Back to school: A guide to student resources and services at KPU

With the fall semester in full swing, new and returning students are back on campus across Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s campuses and settling into university life.

Being a university student means juggling many responsibilities, including studying for exams, managing several assignments at once, and delivering important presentations. There are various campus services and initiatives designed to support KPU students.

Here is a breakdown of some resources available to students at KPU.

Fitness Centres & Intramurals

KPU Sport and Recreation’s fitness centres are open to all current students, and can receive free memberships with a valid KPU ID. The three centres on the Surrey, Langley, and Cloverdale campuses are equipped with cardio equipment, squat racks, and free weights, among many other features.

The Richmond campus also has a Lotus Studio for yoga classes, and the Surrey campus has a gymnasium.

This semester, Sport and Recreation introduced the Fusion Go app, which allows students to track activities, programs, and capacity of the Surrey gym.

Manager of Sport and Recreation Kevin Seymour says the app gives students live updates of the KPU gymnasium and sports played, as well as allow them to register for their programs, leagues, and fitness classes.

“This semester, we have zumba going on at Surrey. We have tai chi and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is going on at the Richmond campus,” Seymour says.

“If you were a student and you wanted to know what’s going on in the gymnasium at 3:00 pm on a Wednesday, you could look at our app and see that.”

This fall, Sport and Recreation also offers futsal — indoor soccer — on Mondays, basketball on Tuesdays, badminton on Wednesdays, and volleyball on Thursdays at the Surrey gymnasium. Table tennis is also offered Monday to Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 pm.

Students not interested in joining a league can also drop in.

All three fitness centres are open Monday through Friday and are either closed or have reduced hours on the weekends. For more information, visit www.kpu.ca/sportrec/fitness-classes/.

Learning Centres

KPU’S Learning Centres provide free academic support across different campuses. Learning Centres are located on the Surrey, Langley, and Richmond campuses.

The Learning Centres provide free peer tutoring, interactive workshops, academic resources, and mentorship for students. The centres offer one-on-one and small-group tutoring, along with online writing support.

Workshops are held throughout the semester in asynchronous and synchronous formats, including sessions on time management, planning throughout the semester, and study strategies.

For more information, visit www.kpu.ca/learningcentres/. 

KPU libraries

KPU has libraries on the Surrey, Langley, Cloverdale, and Richmond campuses. The Surrey campus library has three levels. The first level is a collaborative learning zone for group study, the second is a quiet learning zone with computer labs, and the third is a silent learning environment.

The KPU library also allows students to borrow equipment, including calculators, cameras, chargers, and bluetooth speakers. There is an online equipment request form that students can complete and submit to reserve equipment from the library.

The library also offers private study rooms for students to book and use individually or with others. A study room can be rented out 14 days in advance, accommodating up to six people. Students also have the option to rent a tech-enabled room, which are equipped with LCD screens and have options for projecting sound.

Students can connect with KPU librarians both online and in-person for research assistance to develop research topics, find and evaluate sources, and more during library hours.

For general queries and assistance online, the libraries use AskAway to connect students with librarians. For more information, visit www.kpu.ca/library/facilities/.

Indigenous Student Services

Indigenous Student Services at KPU aim to support and create a welcoming environment for all Indigenous students. Students can connect with the service for questions about their programs, student support, and to connect with other Indigenous students.

The KPU Surrey campus is also home to the Gathering Place at the east end of the Maple building, which welcomes all students. The Gathering Place serves as a “space that supports the social and educational activities associated with attending KPU in an environment that recognizes the important contribution of the Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qay’Qayt, Katzie, and all other Indigenous Nations,” the website states. Computers and projectors are also available for student use.

Lekeyten of Kwantlen First Nation has served as KPU’s first Elder in residence since 2015, supporting Indigenous students during their time at the university. His responsibilities include meeting with students to offer support, encouragement, and culturally sensitive counselling, assisting in spiritual or emotional student crisis situations, and participating in classroom discussions, among others.​

Indigenous Services host events and initiatives throughout the year, including the Indigenous Book Club and Indigenous dialogue series. Students can visit Indigenous Student Services at Maple 166 on the Surrey Campus, next to The Gathering Place.

For more information, visit www.kpu.ca/indigenous/.

Kwantlen Student Association

The Kwantlen Student Association is KPU’s student union and aims to prioritize student interest, along with providing support, initiatives, events, and resources. 

The association’s services include REBOOT computer repair, the Student Rights Centre — to navigate the university’s internal procedures and paperwork, food bank, and KSA Peer Support.

The KSA Peer Support program provides students with holistic wellness resources, mental health resources, and referrals.

Students can expect a welcoming and relaxed environment where they can speak with peer volunteers about any concerns or issues they are experiencing.

Since fall 2025, the service has introduced Tea and Talk events and online Zoom one-on-one support, Peer Support coordinators Lovlina Prasad and Selina Maedel wrote in a statement to The Runner. 

Students can book a one-on-one appointment with Peer Support staff by emailing peersupport@kusa.ca.

Through its multipass program, the KSA also offers free bike locker rentals, carpool services with Liftango and Poparide, and a discounted fitness pass of $20 with Club16 and She’s Fit!

Students can also create clubs through the KSA. The student association lists 26 active clubs on its website. Last July, the KSA reopened proposals for new clubs after a pause in applications with 10 club spots available. 

For more information about the KSA, visit www.kusa.ca.