The University of St. Thomas in Houston is exploring the possibility of building a campus in Conroe, with its eyes on the 220-plus acre Deison Technology Park, according to university and city officials.

“Conroe is a dynamic city, and UST is excited at the prospect of a partnership,” St. Thomas President Richard Ludwick said in a statement.

The Conroe location would be the third site for the Houston-based Catholic university, which has its main campus in the Montrose area and another campus nearby for its St. Mary’s Seminary, which houses the university’s school of theology.

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Conroe City Councilman Jody Czajkoski said the discussion about a Conroe campus began around two years ago after he contacted the university in the hope of expanding Conroe’s offerings in higher education and employment as it continues to grow.

“We have been working to get a four-year Ivy League-type institution like University of St. Thomas in our area. We’re just looking forward to it,” said Czajkoski. “This community is growing.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Conroe was the fastest growing large city with a population of 50,000 or more between 2015 and 2016. The city grew at 7.8 percent, making its growth rate more than 11 times the nation’s growth rate of 0.7 percent.

The talks are still preliminary, but Czajkoski and Jeff Olsen, the university’s vice president of marketing and communications, said St. Thomas is considering Deison Technology Park, which consists of more than 200 acres, as a place to ultimately host the Conroe campus, where programs including education and business would be offered. Cjajkoski said the city is considering leasing one of its buildings downtown while funds are being raised to purchase the space. Courses could begin as early as next year.

“If things continue to progress as quickly as they have so far, (University of St. Thomas) is targeting a Fall 2020 start in one or more programs including nursing,” Olsen said.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” Olsen added, including getting approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, but the university is optimistic about moving forward.

“There’s lots of land to develop and … we just think it might be a good match for our university,” Olsen said.

The university plans to release more details about the Conroe campus soon.

In the meantime, Czajkoski said the city is looking for support from foundations, donors and potential partners. He plans to hold a meeting later this week to establish advisory board committees where people can serve for one- and three-year terms to assist in the development of the university’s campus.

His goal is to establish a group of leaders in various sectors, including education, healthcare, business, oil and gas, who can assist with the development of the new program. Interested parties can contact Czajkoski at jczajkoski@cityofconroe.org.

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The announcement of St. Thomas’ potential expansion comes after a host of recent initiatives and advancements at the university.

St. Thomas welcomed its largest freshman class in its history last year, according to a university release. This year, the university buffed up its athletics program, with 12 teams, approximately 180 student athletes and the advancement of its men’s basketball team to the NCAA Division III. The school is also offering additional degrees, including two new master’s degrees and at least three associate degree programs, discounted summer courses and flat-rate tuition for 12 to 18 credits starting in the fall.

“Our mission calls us to grow and continue to serve the local community by providing an education that impacts student lives and careers,” Olsen said in a statement.

brittany.britto@chron.com

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