Update on George Wythe College

by Buckley Jensen

George Wythe College has a permanent presence in Monticello now with the leasing of the Hyland Hotel at the corner of 100 West and 100 South.

The old Hyland Hotel has been a pioneer landmark in Monticello for many decades and is on the National Register of Historic Places. George Wythe plans to purchase it and convert it into a VIP center when they move their administrative offices to their new campus in about two years.

According to Dr. Shanon Brooks, the CEO of George Wythe, he and two or three other personnel will be in Monticello permanently.

Their task is to build the new Monticello campus of George Wythe College on 520 acres just west of town, which was recently annexed into the City. Brooks says the timeline calls for construction to begin on the first college cluster in 2010, with a planned 2012 dedication date.

The first cluster will include classrooms, dorms and administrative offices. Each college cluster will accommodate up to 110 students.

George Wythe currently has 350 students. Eventually, they plan to have 1,500 students at the Monticello Campus in 12-13 individual colleges.

Their architectural plan will be a blend of Oxford University in England and the University of Virginia.

Classes in leadership and political science will begin in Monticello on February 19. Interested persons may register through Michelle Harkey, the College web site at www.gwc.edu, or at an informational meeting which Brooks will host at Monticello Elementary School on February 8.

Brooks said George Wythe personnel remain ecstatic about the idea of locating in Monticello. He revealed that Monticello had been on their short list for eight years before they made their final decision last year.

When asked what attracted them to Monticello, Brooks said there is a long list of positive things they like about this area. When pressed to be more specific he said:

“The location: We were looking for a secluded place which would help serious students concentrate on what they were in college for, without the distractions that often exist in larger areas.”

“The wealth of scenic, outdoor and recreational facilities in San Juan County. We think the Monticello area is one of the most beautiful places in America. It was the best of all the sites we looked at.”

"The quality of local people and the attitude and support of city leaders and the community in general about our long term plans."

For more information, contact George Wythe College in their temporary headquarters in the Hyland Hotel building at 435-587-2036.