On January 1, 2011, Telford Rural Polytechnic, founded in 1964 as a farm training institute, became Telford, a division of Lincoln University, New Zealand's third-oldest university, founded in 1878 as a school of agriculture.
Prof Charley Lamb was named Telford's new director several months later.
Since then, new staff have been employed, new courses offered, and new initiatives put in place.
Late last year, former Clutha youth development co-ordinator Daniel Maze became hostel manager.
Mr Maze introduced a formal dinner for students, which was well-received with students enjoying ''dressing up'' for the event, Prof Lamb said.
This year, another two new staff members have been named.
Taranaki man Ken Sly has replaced Anton van Schalkwyk as head of school.
Mr Sly studied agricultural economics and teaching at Massey University, and gained his master of education and educational management degree at Hertfordshire University in England.
He has taught in the United Kingdom, Spain, Nigeria, and Kuwait.
Prof Lamb said Mr Sly had a ''wealth of experience''.
He took up the position on January 7, and looks after the operations side of Telford and its finances.
''A year ago we were 11 people short ... it's nice to have a reasonably full staff,'' Prof Lamb said.
Telford is also introducing a four-house system for hostel students, with names soon to be chosen by students.
Four resident assistants (RAs) have been introduced; one for each house.
Telford also took part in a new training course equipping the Clutha district's young people for jobs.
The Ready, Steady, Work course, an initiative under the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs programme, involved a joint approach between the task force and some of Clutha's major employers to run a mentoring programme alongside employment.
The course has been hailed a success, with 24 out of 26 participants now working.
As part of the programme, participants spent a week based at Telford, staying in the hostel and learning agricultural skills.
They began each day with fitness activities and spent the remainder learning farming skills.
Prof Lamb said Telford would take part in the course again this year. A confidence course has also been built on campus, and could be used for the programme.
''It's a very successful programme and we're keen to do it again.''
