This essay offers several propositions related to the problems of urban areas and notes the implications of these problems for urban universities and their colleges of education. The quality of life in urban America is deteriorating as is the quality of service being provided by urban schools and social service agencies. A large portion of the U.S. population lives in cities and because of this, institutions of higher learning, which historically have failed to respond adequately to the problems of urban America, must focus more attention on the needs of cities. Colleges of education in urban settings must renew their commitment to improving the quality of public education in the cities. The future vitality of the colleges of education also rest in their ability to respond to the needs of an emerging "human service society". Because the U.S. is moving more and more into a mixed economy with a greater role of human service work and the consumption of those services, new forms of educational delivery systems will be necessary. The new kind of educator who is needed will be a generalist in the human relations field, capable of assisting the people in their pursuit of mental and physical health, education and welfare services, and a variety of other human needs. This projection suggests a need to redirect and broaden the role of colleges of education. They should assume the responsibility for training "human service educators" for employment in a variety of settings. In addition to carrying out their teaching and service obligations, colleges of education will need to take greater responsibility for systematic research related to urban social and educational problems. (Author/AM)