was to include racquet ball courts and office spaces. Phase 2 would include a new pub and cafeteria.

BCIT Student Society executives include the following individuals:

1965-1966 Kenneth McLean 1966-1967 Eric Schultz 1967-1968 Douglas Hall 1968-1969 Brian Hall 1969-1970 Julio Russo 1970-1971 Edgar Rhomberg 1971-1972 Laurie Jack 1972-1973 Tony Schelling
*1973-1974 Grahame Fane

1984 Antoine Van Dierendonck 1985 Donald Rippon

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.

Departments within the school include: Academic Studies (Basic Health Sciences, Chemistry, Communication, Liberal Studies, Mathematics, and Physics), Computing and IT (Computing), and Forensics (Forensic Science & Technology).
Academic Studies, which includes the departments of Math, Chemistry, Physics, Communication, and Liberal Studies provide essential building blocks for technologies and credentials.
BCIT students are given applied and theoretical knowledge, as well as advanced skills in critical thinking, applied ethics, and research methodology for career success.
Academic Studies also manages the Technology Entry Program which bridges into BCIT credentials, as well as the Technical Writing Certificate.
The Computing and IT department works with industry and subject matter experts, and has developed 30 different Computing and IT career-oriented program options which lead to certificates, diplomas, and a bachelor’s degree, full-time and part-time.
Every year they also provide over 350 individual Part-time "COMP" courses at night and on weekends. Our alumni become the future managers, entrepreneurs and leaders in the Computing and IT sector.
The Forensics department offers flexibility and specialization. Options for students include degrees and specialty certificates in Forensic Science, Computer Crimes, Intelligence Analysis, Forensic Health Sciences and Forensic Video Analysis.

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.

Don Wright was a photographer and writer for the BCIT student newspaper the Link from 1976 (while a student at BCIT) until the 1980s after graduation. A long-time Vancouver resident, Wright is currently the Regional Activism Coordinator for Amnesty International.