Sergio Gárate, UM assistant professor of real estate, teaches students in the School of Business Administration to use ARGUS Enterprise analytic software. Photo by Bill Dabney/UM Foundation
OXFORD, Miss. – A technology gift from the ARGUS/Altus Group of Houston, Texas, to the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration is providing opportunities for students to experience software they may ultimately use in their careers.
The recent gift, valued at more than $330,000, is intended to train Ole Miss real estate students to use the same data and analytic software used daily by commercial real estate professionals.
“We want to ensure that students are prepared with the knowledge they need to enter the industry with the understanding of our software and how it’s used in different roles,” said Kari Mayfield, education coordinator for Altus Group. “Learning it while still in school creates a relationship with the students early on that sticks with them when they become the decision-makers of tomorrow.”
Altus Group officials also hope the gift will facilitate a connection between the company and students, Mayfield said.
“Many of the students we train become our industry clients and we get to maintain this relationship throughout their careers,” she said. “That’s what we hope to continue accomplishing.”
ARGUS Enterprise allows developers and investors to evaluate, analyze and gauge the risk of an investment as well as facilitate the transaction of properties. Investors then use the information provided by the Argus analysis to keep track of their budgets and benchmark performance of multiple assets in a simple and visible way.
Students who learn to use the ARGUS technology will enter the industry with a competitive edge, said Sergio Gárate, assistant professor of real estate.
“Working on a case study using this tool helps students polish their analytical skills and apply the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom in a practical manner,” Gárate said. “We are really excited and grateful to the Altus Group for giving our students this opportunity and we believe it will help them land gainful employment once they graduate.”
For more information on supporting the School of Business Administration, contact Angela Brown, senior director of development, at browna@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3181.