With regard to the March 14 letter, “Forget campus, fund education,” discussing the proposed University of Washington North Sound, I suggest the writer may wish to delve a little deeper into the subject.
No one is suggesting a 1960s style campus, as he suggested. The original legislative language focused on baccalaureate degrees in technical education and other high demand areas. The academic plan that was developed also discussed internships with area businesses and agencies, particularly in high demand areas such as engineering and health care. In addition, partnerships with our university center at Everett Community College, community colleges themselves and UW Bothell would be a part of the additional work done by a UW North Sound.
The fact remains that our region is one of the more underserved when it comes to higher education in our state and the population is growing rapidly. While there are a number of alternative means for delivering education like distance learning, they do not belie the need for an institution that has bricks and mortar. We already have our four-year institutions in the state turning away eligible students. We have Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in Washington, D.C., requesting a lift on the lid of H1B visas to bring more people with degrees from outside the country into Washington state for work. The expanding need for nurses, other health care professionals and engineers will continue to grow, and current programs to handle it will need expansion, particularly in the baccalaureate degree area.
Mike Sells
State Representative 38th Legislative District
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