Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1959-01-01 - 2007-12-31 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
5.1 m textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
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)
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The records were transferred directly to the Archives from the President’s Office.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The BCIT Office of the President series consists of records made and received in the course of carrying out the functions of the office from 1962 to the present. The activities documented include policy and procedures development; participation in the President’s Executive Council (PEC) which is composed of senior managers who make decisions on the institute’s operations, and other bodies, including the Board of Governors, liaison with internal and external bodies such as the various faculties, the Faculty and Staff Association, non-government and non-educational organizations such as companies, non-profit societies, industry groups, standards associations, etc, and the provincial and federal governments; budget preparation; the regulation of instruction, including appointments and salaries; correspondence with various individuals and institutions regarding academic matters; the development of new programs and departments; public engagements; and the solicitation and the distribution of grants, and scholarships. The types of documents include meeting agenda and minutes, brochures, correspondence, memorandum, publications, and reports.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
The subseries have been arranged in conformity with the file classification system in place in the President's Office. Files within subseries are arranged both chronologically and by subject.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Please schedule an appointment with the BCIT Archivist for access.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
D. Brocklehurst, created 2004-11
E. Padilla, updated 2012
C. McLellan, updated 2014-11-21
C. Perrin, edited and updated 2017-12-12