This book of nine essays was written to honor Frank H. T. Rhodes, President Emeritus of Cornell University (New York) and addresses ways in which research universities can respond to current challenges. An introductory chapter, "The American University: Dilemmas and Directions" (Ronald G. Ehrenberg), identifies key issues raised in the following seven essays: (1) "No Limits" (William G. Bowen) which focuses on American research universities as vehicles of social mobility; (2) "Research Universities: Overextended, Underfocused, Overstressed, Underfunded" (Charles M. Vest) which looks at results of the breakdown of research partnerships between government and academia; (3) "Cognition, Character, and Culture in Undergraduate Education; Rhetoric and Reality" (Harold T. Shapiro) which finds that a wide gulf has always existed between educational ideals and what teachers and students actually experience; (4) "Graduate Students: Too Many and Too Narrow?" (Mary Anne Fox) which supports the need for a fundamental restructuring of doctoral programs; (5) "Prospect for the Humanities" (Hanna H. Gray) which notes that the humanities always seem to be in crisis; (6) "Prospect for Science and Technology" (Neal Lane) which stresses the need for academic scientists to connect with the society at large in light of decreased federal investment in research; and (7) "Prospect for the Social Sciences in the Land Grant University" (Urie Bronfenbrenner) which stresses the role of social scientists in keeping students informed about social problems (even in the absence of solutions). The final essay is the acceptance speech by Frank Rhodes who offers his ideas on what universities should do to avoid internal degeneration and respond to changing societal needs while still focusing on teaching, research, and scholarship. (DB)