The fundamental argument of this paper is that sociologists and administration theorists have not yet constructed appropriate intellectual models for analyzing academic administration, and that the lack is hindering research. Two of the dominant models of university governance, the bureaucratic and the collegial, are examined and criticized, and a new political model is offered as an alternative means of understanding the dynamics of policymaking in academic organizations. In summary, the broad outline of the university's political system looks like this: there is a complex social structure that generates conflict; there are many forms of power and pressure that affect the decisionmakers; there is a legislative stage in which these pressures are translated into policy; and there is a policy execution phase that eventually generates feedback with the potential for new conflicts. This political model has now been used in 3 empirical studies at New York University, Portland State College, and Stanford University, and a brief description of these studies is included. (Author/HS)