Federal aid to higher education increased dramatically during the 1960s, and i was to take advantage of this situation that the Bureau for Research and Development was created in 1967. Dr. Dee W. Flitton became the administrator of the program and reported directly to the Academic Vice President. Within a year, Dr. Ralph Monk became director, alternating in the position with Dr. Flitton for two year intervals until 1973 when Dr. Hofmann was made Vice President for the Center of Research and Development in a 1972 administrative reorganization. Dr. Perry T. Larsen headed the agency from 1973-1977 and was replaced by Dr. Alan L. Dayley, former Dean of Student Affairs.

From 1971 until 1973 the office was known as the Bureau of Academic Research and the Center for Research and Development. In 1973 the Office of Research and Development became the official name which it retains today.

Functions of the office include advising faculty in the preparation of proposals to state, federal, and private agencies; locating sources of funding for proposals made by faculty; facilitating interdepartmental cooperation in the proposal preperation process; preparing proposals for building projects in cooperation with the Administrative Vice President and Campus Planning office; compiling and editing college catalog; supervision of financial expenditures received from grants; assisting in the preparation of conferences and training seminars designed to upgrade faculty personnel; and coordinating international educcation programs.

The process of writng and getting a grant proposal approved was a lengthy one. Faculty members, individually or as a group sought advice on the feasibility of their proposals from department heads and drectors of the Office of Research Development. Typically, a proposal after being written would be submitted up the administrative heirarchy for approval: from faculty member to department chairman; to the Dean and to the Academic Vice President. The Office of Research and Development and the Academic and Business Vice PResidents checked each proposal before submission to the President of the college for approval. Following this final step the proposal was submitted to the granting agency.