Mark Vorreuter pursues unique path to degree
Mark Vorreuter has chosen a unique route to obtaining his Masters degree in the Program in Real Estate. By participating in the Cornell Employee Degree Program, Vorreuter maintains a full-time position within the University while simultaneously studying for his degree part-time. Vorreuter is the second Employee Degree participant accepted by the Program in Real Estate.
By pursuing a degree part-time the time in residency in the Program in Real Estate increases from 4 semesters to at least 8. But Vorreuter recognizes many benefits of part-time study: “The advantages of part-time study include having a longer time to develop my special concentration and also gaining more exposure to visiting speakers and my fellow students,” Vorreuter explained. “In addition, there is the economic advantage of almost free tuition, a steady full-time paycheck and benefits.”
While there may be many positive features of the Employee Degree Program, Vorreuter identified several drawbacks, including the challenge of simultaneously balancing work, school and marriage.
“The College of Human Ecology – my employer – and the Program in Real Estate are both very excited to have me take advantage of the Employee Degree Program opportunity, but it becomes difficult to balance my many competing priorities,” said Vorreuter.
Not only is Vorreuter’s degree path unique, but his choice of Historic Preservation represents a new concentration within the Program in Real Estate. Vorreuter’s interests in the adaptive reuse of older building stock comes from his experience working with energy modeling of residential buildings, his knowledge of renovation construction, as well as his undergraduate work in Urban Studies.
“I am interested in finding ways to keep older buildings relevant. They add depth and fabric to the built environment and form the core of many downtown areas. With the transition back to urban centers, it seems like a logical progression that more people will be exploring the opportunities offered by preservation and the reuse of older structures,” said Vorreuter. “No one says they want to move to a nondescript location. The texture, history and sense of place created by classic, older structures can bring a premium if an economical reuse can be teased out of the puzzle.”
Mark Vorreuter is currently a programmer and analyst for the College of Human Ecology. Prior to this position, he was Vice President of Online Information Systems for Performance Systems Development, Inc., an Ithaca-based company providing energy conservation program development to utilities and government programs across the country.
Please visit Mark Vorreuter’s Student Page for more information about his interests and experiences.