Higher education carries the potential to transform the troubled state of affairs--from political discord to social injustice--evident in U.S. society. Benefits to the public good can be realized to the extent that college helps students develop a framework for ethical decision making, socially responsible leadership, compassionate engagement with people of other backgrounds and perspectives, and a commitment to building up their communities. How does short-term growth in students' character strengths translate into long-term commitments to enact those strengths? This article explores the educational strategies that cultivate students' character development during college and approaches to ensure character gains endure in the years after they graduate.