Efforts of the General College of the University of Minnesota to increase student retention during the 1979-80 academic year are described. The target groups were high-risk students, especially representatives of minority groups from traditionally nonacademic populations. The college mounted a pilot education program (PEP) comprising three parallel but distinct packages to serve American Indians, Chicano/Latinos, and Blacks. The PEP packages, which were specifically designed to be relevant to the characteristics of the students enrolled, contained interdisciplinary modules consisting of the following components: skills development courses, subject matter courses focusing on the cultural values of each ethnic group; support seminars offering tutorial assistance and survival information (economic, social, and educational); career planning sessions; and individual advice and counseling. In order to coordinate efforts, instructors and counselors in each of the PEP packages met weekly during the year to discuss mutual problems, policies, and procedures for the conduct of teaching and support service activities. Information is presented on evaluation of the program, student characteristics, evaluation of students by traditional measures of academic success, retention rates for PEP students, and program costs. Reports on the Chicano/Latino package and on the overall program are published separately. (SW)