In conjunction with a survey of trends in university management in Europe, a North American comparison was undertaken. The national context for higher education in North America and the structural elements characteristic of its colleges and universities are considered, with emphasis directed to the elements of institutional structure that provide the sharpest contrast with the European experience. Several specific aspects of administrative structure and management practices of North American colleges and universities are analyzed, again with a focus on comparisons between North American and European institutions. Ten key issues are addressed: the impacts on management of changing demands for education based on student demographic variations and corresponding student needs; new legal requirements and restrictions; public accountability; institutional autonomy; the size of individual institutions and the number of institutions within a country; economic uncertainty; the increasing complexity of managing higher education institutions; the lack of internal cohesion in the sense of an academic community; management employee relations; and productivity. A typical organizational chart for a single-campus college or university in the United States or Canada is presented that includes the following elements: the governing board, the president and executive staff, the academic staff, state systems of higher education, unions, and students. The typical organization of a state university system is also examined. (SW)