MARYSVILLE – A top gun will help plot the course for the University of Washington’s new campus.
Former UW president Lee Huntsman will lead a planning team from the university, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Wednesday.
“That’s a big investment,” Gregoire said. “This just shows how much the UW is stepping up.”
Huntsman, former director of the UW’s bioengineering program, served as interim UW president for a year before being named president in 2003. He stepped down in 2004.
Current UW President Mark Emmert asked Huntsman to serve as co-chairman of the panel that will examine academic options for the campus.
Huntsman will be joined by Ana Mari Cauce, the UW executive vice provost, in leading the UW study.
Huntsman said Wednesday he is just learning about his role. The state would like to open a new UW campus and will decide whether to build it in Snohomish, Island or Skagit counties.
“We have to clarify the questions and do our homework,” he said. “This is a big deal not only for those three counties but also the state at large.”
The state’s capital budget provides $4 million to help launch the new university as a branch campus.
By June of next year, the UW must present the governor and the Legislature with an idea of where it wants to build and how it wants to run the college that will focus on science, technology and engineering.
Classes could be offered on a small scale in temporary quarters by fall 2008.
As the UW starts charting its course to the north, the state on Monday will begin advertising for a consultant to evaluate and recommend sites, Gregoire said.
A firm will be chosen next month. Early recommendations are due to the Legislature by November.
“We may need someone from out of state so everyone feels they have a fair, unbiased, objective (review of the sites),” the governor said.
From Stanwood to Everett to Lake Stevens, Snohomish County communities are touting more than a dozen sites for the university.
Emmert, the UW president, has said he wants to make sure that the site is accessible to most prospective students, allows for immediate and future growth, and is reasonably priced.
Debora Merle, Gregoire’s senior adviser on higher education issues, said she expects the initial screening will pare a list of potential sites to three or four and describe the pros and cons of each.
The cost of buying the land has been estimated at $25 million.
Gregoire visited Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Wednesday to talk about education issues. She met with students, counselors, school administrators, business leaders and elected officials for more than an hour.
Jeff Erwin, a Marysville-Pilchuck sophomore interested in engineering, said he believes having a UW campus nearby will make college more accessible to local high school graduates.
“Since I live in Marysville, I wouldn’t have to pay for an apartment and stuff and I could just live at home,” he said. “With gas prices going up, that could really help.”
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson reiterated his interest in bringing the university to his city, and told Gregoire he would be willing to arm wrestle Stanwood Mayor Dianne White for it.
“I think I’d win,” White said afterward.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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