Christenson's wish was fulfilled when two years of college work were approved for the school, to start in the fall of 1916. But part of the Principal's agreement with the Board of Education had been that he would stay only two years. Although he agreed to stay for another academic year, he spent much of that time on travel. In his absence, Manwaring more or less served as acting principal. During the summer after that, Christenson left and George S. Romney became the new Principal. Early in his tenure, the school was certified by the state for teacher education and was thereafter known as Ricks Normal College. (After this, Romney was known as the "President" of Ricks.) With those changes, Manwaring moved from the Academy English Department to become Dean of the college Department of Psychology and Education.