Sub-sub-series consists of correspondence of the Vice-President, Academic with, related to, or copied from the Vice-President Research. Topics include research policy development, research grants and professorships, development of the student information system (SIMON), supervision of research centres and institutes, and the deliberations and activities of a number of university committees including the SFU / Canada Foundation for Innovation Steering Committee, the University Publications Committee, the President's Research Grant Committee, and the University Radiology Safety Committee. Records include correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, communiqués and press releases, annual reports of research centres, and research grant proposals, summaries, and awards lists.

Sub-series consists of records relating to the Vice-President, Academic's interactions with the Vice-President, Research / Information Systems (VP Research after 1990), records relating to SFU research institutes and external granting agencies, and correspondence with university departments during the periods in which they reported to the VP Research, including the University Archives, Computing Services, the University Library and Bookstore, the Animal Care Facility, and the University / Industry Liaison Office. The correspondence begins with the appointment of Tom Calvert as the first Vice-President, Research / Information Systems in 1985 and continues with Calvert's successors. Note that in 1985 the Office carried forward a number of pre-1985 files relating to research centres and institutes and integrated these into the new series. Activities and topics documented include organization of the VP Research portfolio; development and implementation of university research policy; research grants and professorships, and correspondence with granting agencies, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Science Council; records relating to research centres and institutes, including unsuccessful proposals; development of the student information system (SIMON); and the deliberations and activities of a number of university committees including the SFU / Canada Foundation for Innovation Steering Committee, the University Publications Committee, the President's Research Grant Committee, the University Radiology Safety Committee, and the University Computing Advisory Committee. Records include correspondence and reports; policies, drafts, and working papers; research centre proposals, applications, agreements, budgets, and annual reports; research grant proposals, summaries, and awards lists; contracts and agreements; and communiqués and press releases.

Sub-sub-series consists of the Vice-President, Academic's correspondence with, related to, or copied from the Vice-President, Development / Vice-President, Harbour Centre. Activities and topics documented include campus development, including establishment of the downtown campus at Harbour Centre (planning, construction, programming, staffing), and SFU Village, a 1980s plan to create a residential and commercial community using university lands (predecessor of the Burnaby Mountain Community plan); university fund-raising, including the Bridge to the Future Campaign (1987-1990), a national campaign to raise $32 million for university projects, programs, equipment, research, scholarships and bursaries, and development of the Harbour Centre campus; alumni relations; and development of policy relating to gifts and donations.

Sub-series consists of records relating to the Vice-President, Academic's interactions with the Vice-President, Harbour Centre and with university departments during the periods in which they reported to the VP, including University News Service / Media and Public Relations. Note that this vice-presidential office underwent several names changes over the period represented by this sub-series: VP University Development and Extension (1981-1985), VP University Development (1985-1986), VP SFU at Harbour Centre (1986-1991), VP Harbour Centre and External Relations (1991-1994), VP Harbour Centre and Continuing Studies (1994-1998). Activities and topics documented include policy development and implementation, including policy relating to gifts and donations; campus development, establishment of the downtown campus at Harbour Centre (planning, construction, programming, staffing), and planning for SFU Village, a 1980s plan to create a residential and commercial community using university lands (predecessor of the Burnaby Mountain Community plan); university fundraising, including the Bridge to the Future Campaign (1987-1990), a national campaign to raise funds for university projects, programs, equipment, research, scholarships, bursaries, and development of the Harbour Centre campus; alumni relations; and media liaison and publicity. Records include correspondence, reports, press releases, and brochures and other printed material.

Sub-sub-series consists of the Vice-President Academic's correspondence with, related to, or copied from the Vice-President Financial Services (called Vice-President, Finance from 1985-1988), and some departments in that VP's reporting portfolio (Facilities Management and Security). Topics include payroll, accounting, capital planning, budget policies and procedures, tuition fee policy, development of the administration information system for payroll and personnel, the report of the President's Advisory Committee on Finance (1985), and a report on The Finance Function at SFU prepared by the Woods Gordon firm. Records include correspondence, reports, budget applications, capital plans, and financial statements.