Classes Underway At WSU In Everett

August 22, 2017

Everett, Everett Schools

It is the second day of the semester for students at all of the WSU campus locations including here in Everett. Today MyEverettNews.com tagged along as Congressman Rick Larsen got a tour of the newest Washington State University campus, North Puget Sound at Everett. The tour was led by Chancellor Paul Pitre.

WSU Everett

The building itself is a study in energy efficiency and sustainability.

The 95,000 square foot campus building sits at the north gateway to the city at the corner of Tower and Broadway. At one end of the first floor sits the student commons. (Expected to soon be named the Elson S. Floyd Student Commons in honor of the WSU President credited with bringing a 4-year college to Everett. Floyd passed away in 2015.)

WSU

Congressman Larsen and Chancellor Pitre in front of a 3-D printed car

At the other end of the first floor is the Innovation Forum where senior engineering students work on their final projects. It has lots of open space and roll-up doors to allow for easy display.

Elsewhere on the first floor are rooms such as the Boeing Innnovation Studio filled with 3-D printers, scanners and other high-tech equipment. There are more state-of-the-art mechanical engineering labs and even a “breaking lab” where students deconstruct projects as they improve their mechanical engineering skills.

WSU

Class is in session at WSU Everett.

On the second floor you’ll find the student center and a number of state of the art classrooms. This is where WSU medical students will study when in Everett. The classrooms are set up to be interactive and allow groups of students to work together. Instruction in the classrooms is about 75% faculty here and 25% faculty from Pullman or other WSU campus locations via video conferencing.

WSU

Congressman Larsen checks out a formula in one of the electrical engineering labs.

There are more classrooms on the third floor and here you’ll find more than 200 students from several other universities in the State under the Everett University Center banner. Western Washington University, University of Washington Bothell, Central Washington University, Hope International University, Eastern Washington University and The Evergreen State College make up the University Center.

On the fourth floor are more engineering labs serving computer science, electrical engineering, software development and data analytics. Right now there are just over 200 WSU students in the building in addition to the 200 or so University Center students. Enrollment happens every spring and fall and as more programs are added the building is expected to be at capacity with 900 students. Chancellor Pitre says they are hard at work on their second five-year plan. “We have room for growth,” Pitre said.

WSU

Chancellor Pitre shows Congressman Larsen where there is room for growth.

Today was Congressman Larsen’s first full tour of the building and he tells MyEverettNews.com he’s come away impressed. “More important than the building itself is the commitment WSU brings to Everett and all of Snohomish County to provide higher education in the North Sound,” said Larsen.

About fifty percent of the WSU students are coming from Everett Community College. The “Everett Advantage” as they call it is a two+two model where (two years at any community college + two years at WSU Everett) makes getting a four-year degree more affordable. You can save money by fulfilling your first two years at any community college and you have the opportunity to save money on living expenses by staying closer to home.

You can apply now to WSU Everett degree-completion programs in Mechanical EngineeringElectrical EngineeringSoftware EngineeringData AnalyticsHospitality Business Management and Integrated Strategic Communication. An Organic Agriculture Systems program is currently being planned.

 


About My Everett News Staff

My Everett News is a hyperlocal news website featuring news and events in Everett, Washington. We also cover City of Everett information and items of interest to those who live and work in Everett.

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