A long-shot bill to build a four-year university in Snohomish County may have grabbed headlines, but other state legislation could more quickly open the doors to higher education in the county.
Lawmakers in Olympia have proposed shifting control of a consortium of colleges and universities offering classes at Everett Station from Western Washington University to Everett Community College.
Several local lawmakers say they believe the change could give the program a higher profile and help it grow. The program officially is called the North Snohomish, Island and Skagit Counties Higher Education Consortium.
Buried in House Bill 1794, which would let university branch campuses in Bothell, Tacoma and Vancouver accept freshmen and sophomores, is a provision that would allow Everett to manage the consortium.
EvCC would lead a study to find better ways to coordinate lower- and upper-division college courses, expand access to high-demand degree and certificate programs, and come up with a timeline and cost estimates for moving the consortium from Everett Station to the college campus. The report would be due to the Legislature by Dec. 1.
The consortium “has had trouble getting off the ground,” said Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Bothell, a member of the Senate Education Committee.
Schmidt said the measure would allow EvCC to begin working more directly with universities and create a partnership similar to one between Edmonds Community College and Central Washington University in Ellensburg.
The bill calls for a “university center model,” which fits in with building plans at EvCC.
“If the legislation passes, we will take a solid run at this and do it as best we can,” EvCC President Charlie Earl said. “I believe there is need right now for additional baccalaureate capacity in this area.”
Lawmakers don’t dispute the need to increase the number of enrollment slots in the state’s higher education system. Pressure is mounting as the largest class of high school seniors in state history advances toward graduation in 2008. The number of high school graduates in Washington is expected to reach 66,792 by 2009.
The consortium now serves about 670 students, and the goal is 2,000 by 2010, WWU President Karen Morse told the House Education Committee earlier this month. A big question for Morse is how academic programs would be affected by the changeover. The consortium is in the fourth year of a five-year lease at Everett Station.
Morse said she wants to work with Earl, the city of Everett and others “to do what it takes to get the job done” to improve access to university-level classes in the area.
Sen. Rosemary McAullife, D-Bothell, believes EvCC should run the consortium. “Right now, it’s just more appropriate for Everett to take it over,” she said.
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