Formerly a supervisor in the manufacturing business, Cheryle O'Donnell, 37, of Grass Valley, has left the industry to re-enter school and earn a bachelor's degree in agricultural systems and environment. She says the manufacturing industry is saturated and advanced degrees are necessary for upward mobility. Her decision to attend UC Davis is neither unique nor unusual. Of the 23,000 students at UC Davis, about 14 percent are classified as "re-entry" -- age 25 and older for undergraduates and age 30 and older for graduate students. It is estimated that more than 6 million students -- 45 percent of those enrolled in U.S. college programs -- are 25 and older, according to Phil Knox, coordinator for veterans as well as re-entry and transfer students at UC Davis. In response to this trend nationally and locally, the UC Davis Reentry Student Services will sponsor an all-day free workshop designed for adults interested in attending college. The workshop on Saturday, Feb. 24, will be held in MU II of the Memorial Union from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The workshops will provide information on financial aid, career planning, admissions and course offerings. "Most re-entry students return to school because they want to improve their quality of life, concluding that a college degree is necessary to accomplish that goal," says Knox.