University terrified by head of department leaving (7)

I believe the answer is:

reading

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'university' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for reading that I've seen before include "Knowledge of literature" , "Grained (anag)" , "Interpreting text" , "to which Wilde was committed?" , "Ride nag (anag)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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