The go-to data point used to indicate whether an institution is helping students reach success has tended to be its graduation rate. Post-graduation employment is another indicator but the definition of student success has evolved to include many more areas.
However, many examples exist of non-linear and sometimes abrupt changes in ecosystems. A change may be gradual until a particular pressure on the ecosystem reaches a threshold, at which point rapid shifts to a new state occur. Some non-linear changes can be very large and have substantial impacts on human well-being.
Examples of disturbances to ecological balance include bombing during the Vietnam War that destroyed habitat for many species. As part of modern global commerce as of 2014, trees and vegetation are sometimes removed, and those areas in which vegetation is removed and pavement is added tend to expand.