diff --git a/app/controllers/metadata_profiles_controller.rb b/app/controllers/metadata_profiles_controller.rb
index 1c811ec5..a18842aa 100644
--- a/app/controllers/metadata_profiles_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/metadata_profiles_controller.rb
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ def new
   #
   def show
     # N.B.: these include only directly-assigned units and collections.
-    @units       = @profile.units
     @collections = @profile.collections
     @new_element = MetadataProfileElement.new
   end
diff --git a/app/controllers/units_controller.rb b/app/controllers/units_controller.rb
index 69e9f914..92ddeffd 100644
--- a/app/controllers/units_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/units_controller.rb
@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ def show
   # Responds to `GET /units/:id/about`
   #
   def show_about
-    @metadata_profile    = @unit.effective_metadata_profile
     @num_downloads       = MonthlyUnitItemDownloadCount.sum_for_unit(unit: @unit)
     @num_submitted_items = @unit.submitted_item_count
     @collections         = Collection.search.
@@ -600,9 +599,8 @@ def submissions_in_progress(start, limit)
   end
 
   def unit_params
-    params.require(:unit).permit(:institution_id, :introduction,
-                                 :metadata_profile_id, :parent_id, :rights,
-                                 :short_description, :title)
+    params.require(:unit).permit(:institution_id, :introduction, :parent_id,
+                                 :rights, :short_description, :title)
   end
 
 end
diff --git a/app/models/collection.rb b/app/models/collection.rb
index d8bdbb9d..dd61cf3e 100644
--- a/app/models/collection.rb
+++ b/app/models/collection.rb
@@ -376,12 +376,11 @@ def effective_administering_users
 
   ##
   # @return [MetadataProfile] The metadata profile assigned to the instance, or
-  #         the profile assigned to the primary unit, or the institution's
-  #         default profile as a last resort.
+  #         else the institution's default profile.
   #
   def effective_metadata_profile
     #noinspection RubyMismatchedReturnType
-    self.metadata_profile || self.primary_unit&.effective_metadata_profile
+    self.metadata_profile || self.institution.default_metadata_profile
   end
 
   ##
diff --git a/app/models/metadata_profile.rb b/app/models/metadata_profile.rb
index 3932d0e1..167ea98e 100644
--- a/app/models/metadata_profile.rb
+++ b/app/models/metadata_profile.rb
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@ class MetadataProfile < ApplicationRecord
   has_many :elements, -> { order(:position) },
            class_name: "MetadataProfileElement", inverse_of: :metadata_profile,
            dependent: :destroy
-  has_many :units, inverse_of: :metadata_profile,
-           dependent: :restrict_with_exception
 
   normalizes :name, with: -> (value) { value.squish }
 
diff --git a/app/models/unit.rb b/app/models/unit.rb
index 89ffcd22..caab456d 100644
--- a/app/models/unit.rb
+++ b/app/models/unit.rb
@@ -22,14 +22,6 @@
 # * `created_at`          Managed by ActiveRecord.
 # * `institution_id`      Foreign key to {Institution}.
 # * `introduction`        Introduction string. May contain HTML.
-# * `metadata_profile_id` Foreign key to {MetadataProfile}. Instances without
-#                         this set will use the
-#                         {Institution#default_metadata_profile default
-#                         metadata profile of the institution}. Child
-#                         collections may override it with their own
-#                         {metadata_profile} property. In most cases,
-#                         {effective_metadata_profile} should be used instead
-#                         of accessing this directly.
 # * `parent_id`           Foreign key to a parent {Unit}.
 # * `rights`              Rights string.
 # * `short_description`   Short description string.
@@ -64,7 +56,6 @@ class IndexFields
   end
 
   belongs_to :institution
-  belongs_to :metadata_profile, inverse_of: :units, optional: true
   belongs_to :parent, class_name: "Unit", foreign_key: "parent_id", optional: true
 
   has_many :administrators, class_name: "UnitAdministrator"
@@ -281,16 +272,6 @@ def effective_administering_users
     @effective_administering_users
   end
 
-  ##
-  # @return [MetadataProfile] The metadata profile assigned to the instance, or
-  #         the owning institution's default metadata profile if no profile is
-  #         assigned to the instance.
-  #
-  def effective_metadata_profile
-    #noinspection RubyMismatchedReturnType
-    self.metadata_profile || self.institution.default_metadata_profile
-  end
-
   ##
   # Un-buries an instance.
   #
@@ -362,8 +343,7 @@ def move_to(institution:, user:)
           progress.report(entity_idx, "Moving #{unit.title} to #{institution.name}")
           unit.administrators.destroy_all
           unit.administrator_groups.destroy_all
-          unit.update!(institution_id:   institution.id,
-                       metadata_profile: nil)
+          unit.update!(institution_id: institution.id)
           unit.collections.each do |collection|
             progress.report(entity_idx, "Moving #{collection.title} to #{institution.name}")
             collection.administrators.destroy_all
diff --git a/app/util/csv_exporter.rb b/app/util/csv_exporter.rb
index d36af815..157ef904 100644
--- a/app/util/csv_exporter.rb
+++ b/app/util/csv_exporter.rb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def export(units: [], collections: [], elements: [])
     # Compile a list of elements to include.
     if elements.empty?
       profile  = collections.first&.effective_metadata_profile ||
-        units.first&.effective_metadata_profile
+        units.first&.institution&.default_metadata_profile
       elements = profile.elements.map(&:name)
     end
 
diff --git a/app/views/metadata_profiles/show.html.haml b/app/views/metadata_profiles/show.html.haml
index a5f23322..d8dfeba8 100644
--- a/app/views/metadata_profiles/show.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/metadata_profiles/show.html.haml
@@ -40,16 +40,6 @@
       Elements
       %span.badge.rounded-pill.text-bg-secondary= @profile.elements.count
   - unless @profile.global?
-    %li.nav-item
-      %button#units-tab.nav-link{"data-bs-target": "#units",
-                                 "data-bs-toggle": "tab",
-                                 role:             "tab",
-                                 type:             "button",
-                                 "aria-controls":  "units",
-                                 "aria-selected":  "false"}
-        = icon_for(Unit)
-        Directly Assigned Units
-        %span.badge.rounded-pill.text-bg-secondary= @units.count
     %li.nav-item
       %button#collections-tab.nav-link{"data-bs-target": "#collections",
                                        "data-bs-toggle": "tab",
@@ -166,12 +156,6 @@
                   = element.relevance_weight
 
   - unless @profile.global?
-    #units.tab-pane.fade{role:              "tabpanel",
-                         "aria-labelledby": "units-tab"}
-      - if @units.exists?
-        = resource_list(@units)
-      - else
-        This metadata profile is not directly assigned to any units.
     #collections.tab-pane.fade{role:              "tabpanel",
                                "aria-labelledby": "collections-tab"}
       - if @collections.exists?
diff --git a/app/views/units/_properties_form.html.haml b/app/views/units/_properties_form.html.haml
index cb307436..b6af331c 100644
--- a/app/views/units/_properties_form.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/units/_properties_form.html.haml
@@ -26,14 +26,6 @@
     = f.label :rights
     = f.text_area :rights, class: "form-control"
 
-  .mb-3
-    = f.label :metadata_profile_id, "Metadata Profile"
-    = f.select :metadata_profile_id, MetadataProfile.where(institution: f.object.institution).order(:name).pluck(:name, :id),
-               { include_blank: true }, class: "form-select"
-    %p.form-text
-      = icon_for(:info)
-      If left blank, the default metadata profile will be used.
-
   .clearfix
     .float-end
       %button.btn.btn-light{"data-bs-dismiss": "modal", type: "button"} Cancel
diff --git a/app/views/units/_show_about_tab.html.haml b/app/views/units/_show_about_tab.html.haml
index 0957cdf5..1b6d33e1 100644
--- a/app/views/units/_show_about_tab.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/units/_show_about_tab.html.haml
@@ -22,15 +22,6 @@
   %dt Handle URI
   %dd= @unit.handle&.permanent_url
   - if policy(@unit).show_extended_about?
-    %dt Metadata Profile
-    %dd
-      - if @unit.metadata_profile
-        - if policy(@metadata_profile).show?
-          = link_to(@metadata_profile.name, @metadata_profile)
-        - else
-          = @metadata_profile.name
-      - else
-        = raw("Not assigned (falling back to #{link_to(@metadata_profile.name, @metadata_profile)})")
     %dt File Downloads
     %dd= number_with_delimiter(@num_downloads)
     %dt Items Awaiting Review
diff --git a/app/views/units/_show_items_tab.html.haml b/app/views/units/_show_items_tab.html.haml
index 7369191b..eb54d531 100644
--- a/app/views/units/_show_items_tab.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/units/_show_items_tab.html.haml
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
               = filter_field
           #advanced-search.tab-pane.fade.mt-3{role: "tabpanel",
                                               "aria-labelledby": "advanced-search-tab"}
-            = advanced_search_form(@unit.effective_metadata_profile)
+            = advanced_search_form(@unit.institution.default_metadata_profile)
 
     .row.justify-content-between
       .col-8
diff --git a/db/migrate/20240311195942_remove_metadata_profile_id_column_from_units.rb b/db/migrate/20240311195942_remove_metadata_profile_id_column_from_units.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cdea1099
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20240311195942_remove_metadata_profile_id_column_from_units.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+class RemoveMetadataProfileIdColumnFromUnits < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.1]
+  def change
+    remove_column :units, :metadata_profile_id
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 79a84091..422ced47 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema[7.1].define(version: 2024_03_11_185518) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema[7.1].define(version: 2024_03_11_195942) do
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "plpgsql"
   enable_extension "unaccent"
@@ -779,9 +779,7 @@
     t.text "introduction"
     t.text "rights"
     t.boolean "buried", default: false, null: false
-    t.bigint "metadata_profile_id"
     t.index ["institution_id"], name: "index_units_on_institution_id"
-    t.index ["metadata_profile_id"], name: "index_units_on_metadata_profile_id"
     t.index ["parent_id"], name: "index_units_on_parent_id"
   end
 
@@ -922,7 +920,6 @@
   add_foreign_key "unit_collection_memberships", "collections", on_update: :cascade, on_delete: :cascade
   add_foreign_key "unit_collection_memberships", "units", on_update: :cascade, on_delete: :cascade
   add_foreign_key "units", "institutions", on_update: :cascade, on_delete: :restrict
-  add_foreign_key "units", "metadata_profiles", on_update: :cascade, on_delete: :restrict
   add_foreign_key "units", "units", column: "parent_id", on_update: :cascade, on_delete: :restrict
   add_foreign_key "user_groups", "institutions", on_update: :cascade, on_delete: :cascade
   add_foreign_key "user_groups_users", "user_groups", on_update: :cascade, on_delete: :cascade
diff --git a/test/models/collection_test.rb b/test/models/collection_test.rb
index b4878bff..585883ce 100644
--- a/test/models/collection_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/collection_test.rb
@@ -371,18 +371,9 @@ class CollectionTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert_equal profile, @instance.effective_metadata_profile
   end
 
-  test "effective_metadata_profile() falls back to the primary unit's profile
-  if no profile is assigned" do
-    profile = metadata_profiles(:southeast_default)
-    @instance.metadata_profile = nil
-    @instance.primary_unit.metadata_profile = profile
-    assert_equal profile, @instance.effective_metadata_profile
-  end
-
   test "effective_metadata_profile() falls back to the institution's default
-  profile if no profile is assigned to the primary unit" do
+  profile if no profile is assigned" do
     @instance.metadata_profile = nil
-    @instance.primary_unit.metadata_profile = nil
     assert_equal metadata_profiles(:southeast_default),
                  @instance.effective_metadata_profile
   end
diff --git a/test/models/metadata_profile_test.rb b/test/models/metadata_profile_test.rb
index f9c530a7..8e831010 100644
--- a/test/models/metadata_profile_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/metadata_profile_test.rb
@@ -8,15 +8,6 @@ class MetadataProfileTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
   # base-level tests
 
-  test "instances with dependent units cannot be destroyed" do
-    @instance = metadata_profiles(:southeast_unused)
-    unit = units(:southeast_unit1)
-    unit.update!(metadata_profile: @instance)
-    assert_raises ActiveRecord::DeleteRestrictionError do
-      @instance.destroy!
-    end
-  end
-
   test "destroying an instance destroys its dependent MetadataProfileElements" do
     elements = @instance.elements
     @instance.collections = []
diff --git a/test/models/unit_test.rb b/test/models/unit_test.rb
index eff73766..2001202c 100644
--- a/test/models/unit_test.rb
+++ b/test/models/unit_test.rb
@@ -293,21 +293,6 @@ class UnitTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert_equal 2, admins.length
   end
 
-  # effective_metadata_profile()
-
-  test "effective_metadata_profile() returns the assigned metadata profile" do
-    profile = metadata_profiles(:southeast_unused)
-    @instance.metadata_profile = profile
-    assert_equal profile, @instance.effective_metadata_profile
-  end
-
-  test "effective_metadata_profile() falls back to the institution's default
-  profile if no profile is assigned" do
-    @instance.metadata_profile = nil
-    assert_equal metadata_profiles(:southeast_default),
-                 @instance.effective_metadata_profile
-  end
-
   # exhume!()
 
   test "exhume!() exhumes a buried unit" do