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As you know, the past year has been especially difficult for post-secondary institutions across the country and SFU has not been immune. We continue to be faced with hard choices and tight budgets. We all recognize that these are tough times, but I think this is an important moment to reflect back on just how far we have come over the past two decades at the Surrey campus. 

Together the Surrey campus community has and will continue to have a positive impact on our students, our community, and the growth and development of our academic programs and our research at the campus. Even during this difficult moment for SFU it is important to stay positive, and looking back on our collective success can perhaps be a portend of good things to come. 

In the spirit of positive thinking, I want to highlight the significant impact SFU Surrey has had in four key areas:

1. SFU Surrey has always been more than just a place to learn and study - it’s a place of academic excellence where we push boundaries, explore new ideas, and find ways to make a difference. We can be proud of that!

I’ve always been impressed with SFU Surrey’s thriving community of learners, educators, and innovators. Our world-class buildings, state-of-the art technology, diverse teaching, learning and wellness spaces, and top-notch faculty and staff form the foundation of a strong support system that helps our 8,000+ students succeed.

Whether students are new to SFU or advancing through a graduate program, the Surrey campus offers a range of academic opportunities that are looking to the future. Take for example the School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT), the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering, and the School of Mechatronics Systems Engineering. These Schools have a history of being amongst the first of their kind in western Canada and they are located right here at the Surrey campus. 

But there’s so much more to SFU Surrey. We now have courses available in over 30 programs, whether you’re studying criminology, data science, mathematics or more, you’ll find SFU Surrey’s academic experience is both varied and rich. For students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, our FASS One program helps first-year students connect with peers, professors, and advisors, giving them the support and confidence to thrive during their first year. As well, graduate students can pursue programs in Applied Sciences, Education, and Communication, Art and Technology as well as the Part-Time MBA in the Beedie School of Business, all while enjoying the close-knit community that SFU Surrey offers.

2. One of the things that sets SFU Surrey apart is our vision and commitment to the growth and development of cutting-edge research – right here in Surrey! 

This campus is now home to many innovative labs across our six campus locations, including WearTech Labs, ImageTech Lab, and the , and SFU Surrey’s Innovation Plaza is home to several centres and institutes such as the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI), which aims to solve challenges related to food security and climate change, the (QAI) which is making our region a leader in quantum computing, and the Charles Chang Institute, where our students are transforming their innovative ideas into business opportunities.

3. What makes SFU Surrey truly special is the sense of community (aka, the “Surrey vibe” as I like to say). 

With smaller class sizes and dedicated faculty and staff, students find a personalized experience that’s often hard to come by at larger campuses. This is especially evident in our Student Services – though we are a smaller campus, students like the fact that they don’t have to travel to another campus for like services. Whether it’s academic advising, career counseling, or peer mentorship, there is a campus community committed to student success and to community-building (case in point: Games Lounge at SFU Surrey)

4. This September, SFU will celebrate its 60th anniversary. SFU Surrey is a big part of the university’s past and future story. 

We’re looking forward to another incredible year of learning, innovation, and creating community, and as we look to the future, there’s a lot to be excited about. The School of Medicine will welcome its first cohort of students in 2026, marking a new beginning of medical education and research in the region and a new chapter in SFU Surrey’s journey. Also, with ongoing work in our research labs and innovation hubs, SFU Surrey is well positioned to continue making an impact and being a destination of choice post-secondary campus in the heart of B.C.’s fastest growing city.

Past and present, there are many SFU faculty and staff that have contributed to the success of the Surrey campus. I am so thankful for their service, dedication, love and care.  Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what we see today. With that said, I’m truly excited for what’s to come – we’re just getting started!