This document presents a case study for an innovative session exploring the nature of learning and the relationship between action learning within academic programs in adult education/human resource development (HRD) and the higher education institutions that house them. The first two sections discuss the dilemmas confronting higher education and challenges for effecting change in higher education. The next section details how James Madison University (JMU) attempted to meet these challenges by reconceptualizing its academic services and student services as integrated, collaborative, and seamless by creating its Student Success Initiative. Presented next are 10 ingredients that were identified as essential to achieving integration of academic and action learning within the university. The following are among the ingredients listed: (1) a strong, open leader within university administration who is willing to take risks and champion the effort; (2) an open, flexible academic program leader willing to explore new ways of teaching and learning; (3) students grounded in performance improvement and instructional systems design approaches; (4) a real need to which practices can effectively be applied; and (5) creative ways to recognize and value student commitment and learning. Concluding the document are a brief conclusion and the agenda of the innovative session. (Contains 32 references.) (MN)