The old concept of higher education as a period of deliberate separation from the pressures and realities of the world does not appeal to many young people today who want to experience the realities of urban civilization and to learn to master them. The responsibility of today's urban university is to win the allegiance of tomorrow's leaders for making the city a wholesome place to live in and work for. This is the motivation behind current attempts to make New York University (NYU) the prototype of the urban university of the future. With a research orientation that distinguishes it from the traditional US urban university, NYU is becoming more attractive to top-flight scholars and students who will eventually infuse new vitality into the city. NYU's present program places emphasis on providing superior academic facilities, new buildings are designed in a style of architecture that is urban in concept, and dormitory facilities are expanding. For the enrichment of life in the city, NYU trains more professional people than any other university, provides the largest amount of clinical services in medicine and dentistry, organizes conferences and special training programs, conducts research for the benefit of city agencies, business, and industry, operates a continuing education program for more than 10,000 adults, and sponsors concerts, performances, and exhibitions of all kinds. NYU's fundamental task is to be well-balanced, with strong foundations in the basic liberal arts and sciences. (WM)