The spring semester is in full swing at the Institute and the University. While the spring semester is often overshadowed by the anticipated graduation in May, the spring is also a great time for us to advance new academic initiatives and work on student enrollment for future semesters.
We now have some declared real estate majors in the undergraduate program and we are working closely with the University’s enrollment office to expand that group through transfer students and freshman recruiting. An upcoming summer program, a 12-day intensive in real estate that is targeted to rising juniors and seniors in high school, will hopefully broaden awareness of both the industry as a strong and exciting career path and of our program and its benefits for preparing young talent for the industry. I will share more details on this summer program next month.
As you know, real estate industry talent does not have to come from academic backgrounds totally focused on real estate. In recognition of that, we are working through the approval process to establish a real estate minor in the Heller College of Business so that undergraduate students in other majors, within or outside of the Heller College, can take real estate courses and potentially choose to pursue careers in the real estate industry.
On the graduate level, we are excited about the Graduate Certificate programs that we expect to launch this fall. These certificates, which initially will be in Real Estate Finance and Investment and in Real Estate Development, will be complements to the MSRE and MBA-RE degrees, providing graduate level knowledge for anyone interested in the industry or needing additional educational training for their careers, but who don’t think that completing a degree program is necessary or desired. There are many ways to provide knowledge and to help train and develop industry talent and these certificates are just the beginning of many creative educational initiatives we are considering.
I want to express my appreciation to the Institute Advisory Board, industry leaders who give their time and other resources to support our student success and our Institute’s efforts. We are excited to welcome three new Board members, Molly Phelan of Siegel Jennings; Kathy Hurst of Moran and Company and Bija Bennett, who is committed to carry on the involvement and support provided by her dad, Marshall Bennett, and The Bennett Family.
If you have an interest in working with us to advance the development and education of the future leaders of the real estate, please contact me at cenglishdixon@roosevelt.edu.
Collete English Dixon
Executive Director