QUOTE(Renee Gade IV @ Mar 19 2013, 02:38 PM)

QUOTE(McBadgere @ Apr 4 2012, 08:43 AM)

And although the Arcane University is there, the Mage's Guild has been disbanded...
Disbanded isn't quite the case. It split into two. The former would have left no replacement guild, so it might have been easier to re-construct.
One assumes the College of Whispers and the Synod have differences it might be hard to reconcile. I'm currently working on trying to create a post-MQ quest that explains that separation, probably based around whether to pursue the Necromancers after Mannimarco is gone.
The Mages Guild had a teaching arm, and an "action" arm at each Guildhall (in theory according to "The Origin of the Mages Guild") with a Master of the Incunabula, and a Master at Arms in change respectively. I can see those roles becoming separated into the College and Synod over the Necromancer issue. Raminus, Tar-meena, Bothiel, Julienne Fanis are all the classic academics who'd stay at the Arcane University and form the College. Some of the chapter heads, like Carahil, Teekeeus, maybe Dagail would support the Synod, and I suspect some of the others at the University would too. Skingrad would probably be all-College, except for Erthor. Bruma, if reconstructed, would be pro-Synod! Cheydinhal, while anti-Necromancer, would have had enough of dealing with them and probably go College, as might Bravil.
By the time of Skyrim, each part would have adopted some of the functions of the other, as the College needs to protect itself, and the Synod needs to train its recruits. Because they're more self-sufficient, they don't need each other any more. I haven't played Skyrim, so I don't really know whether the specializations of the Guildhalls have influenced the College/Synod ones. Anyhow, there were chapters in other provinces that would have contributed.