KPU Turf Management Program to Continue

By Jerry Rousseau

Over the past couple years, the WCTA has been liaising with Kwantlen Polytechnic University, dialoguing and providing input into re-development of the long-standing Turf Management Program, a popular track at the technical school’s Langley Campus graduating hundreds of turf managers over three decades.

Low enrolment has become a challenge since COVID and KPU’s inability to review and revitalize the program hasn’t helped, something that’s supposed to happen every 7 year cycle.  The fait accompli might just be recent retirement of lead instructor Stan Kazymerchyk, well-known in the industry as the driving force and spirit of the turf management program at KPU.

Without major changes (and a new, charismatic lead instructor), the program’s long term viability is questionable but according to Jamie Lamont, Horticulture Co-Chair at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, rumours circulating about the KPU Turf Management Program’s demise are greatly exaggerated.  

Here’s an official statement emailed to me on March 19:
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Turf Program Update at KPU

We want to reassure the industry that the Turf program at KPU is continuing strong, with a full range of Turf courses available to support students. Our team of experienced instructors is offering courses in several key areas, including introductory courses, environmental and planning, and specialized golf turf management.

Each year, we carefully review the needs of our Turf students to ensure they are on track to complete their Diploma successfully. We are also engaged in a multi-year process of reviewing and revising all our Diplomas to meet evolving university requirements. As part of this process, we will be seeking input from industry partners to ensure our programs align with current and future industry needs. We expect to reach out to the industry within the next year to gather valuable feedback.

While changes may occur in the future, we want to emphasize that any revisions will be clearly communicated to both industry and students. Importantly, these changes will not affect the completion of Diplomas for current students.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working closely with the industry to ensure that our Turf program continues to provide the best possible education and support for future professionals in the field

Thank you

Ellen Pond & Jamie Lamont
Instructors & Department Co-Chairs
The School of Horticulture at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
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It’s very good to hear the program will continue but there are some questions.  For example, how long until the program is fully reviewed and changes implemented?  Are there plans to align the timing with our industry’s seasonality?  When will a new lead instructor be hired?  How will KPU market the program to prospective students in the future?

To be clear, the WCTA is entirely supportive of the KPU Turf Management Program’s continuation and has inserted itself into the re-development process.  That said, the ball is squarely in KPU’s court and the industry needs to see thoughtful, decisive and tangible actions in order to restore confidence in KPU's turf management program moving forward.