W&J, George Washington Hotel partner for student housing
Courtesy of Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College will be welcoming its largest incoming class in history in the fall, a number that stands now at 613.
With that in mind, the school is partnering with the historic George Washington Hotel at 60 S. Main St. in downtown Washington to offer a new premium living experience.
The collaboration provides an elevated housing option for select junior and senior students.
Spread over two floors, 44 rooms have been set aside for the students. Each features a private bath and modern furnishings.
“As we plan for continued growth at the college, this meaningful partnership between two long standing pillars of the community will offer our students a place where they can truly live and thrive,” said Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, W&J president. “As we continue to invest in our residential community and enhance the student living experience, this marks the first phase of our housing upgrade plan, which includes renovations to Cleveland Hall and other living spaces across campus.”
When MacLeod Walls became president in 2024, the school welcomed 482 freshmen, which at that time was the largest incoming class in the school’s history. She said at the time that she hoped to have a class of around 400 every year, a number that has been eclipsed by the 613 for this fall.
Living at the hotel provides students with an opportunity to experience the city’s downtown revitalization and take advantage of the college’s Prez Perks program, which provides discounts at many Washington businesses.
“This participation puts them right downtown,” Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess said. “We need to be more receptive to the kids coming downtown and having a safe place to go, a fun place to go and places to eat and different things. That’s what we’re working toward.
“This partnership is not just with the George Washington Hotel. She’s (MacLeod Walls) committed to making sure the city and the college work together to make sure these kids have a very rewarding college experience. This generates revenue downtown, but later on they stay here and get jobs and want to build a family here. That builds our residency here too. It’s always a positive to have things like that going on.”
The George Washington Hotel celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023, the same time the hotel was inducted into the Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“We are proud to partner with Washington & Jefferson College to provide an upscale student housing experience at the George Washington Hotel,” said Robert Plutto, the hotel’s general manager. “This collaboration blends the elegance and comfort of our historic property with the vibrant energy of college life, offering students a unique living environment that supports both academic success and personal growth.”