EVERETT — A few years ago, Jessica Woods tried fixing a PlayStation.
She watched a couple of videos online and got to work. Eventually, she thought she had it. After plugging the system in, the lights went out in her apartment. She wanted to learn what went wrong.
Now, she’s majoring in electrical engineering and minoring in software engineering at Washington State University Everett.
The Arlington woman and her classmates started fall semester Monday.
It’s the second year the building on Broadway has been open. After receiving an associate degree, students can transfer there to work toward a bachelor’s degree. This year, the number of students and majors at the school has grown.
While official enrollment figures won’t be available for a few more weeks, a record number have enrolled at WSU in Pullman and other campuses across the state, said Randy Bolerjack, WSU Everett spokesman.
The campus now offers seven majors. New this year is organic and sustainable agriculture, which is one of the university’s most popular programs on other campuses, Bolerjack said.
It could take some time to tell how well it does in Everett.
“Given that it is the first year and we are a transfer campus, it really takes a couple years for numbers to build,” he said.
Students also arrived this week to some new banners outside their school. Flags hanging from lamp posts outside the main doors show pride for four other colleges: Hope International University, Eastern Washington University, University of Washington Bothell and Western Washington University.
They were put up on Thursday. Those four programs are also housed in the new building, through Everett University Center.
For her senior year, Woods, 24, is president of the engineering club. It’s one of the biggest clubs on campus, and people from any major can join.
Learning from her peers in different departments has been one of Woods’ favorite experiences at WSU Everett.
“Working with other members and telling them how things work, and seeing them get really interested in it, is really nice,” she said.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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