"IDEAS" is a three year program targeted at increasing retention of women engineering students during the Freshman to Junior years at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. It is part of a vigorous effort to significantly increase the percentage of graduating women engineers by the year 2000. The five phases - Innovation, Discovery, Experience, Assimilation and Stretching cover the Prefreshman through Sophomore years. Bonding, technological literacy, strong faculty/staff support, professional/work contacts and positive role models are being emphasized during this period of study for the students. All women engineering students will participate in IDEAS, not only as students, but also as mentors. IDEAS is being developed and managed by women faculty and staff of the institution.