Community college leadership programs may take a variety of forms, among them university-based programs, leadership institutes, community college-based "grow your own" programs, professional organization-based institutes, or a combination of these. University-based doctorate leadership programs are the principal providers of these leaders. Seventy percent of community college presidents have a doctorate degree in education. In 2006, the California legislature took action to avoid an educational leadership crisis predicted because of a large number of school and community college leaders retiring, increased student populations, and an insufficient pool or pipeline of qualified applicants. Senate Bill 724 amended California's Master Plan for Higher Education to authorize the California State University to award the doctorate in educational administration and leadership for K-12 schools, and community colleges and postsecondary education. The EdD is to be designed for completion in three years (including the dissertation) by full-time working educational personnel. This article discusses some of the issues and considerations as a university develops and builds the institutional, departmental, and program infrastructure to support its first doctorate program, the EdD with a separate cohort for community college leadership. These issues are complex and most often off the radar of the community college practitioner. Implications for practice and the future are proposed.