Historically, U.S. underserved college students have lower college retention and completion rates. One explanation is a perceived gap between the student experience and college settings. Two main approaches used to address that gap are: colleges created programs to help students adapt to settings, and colleges have made changes in their settings to better serve and support the students. In both cases, colleges served as the agencies defining, designing, and guiding the change. While both approaches contribute to improved completion, a third approach may add another solution, student-initiated retention programming (SIRP). SIRPs are student organized, operated, and sustained efforts to persistence to graduation. Through a SIRP, underserved students can use cultural experiences to frame and deliver retention efforts. Drawing on a case study of Tigers First, a University of Memphis SIRP, this article will identify and describe the conditions and processes leading to the creation of a productive underserved student SIRP.