The Scholarship and Research Committee, reporting to the University administration, was established in 1969. It was known as the Committee on Research and Publications when moved from under Administration and was reporting to Senate in 1987. Functions of the Committee include reviewing and recommending on the University's research policy, and recommending annually on the internal funding of research; establishing criteria in the disbursement of monies received from granting councils and internal sources; assessing as peer reviewers applications from the faculty for funding for research project, and making recommendations regarding the allocation of research funds; encouraging publications; serving as the selection committee for the Award for Research Excellence; and serving as the Ethics Appeal Board for graduate and undergraduate projects. Membership includes the Director of Research as an ex-officio member, and four full-time members of faculty(elected) representing the areas of humanities, social sciences, sciences, and professional programs plus one member at large. At least one of these members is a member of Senate.

The Director of Research provides leadership for the administration of the University's research activities. The Research Office provides grant opportunities and reports on grants applied for and received. Full-time ongoing faculty and faculty with term appointments are eligible to apply for internal grants. The MSVU Research Office maintains a Research Inventory, updated on an annual basis, to highlight faculty research. Services offered by the Research Office include Assistance to Prepare a Large-Scale Collaborative Grant; Research Collaboration Workshop: Women and Gender; Aid to Scholarly Publications Grant Application; New Scholars Standard Grant. The Research Office also collects Internal Grant Research Reports from MSVU researchers.

The Research Office is responsible for providing support to the University Research Ethics Board (UREB). With the UREB, the Director promotes educational activities about research ethics. The Research Office provides the administrative support for the UREB.

Series forms part of the Mount Saint Vincent University Senate fonds and consists of minutes of meetings of the Committee on Research and Publications (1989-1990) generated by activities which include encouraging research and publications within the University, acting as the peer review committee for the allocation of internal research funds, and advising Senate on research policy and priorities.

Series also consists of Committee on Research and Publications summary of decisions (1977-1995); Annual Grants and contracts; running tallies external and internal; internal grant reports (1986-1995).