Science as a vocation is changing, but it does not have to turn for the worse. In the midst of global challenges to science, the vocation has an opportunity to reorient focus. This essay discusses the ways in which science and higher education have failed, how these failings manifest throughout academia, and how academia can improve. First, I discuss approaches to reform bureaucratic structures in academia. Then, I examine perceptions of academia from the perspectives of students and the general public. Finally, I outline one relatively stable model for the university. I conclude by discussing the merits of not adhering to this model.