What are the obligations of the university to society and its communities? What are the virtues of university education? What are the university's civic and ethical responsibilities? This comparative text considers models of higher education in the UK and the US, and individuals' perceptions about the role of university in society. Higher education is subject to pressures - both financial and ethical - and this book forms a thoughtful study of how institutions are reacting to these pressures. It will prove stimulating reading for anyone concerned with the university's place in society - including educational thinkers, academics and policy-makers.