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The Douglas College Student Society (DCSS) was incorporated in 1972 under the Society Act with a mandate to represent and protect the rights and interests of students. The makeup of the Society's executive membership has changed over time, but typically included a President, Vice President(s), Secretary, Treasurer, and campus- or program-specific representatives. At different times in the history of the DCSS, the records of the Executive were collected by a staff person who was also responsible for the management of Society business/administration.

When the DCSS was formed it represented students from three campuses: New Westminster, Surrey, and Richmond. For this reason, the earliest governing body of the DCSS - the Student Council - was also sometimes called the Tri-Council. By 1979, five additional campuses were also being represented by the DCSS: Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge, Agnes Street, and Newton Centre. Consequently, the DCSS's governing body became the Multi Campus Council. In the early 1980s, following the College's split into two separate institutions, the DCSS updated its Constitution and its governing body was reorganized as the Senate. Rather than a campus-specific focus like its predecessor, the Senate used a model of representation based on areas of study.

In 1992, DCSS membership voted to leave the Canadian Federation of Students, only to re-join the national organization six years later. In 1999, the DCSS underwent a restructuring in which it was renamed the Douglas Students' Union (Canadian Federation of Students, Local 18).

Kwantlen College was formed in 1981 as the result of a separation from Douglas College.

In June 1980, responding to the provincial government's desire for a "realignment of educational services" in the Douglas College region, the Board recommended the College be divided into two institutions. At the time, Douglas had eight campuses: New Westminster, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge, Agnes Street, and Newton Centre. The geographic dividing line would be the Fraser River, with those campuses north of the river remaining part of Douglas College and those south of the river forming a new institution. The name Kwantlen College was selected through a contest and was approved by Grand Chief Joe Gabriel of the Kwantlen First Nation.

In 1995, Kwantlen College became Kwantlen University College.

The Women's Studies Advisory Board was established when Women's Studies (also known as "Programs for Women") was designated a Special Programs Unit in 1977. The board's objective was to coordinate, promote, and protect Women's Studies and related services in the regions where Douglas College operated. It also advanced scholarships and raised money related to these goals. The Women's Studies Advisory Board was comprised of staff, students, and community representatives.

Formally established in 1974, the Women's Studies Advisory Committee also existed under other names (the "Co-ordinating Committee on Education For Women" and the "Women's Studies Committee") as early as 1971. Initially it was made up of Women's Studies convenor Lillian Zimmerman and senior administrators from the Continuing Education, Liberal Arts, and Counselling divisions; however, the committee later expanded its membership to include representatives from the student body and the broader community.

Led by Zimmerman, the committee was responsible for overseeing Programs For Women at Douglas College. In 1977, the committee was changed to the Women's Studies Advisory Board, a change that coincided with the designation of Women's Studies as a Special Programs Unit.

Established in 1970 by Dr. Barry Leach, the Institute of Environmental Studies sought to encourage greater public engagement with environmental issues, particularly those impacting ecosystems in the “College Region.” One of its stated objectives was to disseminate the results of studies and projects to public and private groups so they might further “their own work towards a better use of the environment.” The Institute offered non-credit courses, published a series of Information Booklets and other monographs on a range of topics, hosted workshops and lecture series, and collaborated on conservation projects with civil society organizations like Ducks Unlimited, with which it operated an Environmental Study Centre in a conservation area called the Serpentine Fen. The Institute of Environmental Studies was based at the College’s Surrey campus. In 1981, when the College divided, the Institute became part of the newly formed Kwantlen College.

The Aboriginal Advisory Committee continued the work of its predecessor committee in providing services and support to Indigenous students at Douglas College. The Committee was comprised of stakeholders from within the College community and beyond.

The Committee's name was later changed to the Indigenous (FNMI) Advisory Committee.

Established to provide services and support to Indigenous students at Douglas, the Douglas College First Nations Advisory Committee was made up of stakeholders from within the College community and beyond. A 1995 resource guide for Indigenous students included the following description of the committee:

“The Douglas College First Nations Advisory Committee meets regularly to work with Douglas College in developing and implementing community educational initiatives, programs and services. Membership is comprised of First Nations representatives from Qayqayt First Nation, Vancouver and New Westminster Education Centres, New Westminster Urban Cultural Society, New Westminster Senior Secondary School, Douglas College Faculty and Staff, Douglas College First Nations Alumni, Douglas College Student Society First Nations representative, and the New Westminster, Katzie and Coquitlam Bands. The Douglas College First Nations Advisory Committee works to support and guide the ‘Spirit’ for enhancing services for First Nations Learners at Douglas College.”

In the early 2000s, the committee’s name was changed to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

The I-CARE Literacy Program was first developed at Douglas College in 1978 as a pilot project funded by the Ministry of Education, after the College had identified literacy as one of its top priorities and hired regular literacy faculty in 1977. Its early success led to I-CARE being incorporated into the College's base funding structure. The program was developed "to help meet the literacy needs of adults who are unable or unwilling to enter a classroom situation because of work schedules, negative school experiences in the past or other such seasons."

Since its inception, I-CARE has offered one-on-one literacy education for members of the broader community, with tutors tailoring their sessions to each individual learner's needs and goals. Although some logistical and administrative details of the program have changed over the years, its overall structure has largely remained constant since the late 1970s: Volunteers receive literacy tutor training, are paired with a community member seeking literacy education, and commit to weekly sessions with their assign learner for one year. I-CARE's newsletter 'Breakthrough' was originally designed for tutors, however, it evolved into a resource for learners too. I-CARE also produces a monthly publication featuring the written work of learners called 'Writing For Our Future.'

The Douglas Pinion was a campus newspaper created with the goal of "bridging a long-time communication gap between students, faculty, staff and the communities served by this college." Although its first publication date was April 2, 1975, the Pinion was not formally approved by the Douglas College Council until April 3, 1975. The paper was staffed by students from the College's new journalism course, who served as reporters, editors, and photographers.

The Pinion covered campus and community news, with regular arts, sports, and opinion sections, as well as advertisements and classifieds. The newspaper highlighted new program offerings, extracurricular opportunities, construction updates, staff hirings, and student politics.

Originally intended to publish every two weeks, the Pinion's publication history proved to be less frequent and less consistent. Typically the paper came out once a month during the school year, although not every month saw the release of a new issue.

The Douglas Pinion published its final issue in April 1981. When Kwantlen College separated from Douglas College that year, the new institution took with it the journalism program and the student-run newspaper, which was renamed The Kwantlen Chronicle.