Husky fever is spreading, and the residents of Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties are poised to be the latest to catch it.

On the heels of legislation passed this session, the UW is preparing to develop its third branch campus to be placed north of Seattle, possibly in Everett.

According to the plan, classes will be offered at a temporary location through the University's newest branch as early as fall 2008. The school's focus will be primarily on degrees in science and technical fields.

"We are finding a critical shortage of degrees offered in technical fields like engineering," said Drew Nielsen, Everett City Council member.

The plan also provides as much as $4 million to be used by officials in the search for the school's permanent home.

"We will use the $4 million to help acquire a site and, by the fall, report that site to the state Legislature; and, shortly thereafter, initial programs can begin," said Norm Arkans, executive director of media relations and communications for the UW. "We plan to work with our civic partners and other colleges in the area to figure all this out."

Adding a university to Snohomish County has "been under discussion for several years," Nielsen said. However, a recent push from the most recent legislative session moved the bill to Gov. Chris Gregoire's desk.

An expected signature by the governor will officially put the wheels in motion.

Whether the campus will be a branch tightly linked to the UW or operate as an independent university, similar to the way the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is run, was a point of contention with some state senators.

That debate was not resolved until this session's final moments.

"The fight over the University becoming a branch campus was finally resolved on the last day of the legislative session," Nielsen said. "It became apparent that the cost and lead-in time of an independent university would be too much, compared to that of a University of Washington Extension."

Potential sites for the new campus have yet to be pinned down; however, the city of Everett is already presenting locations that will fit the criteria.

"A site for the campus requires adequate transportation and rental housing," Nielsen said. "Everett has a 14-acre plot near the Everett station, a 65-acre site near the Snohomish River and the possibility to locate near Everett Community College and share classroom space during construction."

The hope is to serve as many as 18,000 students at the University's peak. The Legislature will ultimately decide that number.

"We plan to start small and grow over time," Arkans said. "The thing that will really determine growth, however, is money provided by the Legislature."

Finding a proper location for the University will be the next hurdle for officials. But, at this point, many are looking forward to the opportunity of offering higher education.

"There was lot of interest to try and provide baccalaureate education for those three counties," Arkans said. "This is a very exciting opportunity, and now it's time to get busy."

Reach contributing writer Brad Zimmerman at news@thedaily.washington.edu.