Three papers pertaining to the General College Pilot Education Program (PEP), a retention effort undertaken by the General College, University of Minnesota, are presented. In "An Overview of the General College PEP Program in Its Second Year," C. P. Zanoni addresses the components of the program, evaluation efforts, and program costs. The PEP program is an academic support-service designed to assist, encourage, and retain high-risk students. The program consists of three individualized PEP packages, each of which is designed to meet the academic and support service needs of a particular ethnic or racial minority group. The components of the three PEP packages (American Indian, Chicano/Latino, and black) consist of integrated educational modules. The academic plan consists of skills development courses (language modules), subject matter modules, support services, and individualized course assistance. In "The Second Year of the General College PEP Program: A Curriculum Experiment for Underprepared Minority Students," John L. Romano and Joan B. Garfield, indicate that the overall retention rate of PEP students increased from 59 percent in 1979-80 to 70 percent in 1980-81. A demographic profile of entry-level students enrolled in the 1980-81 PEP program, along with their academic achievement, and the progress of 1979-80 students who continued or dropped out of the university are addressed. In "Teaching Writing in the PEP III Package," April Knutson discusses requirements of the PEP writing courses and the outcomes of the course with black students. Course listings and program costs for 1980-81 are appended. (SW)