Everyone knows the state of Washington desperately needs a four-year university in Snohomish County. What seems to be the major stumbling block is whether the school is a branch campus of the University of Washington or a stand-alone university.
What I find disturbing is the rush by many to support the branch campus idea. The number of students suggested for a new school ranges from 8,000 to 10,000 students. The UW Bothell branch supports less than 2,000 students. Will a Snohomish County branch receive four to five times the support given the Bothell campus?
The reality of the situation is that the UW will never support a branch campus the way it does the main campus. In fact, offering lukewarm support for a Snohomish County branch actually gives the UW new funding. If the branch does not have the expected enrollment will the branch money find its way back to the main campus?
If the only way to obtain a university in Snohomish County is through the UW branch then our elected leaders must impose strict legal requirements on the UW in regards to the curriculum offered, facility requirements and number of students. Money intended for the branch campus cannot be diverted to the main campus. I also find it interesting that until now the UW never expressed interest in a Snohomish County branch campus. Their initial argument against a new university was state funding being sent to the new school rather than the UW.
Robert Zigler
Everet
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