There may be no more beautiful place for faithful Catholics to pursue an undergradu- ate education than the brand-new Wyoming Catholic College in the Rocky Mountains. Situated by the Wind River Mountain Range and the Popo Agie River, the college will be a delight for outdoor enthusiasts. It\u2019s such an impressive site that the 42-year-old National Outdoor Leadership School is located nearby.

class in September 2007, Wyoming Catholic embraced a Great Books and classical cur- riculum strongly permeated by orthodox Catholicism. It aspires to provide the quality of education evident at Thomas Aquinas Col- lege in California.

To do so, the college is emphasizing seven key objectives: Catholic community, spiritual formation, liberal arts education, integrated curriculum, great and good books, immer- sion in the outdoors and excellent teaching.

One administrator told us, \u201cThe Catho- lic identity is the main reason we are here. John Paul II in Ex corde Ecclesiae says that the purpose of Catholic education is to serve the Truth, and to bring students to the Truth.\u201d

Founded: 2005 (\ue000rst students in 2007)
Type of institution: Micro liberal arts college
Setting:Rur a l
Undergraduate enrollment: 35 (2007\u201308

This mission in the wilderness is located in Lander, which has a population of 7,000 people in west-central Wyoming. The area, as

The college\u2019s initial location is Holy Rosary Church, which provided religious, classroom and dining facilities. The six-credit eques-

A 14-square mile parcel of land has been acquired nearby which will eventually serve as the permanent campus. A breathtaking rendering of the future campus is shown on the WCC website. At the entrance will be the chapel followed by academic, recreational and residential precincts.

ranging from Vermont and Georgia to Cali- fornia and Washington. The college expects to eventually enroll 400 students.

Many of the other courses have Catholic overtones. Graduates will all receive the same Bachelor of Arts degree.

All new colleges need to go through an ac- crediting process, which takes several years. Wyoming Catholic is applying for accredita- tion from The American Association for Lib- eral Education. Among colleges pre-accred- ited or accredited by the AALE are Ave Maria University, Magdalen College, Thomas Aqui- nas College, The Thomas More College of

Liberal Arts and the University of Dallas. The college is also exploring accreditation with the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.

Wyoming Catholic is a lay-run, independent college with a strong connection to the local bishop who will always be chairman of the six-member board. Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming, helped start the college and bestowed his Apostolic Blessing in 2005.

Among the members of the academic advi- sory board is Father James Schall, S.J., a noted scholar and professor at Georgetown Univer- sity.

promoting its religious identity. Father Cook told us, \u201cWe will encourage full participation in the liturgical celebration of Mass, Rosary and Adoration by all students all the time. We intend to do everything we can so that upon graduation, the students will leave stronger in the faith than when they came.\u201d

The speakers for this 2007\u201308 Guest Lecture Series have been announced. The series will begin with Father Frederick Miller of Mount St. Mary\u2019s Seminary, who will speak on \u201cSedes Sapientiae: Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom,\u201d and end with Dr. Dominic Aquila of the University of St. Thomas, who will talk about \u201cWhat Music Can Mean to Our Living: The Rise and Fall of Classical Music in American Radio.\u201d

with the missionary role of the diocese, which is only 10 percent Catholic. He told us, \u201cWe hope that some of the graduates of Wyoming Catholic College, with good formation there, will consider staying in Wyoming and be- come trained catechists and teachers for our diocese.\u201d

theology professor Peter Kwasniewski said, \u201cthe Mass is the center of all that we are and will be.\u201d

addition, students will be taught about prayer through the study of Lectio Divina, St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila.

All faculty members must agree not to under- mine Church teaching or the pope\u2019s authori- ty. Catholics will profess their faith and recite

for the Doctrine of the Faith, includes this statement: \u201cI shall follow and foster the com- mon discipline of the whole church and shall

All faculty members are reported to be supportive of WCC\u2019s spiritual vision. Two of them are non-Catholics, but one has already announced she will enter the Church. Two- thirds of the faculty will be Catholics.

fessors \u201chave been advised and will teach in such a way that the teachings of the Magiste- rium will permeate their teaching, regardless of subject.\u201d