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Born in Vienna (ca. 1921), George Porges was a World War II veteran who came to Canada in 1951. He studied history in Montreal at Sir George William University, and later received his B.Ed and M.A. from the University of Alberta. He taught high school in Edmonton prior to joining the Department of Liberal Studies at the newly created Douglas College in 1970. Porges taught history as a regular faculty member until his retirement in 1988.

Porges died in 2004 at the age of 83.

The Charter of Rights Committee was originally formed in response to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom's main equality provisions coming into effect in 1985. The Committee's purpose was the creation of a cross-divisional project to integrate teaching of the Charter into the College's curriculum. An announcement in a January 1987 edition of the Mad Hatter newsletter stated: "The Charter has the potential to bring about profound change in the community and as a teaching institution and a community college we must be actively involved in fostering understanding, initiating community discussion, and preparing our students to participate in the shaping of their society."

The Committee oversaw the creation of a course (IDST 100 Human Rights and Canadian Society: Multidisciplinary Perspectives), which was offered from 1989 until at least 2006.

Records of the Committee cease after April 1990.

EVENT is a literary magazine that publishes fiction, poetry, non-fiction, notes on writing, and book reviews by emerging and established writers. It was founded in 1971 due in large part to the efforts of creative writing professor David Evanier, who was also the magazine's first editor. Associate editors were made up of faculty from the Department of English and Communications.

When Kwantlen College was formed in 1981, responsibility for EVENT shifted to that institution, which is where key faculty involved with the publication had been re-assigned. When Kwantlen announced its plans to cease funding EVENT at the end of the 1984-85 fiscal year, then-editor Leona Gom launched a campaign to save the publication. Readers, past contributors, and other members of the Canadian literary community rallied to the cause and Douglas College agreed to take back control for the magazine in 1985.

Contributors to EVENT have included writers like Gordon Pinsent, Carol Shields, Susan Musgrave, Madeleine Thien, Timothy Taylor, and Alistair MacLeod. The magazine has also been the recipient of numerous National Magazine Awards and Western Magazine Awards.

Past editors include: David Evanier (1971-1973), Robert W. Lowe (1974-1975), Monica Ochs (1975), Rona Murray (1975), John Levin (1976-1980), Leona Gom (1980-1984), Dale Zieroth (1983-1986), Calvin Wharton (1997-2001), Cathy Stonehouse (2001-2004), Billeh Nickerson (2004-2007), Rick Maddocks (2007-2010), Elizabeth Bachinsky (2011-2014), Ian Cockfield (2014), and Shashi Bhat (2015- ).

Since the college's opening in 1970 until a name change in the late 1990s, the Public Information Office (PIO) was responsible for promoting the institution both within the campus community and throughout the Lower Mainland. The PIO shared information about programming and events, working with the administration and other internal stakeholders to develop and promote the College's public image. The office produced advertisements, drafted speeches and press releases, designed posters and brochures, and publicized the accomplishments of faculty, staff, and students. William Bell led the PIO as Public Information Officer from the early 1970s until 1992. He was succeeded by Brad Barber.

In 1996, the Public Information Office became the Communications and Marketing Office.

The Communications and Marketing Office (formerly the Public Information Office) developed and administered College marketing plans, produced College publications and promotional materials, liaised with media, established proactive publicity activities, coordinated and provided support for College special events, and supported internal communications through the College newsletter, bulletins and other materials.

The Office's name was changed to the Marketing & Communications Office.

Margaretha Hoek first joined the College in 1975 as a sessional faculty member in the Counselling Department, where she taught a number of courses and workshops focused on the issues and experiences of women. In 1978, Hoek was hired as Coordinator of Programs for Women (at times the position was also referred to as Coordinator of Women's Studies). She held this position until 1985.

William (Bill) Day was among the first employees of Douglas College. Hired in 1970, he originally served as Dean of Continuing Education until 1975 when he became Dean of Curriculum. In 1978, he became principal of the College's New Westminster campus and in 1981 he was appointed President of Douglas College, a position he held until retiring in 1995.

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.

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.