By
Erinn Unger,
Sarah Jeglum,
Vicky Yan,
Will Mari
January 23, 2008
The Washington state Legislature is considering an $800 million proposal to build a new UW branch campus north of Seattle, possibly in downtown Everett. Proponents argue that population trends and the local economy demand the presence of a new four-year school in Snohomish County.
But some legislators and UW regents are calling this idea into question, and so do we. As students, we appreciate the proponents’ desire to allow more students access to the education that the UW offers. However, building another campus may simply be a costly disservice to taxpayers and students.
First, UW Everett will be too costly a venture. It is already estimated that construction will cost $800 million and $40 million a year in operational costs. Already $500,000 has been spent determining the kind of college that would best serve the region’s needs. Those funds could be better spent improving and expanding educational standards here at the main campus and at the existing branches. The money could also be used to fund new and existing scholarship programs to expand access to the branch campuses and the main campus.
Secondly, trying to be in too many places at once lowers standards. It’s difficult to pull dedicated professors to new, far-flung campuses, and existing instructors may be spread too thin to maintain the standards that the UW is known for.
Thirdly, it’s too soon. How can another campus expect to open its doors to nearly 5,000 students when UW Bothell has plenty of space, with only a fraction — 1,600 students — of its expected population actually enrolled? The idea should be tabled for another decade pending demonstrated need. And Isn’t Bothell close enough?
Lastly, and most importantly, student input on this project seems to be lacking. This new campus should serve the students, not just those that may use the campus, but the students within the general UW community.
The construction of a new campus should not be built to placate political or economic interests, interests that can be satisfied in other ways. The UW is here to serve us — the students — with the highest educational standards possible, and that should never be compromised.
5 Comments
#1 BOB
on January 23, 2008 at 9:34 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I agree. Won't don't we spend that money on the campuses we already have. Plus, staff are unpaid enough as it is on the main campus, give staff raises!! So i don't have to work 2 jobs. UW needs to get a clue.
#2 Jono
on January 23, 2008 at 2:46 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Is a campus needed. It's a valid question. Was a campus in Bothell needed? I, personally, don't think so. The fact that Bothell has a small fraction of its potential student population enrolled should speak to that fact.
I think the best course of action would be to sell the property UW Bothell is on and relocate that branch to either the Everett or the Marysville locations. I would prefer Everett in that case.
But, I doubt anyone could convince the legislature to do anything quite that drastic.
#3 Jono
on January 23, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
As for whether or not we should have a UW North (Everett)....
The cost. $800 million start up and $40 million a year after that. Those millions are dollars going into the state's economy. Money paid for the land, the materials, the labor to construct the new campus... money paid for the new staff, faculty, and other employees. All money going to help local people, local companies.
I'm not seeing a problem with that aspect.
The point that the money could go to the existing campuses, could be given to new students as scholarships or grants, or in some other fashion, ignores the basic premise that a branch campus to the North would serve Snohomish and Island counties. If you've got a student who can't afford to move to Seattle, or who would prefer staying close to home, giving them more scholarship money won't help them. The purpose of this new branch campus is to reach out to students who are not currently being served by the existing branches.
Putting a UW in their back yard is an admirable way to reach out to them.
Your second point about a new branch lowering standards is a very weak point, I feel. Does anyone feel that the UC system has low standards? Adding a new start up campus will mean that UW North will need to work to match current UW standards, but I don't think it will bring any of the standards down.
The third point, about it being too soon... Bothell and Tacoma were opened in 1990. I was four years old when they began taking in students. Next year's freshmen class were being born when these two branch campuses opened their doors. The students who would be served by UW Everett/North would be students who were born after Tacoma and Bothell began teaching.
It's been almost 18 years since a UW branch campus was opened in Washington, what's too soon about that?
#4 Jono
on January 23, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Alternatively, your point could be that UW Bothell is not succeeding, so the legislature should pour more support into that venture to help it take off before planting another branch... but I ask "why wait?" If UW Bothell is not succeeding, let it fail. Your article says that Bothell has 1,600 students currently. That's approximately half the enrollment it's allowed, due to a restriction from the city of Bothell limiting the campus to 3,000 FTE students until a new access is built, in 2010.
The UW Tacoma has about 2,650 students, Bothell has 1,600. Bothell has room for 1,400 more, and after 2009/2010 another 2,000. But, by 2010, the two branch campuses will still not be able to support the additional 5,000 students UW North would handle. Further, what draw is there for a student to travel from Arlington to go to UW Tacoma or UW Bothell? Those are long commutes that take them far from their homes. The costs frequently outweigh the gains.
I'm not sure how to take your last point. That student input has been lacking in the decision to create a new branch campus. I don't agree that I should have any more say on whether or not there's a new campus in Everett than any other citizen. We, as students, do have a voice in this discussion. We have a student Regent who would be a Regent over this branch campus just as she is a Regent over Tacoma and Bothell. We, the students of UW Seattle, have a Lobbyist who is currently in Olympia who could speak to the legislators about how we feel about this branch campus.
If we don't have a voice in this discussion, it's because we're choosing not to use it.
#5 Chester the Molester
on January 25, 2008 at 11:47 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Aren't we like... building a campus in China? I thought a campus overseas would be pretty cool however yes, the construction needs to be stopped and the money spent on something beneficial to the students and staff
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