Urban colleges and universities are reassessing their purposes and roles in American life in an era when they are increasingly challenged by social change. The modern university finds that it will be necessary to involve itself more actively in social participation. This outlook will require curriculum changes, enhancing the otherwise traditional system of higher education with an academic environment more relevant to and cognizant of the significant societal and community problems. This new focus has been catalyzed in part by discontented students who demand an active and meaningful involvement in the world in which they live. Also a growing demand for manpower, particularly in the public or human service sector, is making itself increasingly felt. To help meet this challenge, the urban college and university should create systems for providing realistic, integrated human service learning and work experiences for their students. A college should educate and prepare students to face the unique problems o" urban societies; conduct research on these problems; channel services to the community through institutional programs and cooperation with other concerned city agencies; provide the capability for multi-disciplinary attacks on identifying, analyzing and solving the complex physical and social problems of the urban community; and provide the type of liberal education all cities will need to prosper. (WM)