In the last 10 years community college enrollments have leveled off, bringing a new urgency to institutional efforts to retain current students. Obstacles to academic persistence include external factors such as insufficient funds, work demands, social demands, family obligations, housing or transportation problems; and internal problems such as procrastination, fear of failure, inability to ask for help, loneliness, self-doubt, value conflicts, and career indecision. To deal with these factors, college retention efforts should focus on areas such as academic stimulation and assistance, personal future building, and out-of-class faculty interaction. Additional retention activities, such as mandatory testing and placement, orientation programs, peer instruction, and integrated support services, have also been identified as helpful. Research and experience have indicated that intervention strategies that focus on specific needs of targeted groups of at-risk students, including low-income students, the academically underprepared, students with unclear academic and career goals, and reentry students, may increase retention. Current research indicates that such retention programs, comprising assessment and placement, orientation, counseling, academic advising, developmental education, and ancillary support services, can and do enhance students' chances of success. (LAL)