The six regional accrediting agencies in the United States have created a set of standards based on best practices in colleges and universities. The evolving perception of an effective institution is one that uses data, assessment, and evaluation results to improve programs and services and strives for a high level of institutional quality. While the regional accrediting agencies require institutional effectiveness (IE) within colleges and universities, institutions need to recognize the value of IE in transforming institutional culture and focusing attention on student success and institutional improvement. Colleges that participate in IE as a function of compliance do not reap the benefits that colleges that use it as an institutional change agent do. "Institutional effectiveness" is a term that has been around for more than 25 years, and although there are commonalities among the regional accrediting agencies, no single agreed-on definition exists. In this article, institutional effectiveness is defined in light of the requirements of the six regional accrediting agencies, common terms are delineated, and the processes and practice of institutional effectiveness in community colleges is explored. (Contains 1 figure.)