This paper uses time series data from a widely used assessment to identify colleges and universities that demonstrate positive trends on a range of educational effectiveness measures, describe observed patterns of improvement, and examine informants' accounts of factors that contributed to the improvements. This study informs broad questions about organizational learning and improvement in education by identifying the circumstances that enable intentional change to take root and thrive. Findings indicate positive trends at a wide range of institutions, with more positive trends among first-year students. Analysis of informants' comments suggests three key themes of successful change efforts. A Description of Measures is appended. (Contains 3 tables and 2 footnotes.)