The College of Arts and Science added two brand new undergraduate real estate courses to their Urban and Public Affairs department for the spring 2023 semester after receiving a $27,730 grant from KREC.

Sumei Zhang, associate professor in the Department of Urban and Public Affairs and director of the graduate certificate in real estate program, saw an opportunity to grow real estate courses at the university after closely collaborating with KREC and understanding the field’s needs.

UofL is the only four-year accredited university listed as a qualified pre-license course provider by KREC. Twenty-two students enrolled in the courses for the spring semester.

“One big reason for adding the two classes is there was high demand,” Zhang said. “We wanted to expand to undergrad because the demand is coming more from that group than graduate students.”

The first course, Real Estate Development, is offered in person and gives students an overview of the real estate development process, including land acquisition, development administration and the management of completed projects. The second course, Introduction to Real Estate Principles, is offered onlineĚýand provides a basic understanding of real estate principles that will help students make informed business and development decisions relating to real estate development.

Completion of the two classes means students will meet the Kentucky Real Estate License exam education requirement for sales associates.

“It is a great opportunity to get your career going,” Zhang said, adding that taking the courses as electives allows students to meet expectations for their degree programs while getting an edge toward earning a license in real estate.

Having qualified instructors who were also real estate practitioners was very important to Zhang while planning the curriculum.

“If you take the license exam, it is important to understand the practitioner’s language and vocabulary” she said.

The faculty team includes Andrew Schuhmann ’11, ’20, ’20 who earned a bachelor’s, master’s and law degree from UofL and who has experience in titles and commercial real estate, and Tommy Clark ’09, who earned a master’s degree at UofL and has held his real estate license since 1998 and is active in commercial real estate.Ěý

UofL also offers a graduate certificate in real estate development which can be completed as a stand-alone certificate to fulfill continuing education requirements for practitioners already in the field.

Louie’s Greenhouse is an indoor hydroponic microfarm requiring only water and nutrients to grow greens all year around with no pesticide involved. The farm can grow a total of 45 different microgreens, lettuces, other leafy greens (like kale and Swiss chard) and even flowers. Tangy Basil Mix, Italian Herb Mix, cilantro and dill are already sprouting in the vertical greenhouse.

According to Babylon, the maker of the microfarm, each unit reduces water usage, carbon emissions and chemical runoff found in traditional farming, with one farm netting 7.13 pounds of fertilizer runoff avoided annually; 97.5 pounds of food waste saved annually; 13,128 gallons of water saved annually; and 676 single-use plastic saved annually.Ěý

The farm is one of the newer sustainability initiatives that UofL Dining Services provider Aramark is implementing across campus.

“I wanted to bring hydroponic growing to campus as soon as I got here! It’s a great way to interact with students and get them involved with growing their own food,” said Lindsay Klingenschmidt, Aramark sustainability manager. “We’ve been working with and UofL Auxiliaries on a partnership to help make our vision a reality.”

Along with providing Ville Grill chefs with fresh produce, Louie’s Greenhouse demonstrates UofL’s commitment to sustainability and is proudly supported by corporate partner Canon.Ěý

“Canon’s corporate philosophy ofĚýKyosei—all people, regardless of race, religion, or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future—fuels our dedication to conducting business in harmony with the environment. Canon Solutions America has a strong commitment to promoting both our own sustainability efforts and those of our customers,” said Peter P. Kowalczuk, president of Canon Solutions America. “So, when UofL told us about the opportunity to support the installation of an indoor vertical farm on campus, it was a win-win. Not only does this way of growing greens reduce environmental impact, it’s also a beautiful and fun way to enhance the experience for the university’s students. We are excited to explore even more ways Canon Solutions America and UofL can partner to make a positive impact on both students and our planet.”Ěý

Ville Grill’s location was a no brainer since they see over 1,000 students and faculty every day. Microfarm planners hope to have a positive impact on students and influence them to get more involved with their own food. The farm is surrounded by glass so guests can come and see what is growing inside.

KlingenschmidtĚýand two sustainable dining interns oversee care of the flourishment of the greens since the farm must be locked to keep the food they’re growing safe from contamination and tampering. But Ville Grill visitors will see the farm open when the two students are working each week. The interns also work hand-in-hand with Ville Grill chefs to see what the chefs would like to add to the microfarm and how they would like to incorporate it into Ville Grill meals.

This is not the only initiative showing the growth of sustainability throughout campus. UofL and Aramark are working on multiple other projects like incorporating more Zero Waste events, emphasizing recycling and composting, along with adding more local produce and fair-trade certified products on campus.

Follow UofL Dining on Instagram (@uofldining) to get updates on Louie’s Greenhouse.

Ěý