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• Some Lodi-area students seek a new course for college because of rising costs

• Increased admission fees likely for some local colleges

• After 10 years, Vino Piazza files bankruptcy

• 45 years later, Lodian treasures card from Jacqueline Kennedy

• Lodi teens ditch school, crash car into tractor trailer on Guild Avenue

• Regional Roundup

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (152)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (67)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (56)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (23)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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Some Lodi-area students seek a new course for college because of rising costs

With state universities threatening to limit the number of incoming freshman for next school year and student loans growing scarce, more Lodi-area students may be turning toward two-year colleges and vocational schools.

These options are often cheaper and provide a quicker diploma turn-around, something that looks appealing in a sagging economy.

"Generally speaking, financial downturns correspond with increased enrollment at community colleges. Some students come for job re-training in order to meet the demands of the changing economy, others because of increasing fees and restricted enrollment at public and private universities," said Greg Greenwood, director of public information and marketing at San Joaquin Delta College.

The same trend is apparent at the private Kaplan College in Stockton, which offers shorter-term, higher-education diploma programs in one of the most in-demand fields in the state: health care.

As the unemployment rate rises and the job market is uncertain, it appears more people are returning to school to acquire new skills and pursue more-secure, high-paying career paths, according to Kaplan College spokeswoman Angela Worth.

Debra Norman, of Lodi, was among those who received diplomas from Kaplan last Saturday.

Norman, 29, chose a vocational school because of the instructional hours, from 8 a.m. to noon. It was a schedule that worked perfectly with her daughter's.

"She went to school when I went to school," said Norman.

It took only 10 months to earn her medical office degree, and now Norman is looking for a job to use her skills in medical billing, handling insurance companies and checking patients in and out at a doctor's office.

Kaplan Executive Director Bill Jones said the college's programs are appealing for several reasons.

"They allow for the flexibility that a high percentage of adult learners need in order to integrate college into their working and family schedules," he said.

Norman started her secondary education at Delta right out of high school, but said that the classes were sometimes hard to get into and buying textbooks and paying for individual courses got expensive.

"I just saw on the news the other day that they're going to cut enrollments in the colleges, so Kaplan is a good choice," she said. "They give you one price, and that's what you pay for the entire school: the books, the classes, everything."

Traditional colleges harder to get into

Decisions by the California State University system to limit enrollment, along with unemployment will likely lead to even more students finding the doors to higher education closed.

This news comes as high schools are tabulating the biggest-ever senior class of college-prepared students.

California State University, the nation's largest four-year public university system, expects to tighten enrollment by 10,000 students this fall due to funding cuts.

Earlier this week, Chancellor Charles Reed said that he is setting a limit on enrollment at the system's 23 campuses, with priority given to those within the campus' geographic area. Students from outside the area will go on a waiting list, and be ranked by grades and test scores.

Students who meet requirements but do not get in could be offered a place at another campus, but officials expect many would go elsewhere or to a community college.

The CSU and UC systems were already looking at sharp funding cuts in the budget recently passed by the legislature, but when that budget fell apart due to lower-than-predicted revenue, they were faced with additional reductions.

With his proposal, Reed expects enrollment to drop from the current 460,000 to 450,000 students, thus saving campuses millions of dollars.

Yvette Maragliano, a local college preparation coach, said she has personally seen more students considering a community college, even as they continue to send applications to all areas of higher education to see where they get accepted.

"By applying broadly, the students will have more options and choices for their education beyond high school," she added.

Maragliano founded Students Organized for Success six-and-a-half years ago, and now has a wait list of students and parents seeking her services.

There are many reasons that students may find community or vocational colleges appealing at any time, despite the state of the economy, Maragliano said.

"That could include being undecided on a career path, not ready or able to leave home, wanting additional academic preparation in a career goal or having not met freshman eligibility requirements," she added.

Becky Jauregui, who helps Lodi High School students fill out financial aid documents and college applications, said there's a lot of anxiety regarding heading off to college with the current budget.

"We're just urging our students to get their applications in by Nov. 30 and apply to more than one campus," she said.

College applications are due Dec. 1, although Jauregui said many students got theirs in as early as Oct. 1. Both Lodi and Tokay high schools held workshops earlier this month to help students fill out required forms and found many were already done.

"The interest (in going to college) is still there, although the funding is a concern," she added. "Some college funds are gone, and the costs are going up."

Economy not helping

The rising tuition costs and shrinking student loan market has other parents worried about funding their children's education.

Others who saved up for higher education are also being affected.

"Many parents who had college fund plans for their children have seen a dramatic loss in those accounts over the past three months," Maragliano said.

Parent Suzanne Schreiner said that the thought of taking out loans for college is scary. Her middle son, Logan, is interested mostly in private Christian colleges.

"But he may end up at Delta for two years first," Schreiner said of the cost.

Her eldest, Kevin, is already attending the two-year college. Last year, he was at University of California, Santa Cruz, but after changing his mind about what he thought he wanted to do, he is at Delta re-evaluating, Schreiner said.

"We sure like the cost. Even if it goes up in January, it is still so much cheaper than Santa Cruz," Schreiner said.

Marilyn Wentling has daughters at both Pacific and Delta colleges. Their youngest would like to go to a private Christian college next fall, but she too may go to Delta because of the rising costs of education.

"If my kids don't get scholarships or loans, they don't go to college," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.