Welcome Message from the Provost and Vice President Academic

I am happy to extend a warm welcome to our community of educators, both seasoned and new.  To those of you who have been working at Kwantlen Polytechnic University over the course of some recent and very challenging years, it’s wonderful to know that you are continuing to provide great educational opportunities for our students. As for those faculty and instructional staff who have newly joined KPU, I know that the institution as a whole is thrilled and honoured to have you onboard. I hope your first year with KPU is a success in every way.

Looking forward, there are resources to turn to in order to get the most out of the days ahead.

The Faculty and Instructional Staff Handbook is worth a look, whether you are new to the institution or a veteran of many years. The Teaching and Learning Commons (TLC) is a valuable repository of ideas, data, and coaching that can help educators achieve their goals. The TLC will also introduce you to ways to support high-quality student learning experiences that you might not have considered. The Commons played a key role in our pivot to online teaching during the early phases of the pandemic and they continue to provide leadership in the development of multi-modal formats and pedagogies. Please visit the TLC website and explore the assistance they offer in achieving student success.

Faculty and instructional staff success is also a goal. The Handbook details the various services and resources that are yours to use. Of course, there’s the University Library, the heart of any post-secondary institution. There’s also the Office of Research Services, the International Office, and Open Education and our Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative. Newcomers to KPU may not be aware of our strong orientation toward open educational resources and principles; please familiarize yourself with this institutional strength. Keep in mind, too, that Human Resources provides information about services and resources to which you may be entitled as a KPU employee. Whether you want to explore research funding, or pursue opportunities for building global partnerships, or explore health and wellness options, the Handbook is a good place to start.

I am relatively new to my position but not new to Kwantlen Polytechnic University. In my time at KPU I have myself made use of almost every resource hub the institution has to offer. Making those connections is a way of expanding one’s sense of the community that is KPU and of what makes it a special place to be engaged in education.

Dr. Diane Purvey
Provost & Vice President Academic