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New SFU Surrey Campus Opens Doors In South Fraser

September 8, 2006
 
Surrey - Premier Gordon Campbell opened Simon Fraser University's new campus in Surrey today, giving students in B.C.'s fastest-growing region access to a world-class university that will also support the local and provincial economies through innovative research and teaching.
 
"The Province's $70-million investment in SFU Surrey has helped create state-of-the-art classrooms and labs where students in the South Fraser will prepare to take their place in B.C.'s knowledge and economic landscapes of the future," said Campbell. "This campus marks a major milestone in the growth and transformation of our post-secondary system as we work to expand the learning opportunities that will allow British Columbians to pursue their goals and dreams."
 
SFU Surrey, which takes up about 30,000 square metres in the Central City development at 13450 - 102 Ave., is expected to enrol the equivalent of 2,500 full-time students by 2010, and will receive 1,850 of the 25,000 new student spaces being funded by government over six years.
 
"SFU Surrey is one of five new campuses this government is adding around the province to accommodate the expansion of our post-secondary system and give more students access to an excellent education closer to home," said Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell. "We have also launched Campus 2020: Thinking Ahead, which will build on the strengths of our current system to shape post-secondary education in the future."
 
The new SFU Surrey campus has a strong research mandate, and 20 per cent of the new seats funded by the Province are for graduate students. Distinctive programs from all six of SFU's faculties are offered, and the breadth of first-year programs allows students to begin most SFU degrees at the Surrey campus.
 
"SFU's magnificent new campus reaffirms the university's commitments to excellence, innovation and engagement in the community," said SFU president Michael Stevenson. "Our new degree programs in Surrey break new ground in higher education in digital arts and design, mechatronics, industrial mathematics, educational technology, and the arts and sciences. And SFU welcomes the entire community in the Fraser Valley with non-degree programs at the Surrey campus."
 
All students enrolled at SFU have access to programs, courses and resources at any one of the university's three campuses in Surrey, Burnaby and Vancouver. The campuses are connected by rapid transit.
 
"SFU Surrey is a wonderful addition to our city," said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts.  "It will provide Surrey residents with world-class post-secondary education in our own backyard while providing an important economic stimulus and focal point as we continue to build our City Centre."
 
In the past five years, government has provided more than $1 billion in new funding for capital projects on campuses throughout B.C., and has allocated almost $800 million in capital funding over the next three years to accommodate further growth. Government has also added almost 17,700 seats to B.C.'s universities, college and university colleges.
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Authorized By Jim Pipe, Financial Agent BC Liberal Party.
Tel: 604.606.6000, 1.800.567.2257