This article examines the operation and perceived effectiveness of a short-term, nine-community-college consortium, a consortium dedicated to the improvement of student retention and first-year education at each of the colleges in the consortium. The consortium was composed of Alabama community colleges, essentially during calendar year 2002. Its formal title was the Alabama Community College consortium on the First College Year. The effectiveness of the consortium is considered at the conclusion of its one-year duration based on the final reports submitted by the consortium members, and on the evaluation of an external consultant who gathered information from the participating institutions on a confidential basis. Finally, the consortium's effectiveness is considered based on interviews with campus coordinators one year after the consortium's conclusion. The article concludes with recommendations for improved practices in such improvement-directed exercises.