Published August 2002

A CLASS ACT
University Center brings educational opportunities
to Snohomish County

By Kimberly Hilden
SCBJ Assistant Editor

At a recent University Center open house, there were people fresh out of high school walking from classroom to classroom, talking to college representatives and picking up informational brochures about educational programs.

But there were even more nontraditional students — those older, working adults — touring the facility and checking out the learning opportunities available.

For some, that means starting — or finishing — a college degree or earning a certificate in education or computer programming. For others, like Karen Costa, who manages a computer network for EverTrust Bank, that means staying on top of workplace technology.

“I have staff, and we’re always looking for continuing-education opportunities,” she said. “Technology changes, and we definitely keep up with technology.”

“And this really is beautiful,” she said, looking around the center’s main office on the second floor of Everett Station before gazing out the windows facing the Cascades — and Interstate 5, a roadway Costa would rather not have to take southward in her pursuit of education.

And that’s the purpose of University Center: providing educational opportunities for residents whose work and family commitments make it difficult to travel to a distant university.

The center is one of a network of campuses comprising the University Centers of North Puget Sound, which is coordinated by the North Snohomish-Island-Skagit Counties (NSIS) Higher Education Consortium.

But while the other centers, located on the campuses of Edmonds Community, Everett Community and Skagit Valley colleges, are host to a single state university, the University Center at Everett Station brings together five state universities — Washington, Washington State, Eastern Washington, Central Washington and Western Washington — as well as the local community colleges.

“This is the only center of its kind in the state — and one of the few centers in the nation — offering courses from multiple higher-education campuses,” said Larry Marrs, NSIS executive director.

The NSIS consortium itself grew out of a request from the 1997 state Legislature to the Higher Education Coordinating Board to create flexible access to higher education for people in the northern Puget Sound region. After much study, it was determined that a consortium approach would be a better alternative than building a four-year campus in the area.

In spring 1999, the Legislature approved funding for the consortium, and by early 2001 the Higher Education Coordinating Board approved a five-year lease for classroom space at Everett Station, which was then under construction.

In February 2002, Everett Station opened, with the University Center taking up the second floor and the north half of the third floor with classrooms, an interactive television studio, a computer lab, a lounge, a resource room and faculty offices.

A handful of classes christened the center in February, with 16 classes running during the first full quarter of operation in the spring and 325 students enrolled. A few short of that are taking classes this summer, but fall quarter is expected to see considerably higher numbers, Marrs said.

“We’ve gotten a great reception to University Center, with a lot of enthusiasm from the faculty as well as the students,” he said. “It’s decorated nicely, there’s good parking and even the train noise people thought would be a problem hasn’t been.”

Gina Murray, coordinator of student services, said the building’s sound proofing dramatically minimizes the roar of freight trains and Amtrak passenger trains traveling past the station.

“People are intrigued to find out what we’re doing here,” she added, noting the many inquiries she has received from the community at large.

So far, 23 classes are scheduled for fall quarter at the Everett Station location, including:

• Courses offered through Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education for students working toward a master’s of education degree with a concentration in literacy.
• Project management and Java 2 programming certificate courses through the University of Washington.
• Courses offered through Eastern Washington University for students working toward a master’s degree in social work.
• Management Information Systems and Principles of Marketing courses offered through Central Washington University for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in business administration or accounting.
• Online courses offered through Washington State University for students pursuing one of five bachelor’s degrees. Students can make use of the University Center’s video library, exam proctoring and computers.
• Communications, English, psychology, algebra, computer cartography and medical transcription courses offered through EvCC.

Future course offerings will be tailored to meet the needs of the community, Marrs said.

“We’re trying now to see what specific degrees and programs people want (from the higher-education institutions),” he said. “We’re contacting a lot of city and county administration workers, too, to help identify specific students.”

Because the center targets working adults, many of the classes are offered evenings, weekends or through distance learning. For students who perhaps don’t have the technology to take part in an online course at home, they can look to the center as a resource, Marrs said.

“For instance, they can come to our teleconferencing center or arrange to use our computer lab,” he said.

All in all, the center “really makes education accessible,” said EWU’s Carolyn Hudnall, whose master of social work program has gained quite a following while stationed at EvCC the past few years.

“Students come from five counties to do coursework here,” she said.

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