UT Dallas real estate program creates intern and mentoring opportunities for DFW brokers

The fall semester is kicking off soon at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), and there are more ways than ever for the Dallas-Ft. Worth commercial real estate industry to support the university.

Last September, Dr. Randall S. Guttery became the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s director of real estate programs. Since then, enrollment has nearly doubled – to 300 – from 2011 to 2012 and should exceed 450 in 2013.

The real estate program provides classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Guttery, along with the program’s associate director George DeCourcy, teaches courses in Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Valuation and Market Analysis, among several others. Dr. Guttery’s goal is to add an additional course to both the undergraduate and graduate levels each semester until six classes are offered at each level.

In April, UT Dallas became one of only 42 universities nationally to obtain the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation through an extensive curriculum and experiential requirements. This is one of the highest designations in commercial real estate.

Brokers can support the program through offering internships and mentoring opportunities for students. To submit an opening for a commercial real estate internship or entry-level position, submit a one-page document describing the job opportunity and the firm to Dr. Guttery.

In addition to hiring students, commercial real estate firms can support the program financially by making donations to the school’s real estate scholarship fund. Naveen Jindal School of Management Dean Hasan Pirkul has generously agreed to match donations to this fund for the next couple of years.

For questions about the UT Dallas real estate program or to get involved, contact Dr. Guttery at guttery@utdallas.edu.