In 1980, Oregon State University began a program going beyond the usual procedure for students of English as a second language (ESL), which involved putting them in intensive English programs until they could pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language and then sending them on to a regular academic program. It was found that this traditional approach left students underprepared in more than language skills for further college work. The new program, limited at present to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, primarily Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans, begins with comprehensive placement testing for language, math, writing, and reading. Academic advising follows, an important process for students who feel that developmental classes and general education inhibit their progress toward a specialized degree or who have little direction or understanding of the reasons for the curriculum design. Personal counseling is also provided for housing problems, financial aid, and interpersonal relations. Developmental classes in English, reading, writing, math, personal development, and native language literacy follow, and other services available include tutoring for any course on request, cultural enrichment or extracurricular activities, and other student personnel services. Among the mistakes made to date are lack of adequate early orientation, inadequate communication concerning cheating and plagiarism, and inadequate communication about deadlines and timelines. However, the program has high retention and graduation rates and provides a broad range of needed services for these students. (MSE)