This manual describes the program improvement responsibilities of the Research Coordinating Unit (RCU) of South Carolina's Office of Vocational Education. Following the introduction, the organization and functions of the RCU are briefly presented. The remainder of the booklet is comprised of eight short sections, each discussing an RCU function in more detail and explaining how interested and qualified parties can use the RCU's services to help promote vocational education research in South Carolina. The eight RCU functions covered in these sections are research and training projects, exemplary and innovative projects, curriculum development, requests for proposals, assistance in preparing proposals, project conditions and guidelines and project monitoring, report reviewing and approving, and vocational education information services. (EM)