Successful college instruction programs have two features that are associated with increased grade point averages and retention: (1) they are comprehensive and meet student needs, and (2) they are better institutionalized into the academic mainstream of the college or university. Several program characteristics are crucial to learning improvement, including: goals and rationale, instructional methods, institutional standards, staff role, program evaluation, attitudes toward nontraditional students, responsiveness to students, and systematic advisement. Interaction and shared problem-solving among academic and developmental educators is the fundamental factor in successful learning improvement programs. Faculty and administrators can produce greater control of learning outcomes by considering all options, identifying the best methods, and fostering long-term planning, and interdisciplinary innovation. (LB)