The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) developed a new retention initiative called the Educational Learning Assistant (ELA) Program. The main goal of the ELA Program was to increase the retention rate of EOP sophomores from 74 percent to 84 percent over one academic year. The objective was to develop a special treatment, which included but was not limited to the assignment of role model peers to work closely with the EOP resident and commuter sophomores to provide tutoring, peer counseling, and academic and academic support workshops. Through the funding received from the Gateway Education Engineering Coalition, NJIT was better able to establish a successful outreach program. This program allowed the Educational Learning Assistants (ELAs), who resided in the residence halls, to develop and maintain regular contact with the EOP sophomores, and provide timely feedback to the professional staff who were then be able to implement effective intervention regardless of whether the problem was academic, financial or social-emotional.