The influence of informal faculty/student interactions (i.e., group dinners at faculty member's home) on GPA and retention rates was investigated. Students were invited to attend dinner at a faculty member's house in groups of approximately 6 students. The academic performance and retention rates of attendees and nonattendees were compared. Analyses indicate a relationship between attendance at the dinners, higher GPAs, and stronger retention rates. However, due to the quasi-experimental design of the investigation caution is encouraged in determining the direction of the relationship between academic performance and this type of informal faculty/student interaction. (Contains 1 table and 1 footnote.)