George Wythe University

Founding

George Wythe College (GWC) was organized in 1992 as a subsidiary of the Institute for Constitutional Education with Donald N. Sills as president. The school opened that fall as a Utah branch of Coral Ridge Baptist University (CRBU). Over the next several years the school awarded bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees across a range of subjects, including Finance, Youth and Family Counseling, History, Near Eastern Studies, Education, and Psychology. In 1997 a steering committee formalized the school’s comprehensive academic program, integrating the methodology, motto and mission into a cohesive liberal arts model which it called the Five Pillars of Statesmanship. In 1999, George Wythe Foundation was created to commence fundraising efforts, and by 2000 the college expanded its faculty and administration to include 13 employees plus support staff.

Independence and growth

In January 2002, the college became independent from CRBU through a transfer of ownership to George Wythe Foundation. At this time the school realigned its policies and narrowed its degree programs to the four specific degrees that most closely matched its mission, namely: B.A in Statesmanship; M.A. degrees in Political Economy and Education; and a Ph.D in Constitutional Law. This notably reduced the religious emphasis that existed previously.

Expansion

In 2006 a master plan was presented for reorganizing under a university model with multiple colleges on several campuses. In August 2008 the school announced the designation of "university" status granted by the State of Utah, and the Board decision to formally adopt the change, as it broke ground on its second campus in Monticello, Utah. At this same groundbreaking ceremony it was also announced that the school's leadership would assume new titles under the university model, with head administrator Shanon Brooks being named university president and chief academic Oliver DeMille receiving the title of chancellor. Temporary remote headquarters were set up in a local historical monument known as the Hyland Hotel and classes were held with 19 students. Intentions for a third campus were announced for Alberta, Canada.

In February 2009 the school announced plans to offer live online classes. This announcement coincided with the resignation of Brooks as president, the appointment of Andrew Groft as the university’s interim president, and the cancellation of the chancellor model incident to the retirement of DeMille, due to health problems. It was also noted that the timeline for the Monticello campus would be modified in response to the global economic crisis.

In June 2010, the Board of Trustees appointed Shane Schulthies as University President. By August 2010 all members of the original governing board had resigned and been replaced by new trustees. In April 2012, the Board of Trustees announced a feasibility study rejecting Monticello as a viable campus site and returned the donated land.

In October 2015, the new administration announced that it had been looking at options for being acquired, which it intends to complete by August 2016.

Academics

As a classical liberal arts school, curriculum is based on the Great Books of the Western Tradition but with an additional emphasis on developing the attributes necessary for statesmanship. The purpose "is two-fold: 1) to provide a comprehensive, quality liberal arts education, and 2) to train students to be skilled, principled, and effective leaders who will perpetuate the cause of liberty in the twenty-first century." Class sizes are relatively small with as little as a 7:1 student/faculty ratio. Subjects are studied primarily through original sources and include philosophy, history, mathematics, science, literature, political science, political economy and art. Coursework requirements center on extensive reading of and problem solving from the classics in each discipline, writing, simulations, oral and written examinations and practica.

GWU uses a liberal arts methodology based on the Socratic seminar and the Oxford tutorial models. Derived from these models, the school refers to five pillars education that comprise a pattern of learning that has produced leaders throughout history. These elements consist of:

Degrees and course credit

GWU currently offers four degrees: B.A. in Statesmanship, M.A. in Political Economy, M.A. in Education, and Ph.D. in Constitutional Studies.

Undergraduate degrees require 138 credits. Credits earned in both on-campus and off-campus programs count toward graduation. Online studies use the Elluminate interactive software platform to replicate the on-campus classroom experience. This is supplmemented with individual telephone mentoring. Students are required to perform three field-experiences worth a total of 6 credits." Life-experience credit is not accepted.

Accreditation

As of May 2011 GWU is not accredited, although administration has provided progress updates during the accreditation process. In September 2006 it completed an application with the American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) for its undergraduate program. AALE made a 4-day site visit to GWU in October 2008, and a second site visit in February 2010. AALE is no longer recognized by the United States Department of Education as an accrediting agency.

Publications

The official newsletter of George Wythe University, The Statesman, is an online forum where faculty and guest contributors write on topics of scholarly interest, current events and general news about university operations and policies. In addition, student research and writings are often featured. "The Statesman" also reports on the post-graduate accomplishments of alumni.

Student life

GWU's on-campus student body once consisted of 130-150 students with the male/female ratio approximately even. Roughly 1/3 of students were private school graduates, 1/3 from public school and 1/3 homeschooled. The school sponsored several formal dinners, galas, receptions, lectures, balls and special events each year.

Students typically rented from private home owners or multi-unit housing developments which offer student housing in the Salt Lake Valley. GWU assists its students in locating scholarships, private funding and grants for education costs. Federal financial aid is not available to students due to the school's accreditation status.

Students participate in a week-long competitive team simulation called the Statesmanship Invitational. During this event, students are divided into teams and presented a high-stakes crisis scenario. Roles are assigned and students engage in strategic planning and diplomatic negotiations over the course of several days until an outcome is reached. A day-long debriefing with mentors anchors lessons learned from the simulation.

Every other year, students and faculty travel through Europe for a month, stopping in historic venues for lectures and discussion of classic literature. Optional academic credit is available for submission of related coursework.

Leadership Education Uganda conducts teacher training classes in leadership methodologies using students, graduates and associates of George Wythe University. Student research informed the approach of the project. LEU began with one mentor teaching eight teachers in two schools. In less than one year the program grew to include 10 mentors teaching 160 teachers in 8 schools.

Faculty

George Wythe University has among its faculty administrators, professors, Mentors, Associate Mentors (graduate students), and adjuncts.

Alumni