New university would produce homegrown talent

OLYMPIA – Should Washington’s high-tech companies have to continue to import qualified candidates for their family-wage jobs?

Faced with unmet needs and a lack of capacity in the current system, the Senate Higher Education Committee today heard testimony in favor of siting a new, four-year, comprehensive university with a polytechnic focus in the Snohomish, Island and Skagit county region.

“Until now, we’ve focused our energy on attracting high-tech companies to Washington,” said Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett. “Unfortunately, we’ve neglected the other half of the equation. These companies just can’t find enough qualified applicants from within our state.”

Senate Bill 5322, introduced by Berkey, directs the state’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) to evaluate site options in the region and make recommendations to the Legislature and governor by Dec. 1, 2007. OFM must contract with an outside neutral consultant for this effort.

"We must do more to educate our children in order to compete for jobs in the 21st century,” said Higher Education Committee Chair Paull Shin, D-Edmonds. “This bill is a step in the right direction to give jobs to our homegrown students."

“Employers will go where they can find a steady pool of skilled, qualified employees,” Berkey said. “If a high-tech company competing in the global market has to continually go out-of-state for employees, what’s their incentive to stay in Washington? We need to think ahead and make sure we produce the skilled employees necessary to meet the high-tech needs of business.”

The legislative session is scheduled to end on April 22, 2007.

Return to Sen. Berkey's home page