In today's poor economic climate, there is an acute need to coalesce the fragments of research related to student attrition into a systematic program for increasing the chances of student success. Such a unifying program can be visualized on a continuum of retention strategies ranging from impersonal administrative actions to more complicated, interpersonal interventions designed to increase student motivation. The 12 strategies on the continuum call for appropriate members of the college community to: eliminate bureaucratic barriers within the college's organizational structure; (2) eliminate rigid policies that intimidate students or decrease their motivation; (3) encourage student participation in college affairs; (4) develop placement procedures that assess both the student's knowledge and preferred learning style; (5) utilize a variety of instructional techniques; (6) implement flexible grading systems to accommodate varying learning rates among students; (7) help students formulate educational goals through an advisement system; (8) insist that staff understand the customer relationship of the student to the college; (9) increase student out-of-class contact with faculty; (10) maintain student interest in class participation; (11) stimulate the student's intellect; and (12) insure that students know they are valued. This continuum helps allocate responsibility for student retention among the college staff and provides a framework for retention activities. (JP)