Realtor® University Receives Accreditation

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2016 — Realtor® University, the only advanced online education institution centered exclusively on real estate, has received accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, or DEAC, an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

Since its inception in 2011, accreditation has been a top priority for Realtor® University; the process takes nearly two years and can only be started once the school has already been stably operating for two years. Realtor® University first enrolled students in 2012 and began the accreditation process in 2014.

"Accreditation is a rigorous process that every new university must go through to be recognized as a legitimate and credible institution of higher learning," said Sharon Millett, chair of Realtor® University's Board of Regents. "Realtor® University has met the DEAC's strict criteria for education, ethical and business practices, affirming our program's unique blend of practical and applied learning for real estate professionals."

Realtor® University was established to provide a Master's degree program for real estate professionals and bring even more value to their home buyer, seller and investor client. "As the voice of real estate, the National Association of Realtors® created Realtor®University to serve as the ultimate resource for advanced education in real estate and to raise the bar of professionalism in our industry," said NAR President Tom Salomone, broker-owner of Real Estate II Inc. in Coral Springs, Florida. "We are excited that this is only the beginning for the university, and there are plans underway to expand the programs available and further advance professionalism in our industry."

Courses are offered in eight-week sessions, six times annually and taught by Ph.D.-level academics and practitioners. The program includes a business and real estate core curriculum with concentrations in Residential Sales, Marketing and Management; Commercial Real Estate Investment and Analysis; Real Estate Asset and Property Management; Real Estate Appraisal and Valuation Services; and Real Estate Association Management.

"In receiving initial accreditation from DEAC, Realtor® University provided evidence of its commitment to educational standards and ethical business practices that assure quality, accountability and meaningful opportunities for students to engage fully in higher learning," said Dr. Leah K. Matthews, executive director of DEAC. "The DEAC is pleased to welcome the institution to the DEAC community of educators, where a focus on service to students reflects a longstanding commitment to best practices in teaching and learning in distance education."

Realtor® University also has the largest real estate library in the world and the Richard J. Rosenthal Center for Real Estate Studies, a think tank and real estate research laboratory that provides current, hands-on and results-oriented data and analysis relevant to practical applications of industry trends and policy issues.

For more information on Realtor® University, visit www.RealtorU.com.

Realtor® University is an Illinois 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation established and operated exclusively for educational, research and related purposes. Realtor® University operates a degree granting educational institution offering a graduate degree in real estate and real estate business. The affairs of the University are governed by its Board of Regents. The Richard J. Rosenthal Center for Real Estate Studies at Realtor® University  provides high quality practical research that enhances practical knowledge for the practitioner.  With a Research Advisory Board comprised of distinguished real estate researchers and professionals and an Editorial Review Panel of experts from prominent universities nationwide, including the Wharton School, DePaul University and NYU, the Center's research is targeted toward the practitioner, public policy makers, legislators, and the general public.

The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1926 that operates as a national accreditor of distance education institutions. DEAC's goal is to ensure a high standard of educational quality in the distance education institutions it accredits and a quality education for the more than two million students who annually study at its accredited institutions.

The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.