A study was conducted in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to determine the retention rates and academic achievement of part-time, degree-seeking students. The enrollment files of the VCCS colleges were examined to identify each individual enrolled in the fall quarters between 1985 and 1987, to determine full-/part-time enrollment status for each student, and to tabulate the number of productive and non-productive grades earned. Enrollment files for the following spring quarters were checked to determine whether the student was still enrolled. Study findings included the following: (1) the three-year average retention rate for part-time, degree-seeking students at the 23 community colleges in the VCCS was 48%, compared to a systemwide average of 78% for full-time students and 28% for part-time, non-degree-seeking students; (2) between 1985-86 and 1987-88, eight colleges showed a decrease in the retention rate of part-time, degree-seeking students, while 15 colleges and the system as a whole showed improved retention rates; (3) larger colleges in the system tended to have lower retention rates than smaller colleges; (4) the percentage of productive grades did not correlate with the retention rates of part-time degree students; and (5) colleges that had high retention and high rates of productive grades among full-time students also tended to have high retention and high rates of productive grades among part-time, degree-seeking students. Appendixes provides graphs and tables. (AAC)