The program addresses three areas of concern at Western Michigan University: student attrition, minority student participation, and educational relevance. The project was based on previous work suggesting that students can more nearly achieve their optimum performance when programs provide clear-cut objectives, frequent accountability, and experiential learning, accomplished most cost-effectively with student paraprofessional apprentices. A pilot program was begun in 1981 to help students on academic probation, using performance contracts. At the same time, a pilot program to encourage black students to study psychology was started. The Behavior Systems Analysis Project came about to train graduate students, particularly minority students, to work on student retention and minority participation as a career focus. At the Center for Self-Management of Academic Performance, behavioral performance management techniques were used to help high-risk college students achieve academic success. A research supervisory system has also been successful in helping graduate students finish theses and dissertations in a timely fashion. As of 1988, black students in the Behavioral Systems Analysis Program have achieved eight Master of Arts degrees, four admissions to the university's doctoral program in psychology, one Doctorate, and completion of two doctoral dissertation orals. (MSE)