As enrollment in transfer programs and the relative number of students who transfer to four-year institutions decrease, transfer education is losing its preeminence as the principal function of the community college. From 1907 to 1940, transfer education comprised 60-70% of enrollment and maintained its preeminence through the mid 1960's. By 1973, however, its share of total enrollment dropped to 43%. Although college and state board studies rarely explore the question of the ideal percentage of transfers, they do indicate that the growth rate for transfers has been lower than that for enrollment and that full-time students are more likely to enroll in transfer programs than part-timers. Therefore, states with a high proportion of part-time students, as well as low selective admission policies and large minority populations, will have a lower percentage of transfer students. Other forces detrimental to transfer education are: (1) the increasing demand for vocational education, (2) the growth of new curricular functions such as continuing education, (3) the need to provide remedial education, (4) the competition for students with four-year institutions, and (5) the aging of the student body. However, the reluctance of educators to break their ties with higher education and the increased demands for improved humanities curricula will assure transfer education a vital, though smaller, role at the community college. (JP)