The work of helping students succeed on urban commuter campuses may be some of the most complicated in higher education. Even in understanding their tasks, educators at city-based institutions must typically draw on research and practice from an amalgam of other types of institutions, including community colleges, metropolitan universities, urban institutions, and non-residential campuses. Four-year urban commuter campuses combine characteristics from each of these sectors in their patterns of full-time and part-time student enrollment, typical student age, number of first-generation students, and commuting issues. This work involves piecing together perspectives from diverse sources to create an experience that works for students who travel to and study in the city. This article presents a definition of urban commuter campuses, describes unique challenges faced by students who enroll in them, and offers strategies for improving efforts to serve and teach these students. (Contains 7 notes.)