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The first Key society was formed in the United States in the 1920s. The movement eventually became international. Formed to welcome and assist visiting athletic teams, the Key societies developed into service bodies to act as general representatives of their respective universities. Their role is to provide a welcoming service for the university, to orientate students to university life, and to provide general assistance to the university.

The Garnet Key Society was begun at Sir George Williams College in 1956 by two fourth-year students, Vic Rogers and Dave Williams with assistance from the Faculty Council, as well as athletic director Mag Flynn and fourth-year student Stu McEvoy. The first official function was to assist in welcoming Hungarian refugee students en route to the University of British Columbia. Since then the Society has been increasingly active in all phases of university life. Membership is considered an honour, and members act as ambassadors, representing the student body at official university events.

In the 1990s the Concordia Graduate History Students' Association organised annual conferences called History in the Making, to allow graduate students in history to present papers in their respective fields. The conferences were not restricted to Concordia students: invitations were extended to universities in Québec, Ontario, the Maritimes, and the northeastern United States.

The Graduate Students' Association (GSA) is the governing body that rules over much of graduate student activity at Concordia University. The GSA deals with academic issues, academic student associations, and services. The GSA council is elected annually by graduate students.

1997: Establishment of Auxiliary Services Department under the direction of Bob MacIver. The establishment of Auxiliary Services brought together Conference Services, Food Services, Printing Services, and Mail Services.

2007: Auxiliary Services was renamed to Hospitality Concordia to reflect the consolidation of all hospitality services in one department. This new department consisted of eight interrelated services including: Reservation Centre, Conference Services, Food Services, Beverage Services, Locker Services, Parking Services, Automated Banking Machines, Commercial Campus Advertising.

In March 1998, Computing Services Department and the Audio Visual Department formally merged into a single unit, named Instructional and Information Technological Services (IITS). The former director of Computing Services, John Woodrow, became the Executive Director of the new unit. At the time of his retirement from Concordia in 2001, he was replaced by Andre McAusland, former Director of Academic Technology of the Faculty of Arts and Science. Creative Media Services (CMS) was part of IITS for 9 years (2002-2009). Its mandate was to provide multimedia production services to the whole Concordia University community. CMS had its origins in Academic Technology of the Faculty of Arts and Science, joined IITS in June 2002, and adopted its name in September 2004. CMS was transferred to University Communications Services (UCS) on June 1, 2009.

The International and Ethnic Associations Council of Concordia is an umbrella organization representing (as of 2015) 9 international/ethnic associations at Concordia University. It was founded in 1981 and recognized by the Concordia Council on Student Life (CCSL) in October 1982. The IEAC has since established itself as the governing body of its member associations, representing them before the university’s administration, faculty, student population, other university bodies and student organizations, as well as the community at large.
The IEAC consists of one representative from each member association and an elected executive. As such, it oversees and coordinates the activities of its member associations, as it seeks to promote an alliance and improved relations between international/ethnic student associations and other student organizations. Its main objectives are to unite Concordia’s various ethnic communities, and provide a place for social and cultural integration for its member’s association.
Among the activities to promote cultural diversity, the IEAC has hosted over the years a Cultural Week event where each group gives the Concordia community the opportunity to experience firsthand foreign cultures with music, dance and food. Other cultural events include concerts, exhibits, workshops and lectures.

The Sir George Williams University Art Gallery officially opened in 1966 in the Henry F. Hall Building. In 1984, the space was renamed the Concordia Art Gallery. In 1992 the Gallery was renamed in honour Leonard and Bina Ellen.

The Coalition for the Integration of Lesbian Studies at Concordia was created in 1987. The name was changed to Lesbian Studies Coalition of Concordia (LSCC) in 1989.

The LSCC works toward integrating lesbian material and perspectives into all applicable disciplines, and eventually establishing a degree-granting program. The coalition acts as a support group for lesbians who need to discuss their experiences in a lesbophobic academic community and acts as a watchdog against heterosexism.

October 1977: The Liberal Arts College Working Committee is formed, representing both Loyola and Sir George Williams campuses and drawn from all Divisions of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to elaborate a dossier containing the core-curriculum of a Liberal Arts College.

March 9, 1978: Concordia University's Board of Governors approves the establishment of four units following a Senate recommendation: the Institute for Women's Studies, the Centre for Mature Students, the Liberal Arts College and the Lonergan College.

1979: The Liberal Arts College appears for the first time in the 1979-1980 Undergraduate Calendar.

1980: Stan Tucker offers a cheque of $3,000 to Principal Frederick Krantz to start the Rita Tucker Library in honour of his deceased wife. The Library collects the great works of Western civilization.

September 26, 1985: The Liberal Arts College is hosting the inaugural the George Rudé Inaugural Lecture featuring professor Eric Hobsbawm presenting on the theme of 'Bandits and Historians'.

• The Lonergan University College was named after Bernard Lonergan, an internationally respected philospher/theologian (a Companion of the Order of Canada, Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and a Loyola College alumnus). The college aimed to attract teachers and students with an interest in the intersectionality of philosophy and religion.
• Sean McEvenue was named the first Principal of the Lonergan University College, in 1978.
• The college began admitting students in the Spring of 1979 and was fully operational in September of that same year.
• The first distinguished fellow of the Lonergan University College was Philip McShane. He was appointed for a one-year term taking effect in the Fall of 1979.
• The closing of the Lonergan University College was made official during the Board of Governors meeting of September 18, 2003, due to a decrease in student interest, retirement of full-time professors invested in the College and loss of space.

Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability (formerly known as Loyola International College until 2012) opened in 2002. It was founded by an inter-disciplinary group of professors drawn from science, social science and humanities departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. From the outset the College’s main purpose was to provide a coherent program of interdisciplinary courses on the Loyola campus on a central issue of our time, specifically the challenges and opportunities of diversity.

The Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema has its origins in the Sir George Williams University (SGWU) Moving Pictures program, which was located in the Department of Fine Arts. The development of this program first appeared following a draft proposal for a Cinema Major in 1972, commissioned by Professors Alfred Pinsky and Edwy Cooke. After the merger of SGWU and Loyola College to form Concordia University in 1974, the program became the Cinema Section of the Visual Arts Division of the new Faculty of Fine Arts. A Cinema proposal was submitted in 1974 to which the Quebec Conseil des universités answered with recommendations in 1978, leading to the creation of two specializations: Film Studies and Film Production, in 1980-1981. Later, another specialization in Film Animation will be added. In 1981, the Faculty of Fine Arts was reorganized and existing Divisions were replaced by formally created departments. The Cinema and the Photography programs were joined together to form the Department of Cinema and Photography. In June 1986, the department was renamed Department of Cinema when the two programs of Photography and Printmaking were established as one department. From 1988, the Department of Cinema offers a graduate program in Film Production joint with the Studio Arts program. The Digital Animation, Digital Image/Sound program was launched in June of 1997. In December 1997, the department again changed its name for the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 1998, the department offers a new graduate program in Film Studies.

MIGS was founded in 1986 by Dr Frank Chalk and Dr Kurt Jonassohn and is based in the departments of History and Sociology/Anthropology at Concordia University. In recent years, Concordia faculty members and graduate students from Communications, English, Geography, and Political Science have joined in its work, as have colleagues from McGill and the University of Quebec in Montreal. MIGS is a research centre of the Faculty of Arts and Science of Concordia University. The Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) is recognized internationally as Canada’s leading research and advocacy Institute for genocide and mass atrocity crimes prevention, the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) conducts in-depth scholarly research and proposes concrete policy recommendations to resolve conflicts before they degenerate into mass atrocity crimes. MIGS has achieved national and international recognition for its national interest approach to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocity crimes from policymakers, academics, leading research institutes, and the media. Today, MIGS is Canada’s leading voice and international partner on Responsibility to Protect issues.

The Office of Alumni Affairs provided the principal link between Concordia and its network of graduates, to strengthen this bond and to engender in its alumni and students, as future alumni, loyalty and support for the University. The office had its origins in the hiring of Gary Richards on July 1, 1983, as Executive Director of the recently formed Concordia University Alumni Association, reporting to the Rector and to the Association’s Board of Directors. He soon became known as Director of Alumni Affairs. In 1985, the publishing of Concordia University Magazine changed responsibility from Public Relations Department to Alumni Affairs. Gary Richards left the University in April 1989, then Carolishca Locas became Acting Director until the arrival of Ann Vroom on September 18, who stayed Director of Alumni Affairs for the following 10 years, until October 1, 1999. In accordance to the final report of the Advancement and Alumni Task Force (October 12, 1999), the offices of Alumni Affairs and University Advancement were organizationally and geographically consolidated in 2000. Both units moved to the fifth floor of the Faubourg Building and became one unit: Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR).

In 1977, after lengthy discussions Senate and Board of Governors approved the formation of Concordia’s Faculty of Arts and Science through the consolidation of Sir George Williams Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science, and Loyola Faculty of Arts and Science. The new structure had three divisions of academic departments (each division with a divisional dean) and a division for small units such as colleges (headed by a Provost); all were responsible to a separate Vice-Rector Academic (V-R Academic, Arts and Science) effective July 1, 1977. On January 17, 1985, the Board of Governors approved restructuring of the Faculty of Arts and Science with a single Dean and four Vice-Deans, eliminating existing divisions. The four divisions of the Faculty were united under a single Dean by July 1, 1985.

In 1974 Sir George Williams University (SGWU) and Loyola College merged to form Concordia University, and existing Fine Arts departments were consolidated into a newly established Faculty of Fine Arts in June 1975. By the time of the merger, both of Concordia University’s founding institutions had responded to the desire for more expansive and accessible education for the artist. Loyola College offered a number of film studies courses in the Department of Communication Arts and formal studies in music and drama in the new Department of Fine Arts established in fall 1973. SGWU’s profile with respect of Fine Arts was stronger, the Department of Fine Arts had been established as early as 1960 and there were already two master programs (Art Education and Studio/Art History). The establishment of the Concordia Faculty of Fine Arts was authorized by the Board of Governors on June 14, 1974. Its first Dean was Alfred Pinsky. The Faculty Performing Arts (Music and Theatre Arts) were grouped at Loyola Campus and the Visual Arts (Studio Arts/Art Education, Art History, Cinema) at SGW Campus. In 1981 the Faculty of Fine Arts was reorganized and existing Divisions of Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Graduate Programs were replaced with formally created departments of Art Education; Art History; Cinema and Photography; Design; Music; Painting and Drawing; Printmaking; Sculpture and Crafts; and Theatre. Later on, some of these departments were reorganized and renamed.

With the merger in 1974 of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University (SGWU) to form Concordia University, the SGWU and Loyola Faculties of Engineering were combined to form the Concordia Faculty of Engineering. In December 1980, in order to describe more accurately the activity of the Faculty, its name was changed to Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. In the Fall of 2018, Concordia has renamed the faculty after Gina Cody (MEng 81, PhD 89) in recognition of her generosity to her alma mater and achievements in her field.

With the merger in 1974 of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University (SGWU) to form Concordia University, the Loyola Faculty of Commerce and the SGWU Faculty of Commerce and Administration were combined to form the Concordia Faculty of Commerce and Administration. In 1995 the Loyola campus component of the Faculty joined the SGW campus in downtown. In November 2000, the Faculty changed its name to John Molson School of Business.

The School of Extended Learning provided a wide range of programs and services which were aimed at increasing student accessibility to the University. Its programs and services were accessed through the School’s Centre for Continuing Education and Student Transition Centre (formerly the Centre for Mature Students). The Board of Governors approved the establishment of a School of General Studies on May 18, 2006. Upon recommendation the Dean of the School, Noel Burke, it was renamed School of Extended Learning in October 2007. On May 20, 2015, the Board of Governors approved the discontinuance of the School of Extended Learning (SEL) as an academic unit, effective June 1, 2015, and that any remaining activities be continued under the Centre for Continuing Education.

The Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University has its origins in the Office of the Principal of Sir George Williams University (SGWU). On August 10, 1973, with the imminent ratification of the merger between SGWU and Loyola College to create Concordia University, a new SGWU Board of Governors was established composed of equal membership from both institutions. On the same day, among new officers appointed, John W. O’Brien, Principal of SGWU, became Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and Patrick Malone, President of Loyola College, became Vice-Rector and Principal of Loyola campus. However, the new university received its official establishment from Quebec only a year later, in August 1974. During this instable situation, the Office of the Rector of Sir George Williams University (“to be known as Concordia University”) operated as much as possible as though Concordia was legally in existence. The English-language titles of Rector and Vice-Chancellor were changed to President and Vice-Chancellor by the Board of Governors, on June 17, 2004. However, the French-language nomenclature for these positions, Recteur and Vice-Chancellier, remained unchanged. As chief executive officer of the University, the President and Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the execution of the decisions of the Board of Governors and of Senate. Vice-Presidents and Chief Officers are reporting to the President, as well as different administrative bodies.

The Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs is the University senior academic officer and provides leadership to the faculty deans and the academic support units, such as the academic departments, research centres and laboratories. The position of Vice-Rector, Academic was established on August 10, 1973, with the adoption by the Board of Governors of By-Law “D” which established the governing and administrative structure of the coming new university, Concordia University. Jack Bordan, who had then been Vice-Principal, Academic of Sir George Williams University, became the first Vice-Rector, Academic of the new institution. For almost a decade at Concordia, there was an additional Vice-Rector, Academic position for Arts and Science, from May 1977 to April 1985, a position held by Russell Breen. The merging of the two Vice-Rector, Academic portfolios into one occurred with a reorganization of the University senior administration adopted by the Board of Governors in Fall 1984. In 1996, in the context of another reorganization of the senior administrative structure and with the discontinuation of the position Associate Vice-Rector, Academic (Research), the Vice-Rector, Academic assumed direct responsibility for the research portfolio. This was reflected in a change of title from Vice-Rector, Academic to Provost and Vice-Rector, Research. In June 2002, the title was again amended to that of Provost, with the establishment of the position of Vice-Provost Research - which was filled in 2003 -, a position reporting directly to the Provost. The English-language title of Provost was changed to Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs by the Board of Governors in October 2004.

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies works closely with the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs in furthering the academic mission of the University. While the Provost and V-P, Academic Affairs serves as chief academic officer and manages the overall academic enterprise, the V-P Research and Graduate Studies concentrates on developing research, graduate studies, and international activities at Concordia. The position of Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies was established in December 2005 by the Board of Governors, when the Concordia research profile had grown steadily.

The Office of the Vice-Rector, Services was established in 1984 for ensuring efficient, satisfactory and cost-effective services to University employees (faculty and staff) and students. The creation of the position of Vice-Rector, Services was part of a reorganization of the University senior administration which mainly involved the merging of the two existing Vice-Rector (Academic) portfolios into one and the creation of two other Vice-Rector positions, one for Services and the other for Institutional Relations and Finance. Graham Martin, who had then been Vice-Rector, Administration and Finance, became the first Vice-Rector, Services. The English-language titles of Rector and Vice-Rector were changed to President and Vice-President by the Board of Governors, on June 17, 2004. However, the French-language nomenclature for these positions, Recteur and Vice-Recteur, remained unchanged.

With the formation of the Concordia Faculty of Arts and Science in March 1977, an additional Vice-Rector, Academic position was created for Arts and Science that existed for almost a decade, from 1977 to 1985. Russell Breen, former Dean of the Loyola Faculty of Arts and Science, was appointed Vice-Rector Academic, Arts and Science in May 1977, a position he held until his retirement in April 1985. In fall 1980, after the closing of the Office of the Vice-Rector and Principal of Loyola campus, Russell Breen’s office was moved from downtown as the new office of senior representative of the Concordia administration at Loyola campus.

The position of Vice-Rector and Principal of Loyola campus was established on August 10, 1973, with the adoption by the Board of Governors of By-Law “D” which established the governing and administrative structure of the coming new university, Concordia University. From that date, Father Patrick G. Malone, S. J. (still President of Loyola College), held the position until his resignation, on July 31, 1974, a few weeks before Concordia finally received its legal and official establishment from the Quebec Government. Father Aloysius Graham was appointed by a search committee to the position in October 1974 and stayed in office until the end of his term in 1980. With the departure of Father Graham, by a decision made in March 1979 by the Board of Governors, the position was discontinued. Father Graham’s responsibilities in the areas of student services, registrar, admissions, recruitment and advertising were then divided between the Vice-Rector Academic (Arts and Science), Russell Breen, and the Vice-Rector for Administration and Finance, Graham Martin. In fall 1980, Vice-Rector Breen moved from downtown to a new office as senior representative of the Concordia administration at Loyola campus.
Assistants to the Vice-Rector and Principal of Loyola Campus:
• Patrick Duder 1973-1977
• Mark Doughty: 1977 to August 1978
• William Shore (Loy. 1941): September 1978 to 1980

The position of Vice-Rector, Administration and Finance was established on August 10, 1973, with the adoption by the Board of Governors of By-Law “D” which established the governing and administrative structure of the coming new university, Concordia University. The new university received its official establishment from the Quebec only a year later, in August 1974. The office was partly in continuity with the former Office of the Vice-Principal, Administration and Finance at Sir George Williams University (SGWU). The Concordia Vice-Rector, Administration and Finance was responsible to the Rector for the general administration of the University and was a member of the Board of Governors. In October 1984 the position of the Vice-Rector, Administration and Finance was divided in two new ones, Vice-rector Services and Vice-Rector, Institutional and Finance, creating two new offices.

The Office of University Advancement was primarily responsible for the University’s fundraising activities, from 1989 to 2000. Following the disappearance of the Development Office in 1986 and the departure of Ketchum Inc. - a consulting firm hired to manage the final phase of the Concordia five-year $25-million Capital Campaign Building Together -, the position of Director of University Advancement and Associate Vice-Rector, Institutional Relations was created in the Spring of 1988. Brian Selwood became acting Director of Advancement until Christopher Hyde’s appointment to the new position on July 1, 1989. Christopher Hyde left the University at the end of 1999. During his mandate, the Annual Giving Campaign was revived and Concordia lunched its second capital campaign in the Fall of 1997, the Campaign for a New Millenium. In accordance to the final report of the Advancement and Alumni Task Force (October 12, 1999), the offices of Alumni Affairs and University Advancement were organizationally and geographically consolidated in 2000. Both units moved to the fifth floor of the Faubourg building and became one unit: Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR).

The Oscar Peterson Concert Hall was built in 1990 as part of the revitalization of the Loyola campus. Since opening, the hall has hosted many internationally renowned artists, comedians and musicians, including Wynton Marsalis, Arlo Guthrie, Roger McGuinn, Kitty Wells, Stompin Tom Connors, Tommy Hunter, Richie Havens, Theo Bikell, Max Amini, Maz Jobrani, Orny Adams, Ranee Lee and Oliver Jones. The Oscar Peterson Concert Hall is also used for recordings.

Originally named the Concordia Concert Hall the venue was renamed for acclaimed Montreal pianist Oscar Peterson in 1999.