Manwaring was very well received in his new job, especially after he made some small changes that proved quite popular. Then, in the spring of 1931, he was indeed named President of Ricks College. By then, the potential future of the school had taken a worrisome turn. Church finances remained somewhat precarious, so officials instructed the local Board to explore the possibility of giving (almost literally) the institution to the state of Idaho. Proponents introduced a bill to that effect. However, the idea was hotly opposed by supporters of the existing state schools, who did not want the education budget to be shared by another institution. The vote was close, but the bill failed.