The Edmonton College Committee was established in late 1968 by the Board of Post Secondary Education in Alberta to study the planning of a community college for Edmonton. The eight areas the committee was to report on were: purpose, programs of study, student clientele, administration, cost estimates, phase development, relationship to other institutions, and other relevant matters.

The six committee members visited junior or community colleges in cities all over Canada and the United States. The programs that the committee proposed were not duplicated in other institutions and included journalism, police and fire services, sales, and fine arts. Adult and continuing education courses were also suggested.