The stroke of a pen Monday marked the beginning of an 18-month study that could eventually land a four-year public university in Snohomish County.
A $500,000 study of higher education needs in Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties was part of the massive $3.3 billion capital budget Gov. Christine Gregoire signed Monday.
It sets in motion a series of questions that an advisory committee and state agency must answer by December of 2006.
Those questions, outlined in the legislation, include:
• If a need is shown, what kind of college or university should be built?
• Where should it be built, and how much would the land cost?
• What would its business and operation plan look like?
There are other questions beyond what the study entails that also need answers, said one state lawmaker.
“It’s not a question of knowing what to do, it’s a question of finding the money,” said Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek.
For now, Schmidt believes there is a need for a technology-related four-year college and it would best be located in Everett.
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, sponsored legislation that included the money for the study. She, too, believes there is merit in the idea of a school that concentrates on technology, given job market demands in the region.
“I would like it to go somewhere where it isn’t going to cost you a bunch of transportation improvements,” said Haugen, who is chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “To me that’s Everett north.”
One of the next orders of business will be a decision by the state Higher Education Coordinating Board about its role in the study, said Bruce Botka, director of government and university relations.
It could include its own staff or contract for the research work.
“We haven’t made that decision,” Botka said. “We are in the process of developing a project plan.”
Among other things, the board will look at population growth projections, percentages of students in college, economic and work-force needs and commute times to existing colleges and universities.
Money for research won’t become available until July 1.
At the same time, an advisory committee will be formed to work with the state higher education board.
By law, it will include Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, three state senators, three state representatives and six business or education leaders.
Two of the three senators and representatives will come from the majority party, with Democrats now in control of both houses. Among the six education and business leaders, two each will come from Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties.
Haugen and Schmidt said they would be interested in serving on the committee.
Botka said the university study will need to work closely with Everett Community College, which could also play a role in adding more seats for students seeking bachelor’s degrees.
Eric Stevick is a writer for The Herald in Everett.
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