LOS ANGELES-The University of Southern California’s Ross Minority Program in Real Estate will offer courses in San Diego for the first time this fall. Despite its title, the program is open to anyone from, working in, or planning to work in underserved communities. At the same time, the executive education platform is also trying to increase diversity in commercial real estate. Statistics from the National Assn. of Realtors say the field was 89% percent white and 76% male as of 2012. The program has taught 700 students to date, most now working in all aspects of real estate to develop affordable housing, retail, mixed-use, office and community facilities in underserved communities. Price Charities, a non-profit that focuses on real estate development and employing resources to improve the quality of life for residents in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego, is backing the program with a grant. The two-week San Diego program will enroll up to 25 students from Oct. 7-18. The program was previously held in San Francisco. "Each area of our state has its own unique set of challenges when it comes to real estate development and addressing the needs of underserved communities," says Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, the Ross Program's academic home. "By coming to San Diego, we not only make the local industry more diverse, we increase its capacity to find development-related solutions to the unique challenges facing communities across the region." Launched after the Los Angeles civil unrest of 1992 and later expanded with a grant from long-time real estate industry leader Stan Ross and his wife, Marilyn Ross, the program brings individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives together to solve complex real estate challenges. Graduates go on to play roles in numerous commercial, retail, residential and mixed-use developments throughout Southern California and across the nation. The program is kept small to encourage classroom discussion and one-on-one access to instructors. It is currently accepting applications for 25 spots. There are a limited number of scholarships to assist with the $5,500 tuition. The program's application deadline is Sept. 26 and there is no application fee. You can apply to the program here. As previously reported by GlobeSt.com, Richard Green of the Lusk Center was a participant earlier this year in the RealShare Investment and Finance Conference in San Diego.
