There is an alternative to building a new public university in Snohomish County – one that can be implemented sooner than a brick-and-mortar campus can be built. The University Center at Everett Station currently stands ready to help meet the need for more higher education options in Everett and Snohomish County.
The problem being addressed by both the mayor of Everett and the county executive is a need to increase access to university-level degrees for residents of Snohomish County. The need is apparent in studies and planning documents of the Snohomish County Workforce Development Council, Economic Development Council and, now, by the Snohomish County Citizens Cabinet on Economic Development convened by the new county executive.
The Legislature and Higher Education Coordinating Board recognized this need for more bachelor’s and master’s degree programs years ago and funded the NSIS Higher Education Consortium to begin meeting these needs. The consortium operates the University Center at Everett Station on Smith Avenue and has been serving students in that facility since it started offering classes during spring quarter 2002. Since its opening, enrollment in higher education courses at the University Center has grown from 20 classes and 325 students the first quarter to a planned 48 classes and 676 students expected this fall.
University courses have been offered at the Everett Station location by Central, Eastern and Western Washington Universities, and by the University of Washington and Washington State University. In addition, Edmonds and Everett Community Colleges have been offering courses in the facility.
Currently, courses range from professional development programs that grant certificates to courses leading to associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. Several hundred students have been learning basic job skills and the English language as the University Center reaches out to residents who are entering the job market in the county.
The presidents of the participating universities and colleges have agreed to seek funding from the Legislature to increase the number of state-funded students seeking bachelor’s degrees. All of the universities and colleges are already using the funding they receive from the Legislature to serve students in their existing programs. In order to expand their reach with bachelor’s degrees to Everett Station, the consortium is requesting, for the first time, funding for 100 full-time equivalent students.
Recently the consortium conducted a survey of community college students who were graduating with their associate degrees in June 2004. Also surveyed were more than 7,000 other residents of Snohomish County. These two groups of people provided the University Center with a very good idea of the specific degree programs that they would like to see offered at the Everett Station. Degrees in psychology, general management, accounting and finance, communications, nursing and information systems were high on the respondents’ list.
The model of inviting existing universities to offer state supported programs at other locations has proven successful where some bachelor’s degree programs, from individual universities, are offered on community college campuses. Combining the resources of several universities and offering state-funded degree programs at the University Center at Everett Station would be a first for this state. The model allows access to quality degree programs without needing the costly infrastructure inherent in a self-contained new university campus.
Much of the administrative detail of running a university is handled by the University Center staff in collaboration with personnel from participating universities. All of the academic logistics, such as curriculum development and employment of faculty, are handled by the participating universities. The University Center staff also facilitates coordination and collaboration between universities considering offering programs in the Everett location.
The University Center is a “High Tech, High Touch” facility where students can use high-bandwidth Internet connections and top of the line computers to do homework or complete distance learning courses online. Center staff members are available to help students with either technical questions related to computer or networking questions, or helping work out issues between students and their college or university.
The University Center at Everett Station can help provide many of the higher education needs of Snohomish County more effectively once the Legislature funds the 100 full-time equivalent students being requested in the 2005-2007 budget.
Larry Marrs is the executive director of the University Center at Everett Station. For more information, visit www.unitersitycenters.info.
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