Part I. Historical Background: 1. Medieval monasteries; 2. The university in Europe; 3. The American University to 1968; 4. The retreat from 1968; Part II. Dissolution? Introduction: 5. Governance and boards; 6. Budget wars; 7. The scandal of academe; 8. Exchanging beliefs: the anti-enlightenment, from humanities to technologies; 9. Transformations, takeovers, closings; 10. Conclusions: new directions?