Puente Projects are currently operating at 10 community colleges in California to increase retention, general education requirements completion, and transfer among Hispanic community college students. Puente integrates the skills of an English teacher, a Hispanic counselor, and Hispanic professionals acting as mentors to promote academic achievement, self-confidence, and student motivation. A study was conducted at Evergreen Valley College (EVC) to determine the success rate of Puente students for the years 1983-84, 1984-85, and 1985-86; and to compare the achievement levels of Puente students enrolled in the entry level English 330 courses with those of other Hispanic students who began in English 330 during the same semester. The 3-year comparative study of 115 Puente students and 273 Hispanic counterparts yielded the following findings: (1) 89% of the Puente students completed English 330 compared to 46% of the other Hispanic students; (2) 70% of the Puente students completed English 1A, compared to 8% of the other Hispanic students; (3) Puente students completed English 1B at a rate 14 times higher than their counterparts; (4) Puente students were three times as likely to remain enrolled at EVC (53% vs. 17%); (5) all 21 of the Hispanic students who began English 330 in fall 1983 and 1984 and who had received or applied for an associate degree by fall 1985 were enrolled in the Puente Project; and (6) all 14 of the students from the original group who transferred to a four-year college were Puente students. The study report includes information on the goals and methods of the Puente Project, along with 25 tables detailing comparative findings. Appendixes include a list of Puente projects statewide, a fact sheet on the mentor role, a list of EVC mentors, a list of advisory board members, and an outline of course criteria. (Author/LAL)