In 1968, the Minister for Agriculture appointed a Committee of Advice on Rural Studies, and work commenced on the restructuring of courses offered at the College to full tertiary level.  As a result Hawkesbury Agricultural College operated as a College of Advanced Education since 1970 and was formally gazetted as a College of Advanced Education under section 17 (1) of the Higher Education Act, 1969 (amended 1971) on 1st January 1972.

During 1974 it was decided that Hawkesbury Agricultural College would be developed as a corporate, multi-disciplinary College of Advanced Education.  To achieve this goal an Interim Council was established on 20 March 1975.  Since 19 March, 1976, Hawkesbury Agricultural College has operated as an autonomous institution under the provisions of the Colleges of Advanced Education Act (1975) with its own governing Council. (see 1976 Annual Report)