The reforms on the modern university academy system that preserve certain elements of China's ancient traditional academies have currently encountered a series of difficulties. The crux of the problem is that living and educational spaces were integrated in the traditional academy, while modern school education institution has separated the two. So the modern university academy system only inherits the spatial form of the traditional academy. To resolve these difficulties requires creatively preserving the spirit rather than the form of the traditional academy, systemically innovating in institutions such as the advisor system, general education curriculum, and association activities, and also exploring mechanisms for academies to coordinate with professional schools and university student affairs. [This article was translated by Jeff Keller.]