| Supporters of a baccalaureate program in Kitsap are hoping that Gov. Christine Gregoire will include nearly half-million dollars in her supplemental budget to fund a study evaluating local baccalaureate needs. All nine legislators from the 35th, 26th and 23rd legislative districts signed a letter sent to Gregoire in August requesting $497,000 for a study by the Higher Education Coordinating Board of Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas’ need for additional four-year program. Gregoire’s budget is expected to be released in December.
“Earlier this year, you signed SSB 5731, which establishes the goal of producing an additional 8,000 baccalaureate degrees statewide by 2010 and 10,000 more by 2020. We believe that the future success of our region’s economy and of our children depends on it being part of that higher education solution,” the letter said. “…Providing baccalaureate access in our region would be the cornerstone of our economic growth and transformation.”
In the meantime, the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) is funding its own, smaller-scale study to help determine the needs. Charlotte Garrido was hired as the consultant on the project. “We’re doing a smaller study that gives some basic information showing the local support,” she said.
The project included sending out surveys to local businesses in October, then following up with more in-depth, face-to-face interviews in November with some businesses. Garrido said a package will be prepared in December for community outreach and feedback. In addition to the surveys, she’s compiling data like demographics and researching various possibilities. The package will then be forwarded to legislators to help promote the idea.
The KEDA project is a follow-up of discussions conducted by a 2006-07 Kitsap Baccalaureate Task Force, which was spearheaded by Olympic College. OC also conducted its own study three years ago.
“I think we have a good case to make… We’re isolated essentially and we don’t have a comprehensive program,” said David Mitchell, president of Olympic College.
Community and business leaders have discussed the need for more higher education opportunities in Kitsap for many years. Education was also outlined among the priorities that were determined through KEDA’s Kitsap 20/20 initiative. Last year, local legislators sponsored a bill to fund a Higher Education Coordinating Board study, but the bill died in committees.
Sen. Derek Kilmer, who was the primary sponsor of the bill and is vice chair of the Higher Education Committee and the Economic Development, Trade and Management Committee, said he’s hopeful to see the study funded next year. “It won’t be easy, particularly since supplemental budgets tend to be reasonably tight,” he wrote via email, adding, “This effort has the potential to be one of the most important things we do for this region from an educational standpoint and from an economic standpoint.”
Even if Gregoire includes the funding in her version of the budget, the House and the Senate will have their own budgets and the three sides must negotiate the final version. Kilmer said members of the local delegation planned to advocate for the study throughout the legislative session.
Ideas discussed for regional four-year programs include opening a University of Washington or Washington State University campus, expanding Olympic College programs, or creating a “university center” where several institutions can provide various degrees.
This fall, Olympic College added its first baccalaureate program for nursing, and is currently undergoing the accreditation process. Once that process is complete, Mitchell said future accreditation of other programs becomes easier.
“We don’t have a predetermined solution to what needs to happen, but it’s realistic for Olympic College to add more baccalaureate programs in the future. It’s cost-effective,” he said. “It’s also possible to have the university center.”
He said regardless of what option is pursued, it would be driven by workforce demand and student interest. He said it’s also a process that involves basic education, because K-12 schools will need to create a culture that encourages young children to have a college mentality.
“Eventually, the state will have to do something about this area,” he said. “It’s an evolutionary process, and it’s time to thing strategically.”
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