OLYMPIA — Washington State University could receive new marching orders to pursue a branch campus in Everett rather than take over an existing program at Everett Community College — if a new bill passes the Legislature.
The House Higher Education Committee approved a bill directing WSU to draw up a plan which, if passed by the full House and the Senate, could see students signing up for classes in July 2014.
Lawmakers passed a substantial revision of legislation pushed earlier by the city of Everett to transfer control of the University Center of North Puget Sound from the community college to WSU. The center operates on the EvCC campus.
Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, sponsored that original bill, then rewrote it to overcome opposition encountered from lawmakers and community colleges. He hopes the new language approved Thursday keeps alive the effort to give the Pullman-based research university a greater presence in Everett.
“This is the beginning of what will likely be a long journey,” Sells told his colleagues on the committee before the vote.
He said it was clear that not enough conversation had occurred between the city, WSU, the community college and the universities involved in the center.
“The word ‘hostile takeover’ was unfortunately used,” he said, referring to comments made in public hearings.
Charlie Earl, executive director of the state Board of Community and Technical Colleges, is one who spoke in opposition to the power shift pushed by the city of Everett and WSU. He praised Sells’ amended proposal.
“We think (lawmakers) got to a pretty good spot at this time,” he said. “I think the current state of the legislation portends a lot of good things for baccalaureate and graduate education for Snohomish County for the future.”
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson called the House vote “a very positive sign” that the committee wants to see more higher education opportunities in the county.
But he said he isn’t done fighting to see WSU put in charge of the university center. That idea is still in a Senate bill which could be acted on in the next few days.
“What the ultimate bill ends up (being) is still open for discussion,” he said. “I still hold out hope that the Senate Higher Education Committee will look at what we presented them.”
At the University Center, eight public and private colleges, including WSU, offer bachelor’s and master’s degree courses. Today about 500 students are enrolled in roughly two dozen courses, and nothing changes in the structure under HB 1792.
That’s exactly what the administrator of the center wanted to see.
“It retains what is working, and it does enable some planning for growth in a collaborative manner,” Christine Kerlin, vice president for the University Center and strategic planning, said of the revamped House bill.
Under the bill, WSU will come up with a plan for establishing a branch campus in Everett and give it to the Legislature by December 2012. If lawmakers endorse it, WSU must “complete implementation” by July 1, 2014.
The bill does not pick a site or pledge money for startup; both questions are likely to be dealt with in the plan.
Also, the plan must lay out how the campus would meet the future demand of students living in north Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties and how it would increase undergraduate and graduate engineering programs sought by area employers.
WSU is directed to write the report in concert with representatives of the community college and university center partners. And in a sign of good faith, the bill requires WSU to establish at least one bachelor’s degree program in a high-demand field at the university center.
The Senate bill is SB 5636.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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