A new Center for Real Estate is in the works at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. After clamoring from students and members of the DFW real estate professional community, TCU has received more than $2 million dollars in financial commitments for the new institute.
The center will provide experiential education and networking opportunities for TCU students, in addition to executive education and playing host to presentations from important real estate leaders from across the country.
This announcement comes a little over four years since another real estate educational facility in the region, Southern Methodist University’s Robert and Margaret Folsom Institute for Real Estate, a named a leader.
“Real estate professionals will be able to access research, data, and reports specifically for the DFW Metroplex,” TCU Neeley School of Business John V. Roach Dean O. Homer Erekson said in a statement. “For students, the center will support them to attend conferences, participate in case competitions and consulting projects.”
Dr. Mauricio Rodriguez, a professor of finance and real estate and chair of TCU’s Department of Finance, will be the center’s director and is leading the charge in recruiting talent for its leadership team.
According to Rodriguez, a posting for associate director of the Real Estate Center will go out sometime in the next two week, pending approval by the university. He hopes to hire another staff member next year to oversee outreach programs, conferences, and contact with local real estate industry individuals.
Currently, the Neeley School of Business offers an undergraduate finance major with an emphasis on real estate, but there are plans to offer an independent real estate major going forward. Dr. Rodriguez expects some students studying finance with the concentration on real estate to transition into the new major program, allowing the program to have a solid student base upon introduction.
Neeley’s new Spencer and Marlene Hays Business Commons building is currently under construction. Upon its completion in 2020, the TCU Center for Real Estate will be housed there.
