A one-day invitational forum was convened to gain some insight into factors that continue to impede the identification, recruitment, admission, retention and graduation of minority students in graduate education. The objectives of the forum were to review the current status and to formulate recommendations on this subject. Following a summary of the keynote address by Anne S. Pruitt and the comments of respondents, a discussion of exemplary programs is summarized. Several administrative, recruitment and admissions factors affecting admission and success in graduate programs are identified. The consensus arrived at by several task force discussion groups is reported, followed by some statistical data on declining minority participation in graduate study and factors affecting low minority participation which supported the groups' conclusions. Ten recommendations resulting from the forum, and steps for the implementation of each, are presented. Among these are the following: (1) designate a national organization as the agency to identify and disseminate information on graduate study and career opportunities for minorities; (2) each institution should sensitize graduate faculty to the need for mentoring among minority students; (3) institutions should reduce the heavy dependency of minority students on funding sources outside the university; (4) institutions should recruit minority faculty and administrators at all levels; and (5) further research on minority participation should be undertaken to address specific issues. A list of the forum participants and a description of the program of the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering are appended. (KM)