The purpose of this paper is focused toward a systems understanding of the contemporary university, the American University being the data base. A general systems conceptualization called the open systems university is presented. Comprehensive and generic in character, it is hoped that the theory of the open university will be viable enough to fill the lacuna in organizational theory literature on the university. The university can be likened to open systems of the natural types (biological, chemical, or physical systems). All open systems are self-regulating systems. The university is an open system of high complexity, high statistical improbability and order. Its subsystem units are: (1) decision-making bodies, and (2) operational departments. The university is a self-regulating, goal-seeking, open system, which translated into human affairs means freedom and responsibility. The hope is that this open system view of the university will have substantive meaning and be a contribution to the organizational theory about the university; and it is hoped that this view provides useful pragmatic insight for those who lead lives of the university today, wherever the institution is found. The appendix contains the statistical data and charts that accompany the text. (Author/PG)