Forty years after Clark Kerr coined the term 'multiversity', the American research university has continued to evolve into a complex force for social and economic good. This volume explores the contemporary state of the research university system, offering a multifaceted view of the university at the beginning of a the century.

Forty years after Clark Kerr coined the term 'multiversity', the American research university has continued to evolve into a complex force for social and economic good. This volume provides a unique opportunity to explore the current state of the research university system. Charles M. Vest, one of the leading advocates for autonomy for American higher education, offers a multifaceted view of the university at the beginning of a new century. With a complex mission and funding structure, the university finds its international openness challenged by new security concerns and its ability to contribute to worldwide opportunity through sharing and collaboration dramatically expanded by the Internet. In particular, Vest addresses the need to nurture broad access to our universities and stay true to the fundamental mission of creating opportunity.

Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1. Federal, State, and Local Governments Chapter 2. Industry, Philanthropy, and Universities: The Roles and Influences of the Private Sector in Higher Education Chapter 3. Openness of Education, Research, and Scholarly Communication in an Age of Globalization and Terrorism Chapter 4. The Emerging Global Meta-University: Higher Education and Scholarship in the Age of the Internet Notes Index