"The book's authors are affiliated with the School of Social Work at Wayne State University, and this likely accounts for the book's useful perspective, that of using the individual student as the primary "unit of analysis, " rather than institutionally based programs designed to enhance retention. What points are made about the latter are entered and illustrated through vignettes and case studies. The authors emphasize that retention efforts should be both individual to the student's circumstances and a matter of ongoing concern and support. The counseling orientation of social work is evident in such matters as the articulation of nine roles for the retention facilitator: counselor, interpreter and information provider, guide, assessor, resource developer, skill developer, mentor, troubleshooter and crisis intervener, and advocate. The strengths of the book are largely within this facilitator orientation; it gives interested educators a framework within which to consider and construct their philosophies and priorities. I have not seen this dimension so directly addressed in other work. Moreover, discussion of these roles is applied not only to individual student assistance, but the educator's organizational roles and challenges in building institutional support for retention efforts."--Mark Cutright, Ohio State University, AAHE Bulletin
