The BCIT Educational Council was created in 1979 by a Board of Governors by-law. Represented on the Council were deans, vice-principals, department heads, Board-elected provincial representatives, alumni, students, representatives from advisory committees, unions, and associations as well as faculty and technical staff elected at large. The Board Secretary served as Secretary to the Council. The first meeting took place on October 25, 1979. Patricia Maertz served as secretary through 1988. Meetings were scheduled on the last Thursday of each month except July and August. Factual summaries of Council proceedings were published in BCIT Developments. Outlined in the by-law were the terms of reference of the Council. These included the review of: educational policies, programs and priorities of the Institute, reports of various committees established by the Council and
*the performance and effectiveness of advisory committees, as well as the establishment of a student appeals committee.
In November 1987 the Education Council approved terms of reference for Councils in the Schools of Engineering Technologies, Health Sciences, Business and Trades Training. The Schools’ Councils were to make recommendations to the B.C.I.T. Educational Council on matters relating to educational policy, programs and priorities, which potentially affected the Institute as a whole. In November 1987 the responsibilities of the Educational Council were redefined to include an annual review of the Institute’s mission statement and educational objectives, and the preparation of a report and recommendations on progress in achieving Institute objectives. In March 1995 a new Educational Council was established following amendments to the Institute of Technology Act in 1994.

Since its formation in 1979, the Educational Council has established a number of committees to deal with specific issues relating to educational policy and procedures. Over the years these have included committees on education, program evaluation, policy and planning, educational standards, programs and priorities, staff development, student services, student appeals, agenda, nominating, ‘set concept’, as well as ad hoc committees.