With each day’s news reporting more layoffs, employees making a last-ditch effort to shield themselves from soaring unemployment rates have a non-traditional option — continuing education.Doug Weimer, executive director of the University’s Continuing Education program, said programs available both for-credit and not-for-credit are seeing the effects of high unemployment rates — especially the Paralegal Studies Program.”A lot of individuals, if they’re concerned about their job stability [or have been laid off] go back and enhance their skills with a short course,” Weimer said. National unemployment rates rose from 6.8 percent in November 2008 to 7.2 percent in December 2008, according to a Jan. 27 news release from U.S. Department of Labor,. Louisiana employment rates — nationally considered low according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data — saw a 0.2 percent increase, according to the same release.Regardless of statewide unemployment rates, the University’s Paralegal Studies program saw an increase from 59 students in January 2008 to 68 students in January 2009.”It’s very common that we see a surge in interest in [paralegal studies] when the economy turns down — a number of people who have jobs but don’t have careers,” Weimer said. “If you can come back in a year or less and add a certificate program, that just makes you a little bit more employable.”The growth in paralegal studies may be attributed to the need for a specific skill set when seeking employment, Charlotte DesHotels, program manager for the Legal Studies Program, said in an e-mail. “The paralegal profession is one that has been listed as a growth profession for a very long time now,” DesHotels said.Mary Parker, undergraduate admissions and student aid executive director, said the University has not seen a significant increase in applicants from adult students seeking full-time enrollment.”I think the overwhelming number [chooses] community colleges or technical schools,” Parker said. But the Office of Student Aid has seen a recent increase in potential non-traditional students calling about financial aid, Parker said. Jim McCoy, vice provost of enrollment services, said the University strives to make Continuing Education “as viable as possible” for the citizens of Louisiana. —-Contact Lindsey Meaux at [email protected]