Former University of Washington president Lee Huntsman will lead a planning team from the university as it decides where to build a new UW campus and how to run it. The state wants to open a new branch UW campus and must decide whether to build it in Snohomish, Island or Skagit county. Huntsman, former director of the UW's bioengineering program, served as interim UW president for a year before being named president in 2003. He stepped down in 2004 and now runs the state's Life Sciences Development Fund Authority. In his new role, he will serve as co-chairman of the panel that will examine academic options for the campus. Huntsman will be joined by Ana Mari Cauce, the UW's executive vice provost, in leading the study.

The state's capital budget provides $4 million to help launch the new university, which will focus on science, technology and engineering. The UW must present Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Legislature with an idea of where it wants to build the new campus and how it wants to run the college by June 2008. Classes could be offered in temporary quarters as early as fall 2008.

Ana Mari Cauce, executive vice provost for the UW, will help find a new campus location.