This digest is drawn from "Understanding the Impact of Reverse Transfer Students on Community Colleges," a "New Directions for Community Colleges" volume. Reverse transfer student characteristics, reasons for non-traditional transfer patterns, and implications for community colleges are discussed. Reverse transfers are students who enroll in two-year institutions after earning credits from a four-year institution. These include both undergraduate reverse transfer students (URTSs) and post-baccalaureate reverse transfer students (PRTSs). URTSs are often drawn to community colleges because of smaller class size, convenient location, lower fees, flexibility in course offerings, or academic complications experienced at a four-year institution. PRTSs tend to enroll in community college courses for development of professional skills, completion of certificates, or personal growth. Reverse transfer students positively affect community colleges by increasing enrollments, redefining the traditional community college role in higher education, and bringing a higher level of maturity and experience into the classroom. They may also add challenges to the classroom by dominating discussions and possibly, by detracting from the experience of other students. Reverse transfers have expanded the role of community colleges into continuing and graduate education. Some colleges have successfully developed programs catering to reverse transfers. It would be to the advantage of community colleges to better understand this growing student population and develop programs to assist the reverse transfer student's education. (RDG)