In February 2002, the Government of British Columbia offered Simon Fraser University the opportunity to establish a campus in Surrey.  This was a natural proposal for SFU to consider; from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's a number of initiatives both within and external to the University had been undertaken with just such a goal in mind - the creation of an SFU campus in the Fraser Valley.  A campus in Surrey has the potential to allow SFU to position itself in an area of the province that both needs and wants a research-intensive university such as Simon Fraser.

Since February 2002, when SFU assumed responsibility for the programs and operations of the former Technical University of BC (TechBC), an intensive academic planning process has been undertaken throughout the University.

Initially, the SFU Surrey Short Term Academic Planning Committee was established to propose an interim administrative structure for the SFU Surrey programs, evaluate the existing TechBC undergraduate programs and to propose SFU degree names for the TechBC programs.

The Short Term Planning Committee was followed by the SFU Surrey Long Term Planning Committee which, with the assistance of three subcommittees, provided recommendations in relation to issues around Campus Development, Academic Programming and Pedagogy at the SFU Surrey Campus.

Currently, there are three committees/working groups that are continuing with the academic and infrastructure planning and development issues at SFU Surrey.  These groups include the Surrey Coordinating Group, the Surrey Working Group and the SFU Surrey Ad Hoc Steering Committee.