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1-888-CAPELLA Volume 06-07, No. 2CAPELLA UNIVERSITYA Message from the PresidentWelcome to Capella UniversityInitially, many of our learners choose Capella University because it isan accredited, online university in which a 24/7 class “schedule”allows adults with work and family commitments to attend classes.Michael J. Offerman, EdDPresident, Capella UniversityBut after one course, their reasons for attending Capella Universitychange. Our learners talk about the quality and energy of the learningexperience at Capella. What they find in the courserooms is an activeand engaging learning community that invites them to include theirown knowledge and experience and to profit from the knowledge ofothers. They tell us that interaction with faculty and professional peersfrom around the world has increased the breadth and depth of theirknowledge and enhanced their critical thinking skills. At Capella,learners discover academic content that relates specifically to theirown professions and professional goals, and knowledge that hasimmediate application to their work.At Capella University, we provide an array of online services tominimize time spent on the day-to-day details associated with highereducation. Our learners have convenient online access to registration,financial aid, and support from academic advisors, as well as a fullrange of academic library resources through Capella UniversityLibrary.We believe that Capella University delivers the quality, convenience,and impact working adults expect from higher education.Thanks for joining us.Michael J. Offerman, EdDPresident5

61-888-CAPELLACAPELLA UNIVERSITY Volume 06-07, No. 2About Capella UniversityMission StatementThe mission of Capella University is toextend access to high quality bachelor’s,master’s, doctoral, and certificateprograms for adults who seek tomaximize their personal andprofessional potential. This mission isfulfilled through innovative programsthat are responsive to the needs of adultlearners and involve active, engaging,challenging, and relevant learningexperiences offered in a variety ofdelivery modes.Educational PhilosophyCapella University’s educationalphilosophy focuses on developingscholar-practitioners through learningthat incorporates both theoreticalknowledge and relevant experience.Learners synthesize scholarship withpractical application appropriate to theirlevel — as reflective-practitioners at thebaccalaureate level, as practitionerscholars at the master’s level, and asscholar-practitioners at the doctorallevel. Capella University faculty arethemselves scholar-practitioners or asappropriate, practitioner-scholars. Theyguide and facilitate learner growth anddevelopment through dissemination ofknowledge and the formation oflearning communities. They promoteactive learning and they model what itmeans to be scholar-practitioners andlife-long learners. Capella’s philosophyalso emphasizes collaboration: learnerswith their peers and learners withfaculty. Learners and faculty reflecttogether on their experiences, build andapply knowledge, participate incommunities of learning, and maketheoretical and practical contributions intheir fields.University HistoryIn 1992, Stephen Shank, former CEO ofTonka Corporation, provided the vision,leadership, and a portion of the initialfunding for the incorporation of adistance-learning institution. Mr. Shankobserved that adults were underservedby traditional universities for severalreasons. Most significantly, attendingclasses is difficult or impossible forworking adults due to employment andfamily obligations, and traditionalcurriculum often does not correspondwith the professional goals of matureadults. He envisioned a barrier-freeuniversity that people could attend fromremote locations — like their ownhomes — at their convenience.In 1993, Dr. Harold Abel, anexperienced leader in higher educationand a former president of threeuniversities, joined Mr. Shank to serve asfounding president and academic leaderof Capella. Dr. Abel assembled apremier faculty, built graduate curricula,and guided the university towardacademic accreditation. In 1997, duringthe presidency of Dr. Bruce Francis,Capella achieved accreditation by TheHigher Learning Commission andbecame a member of the North CentralAssociation of Colleges and Schools.Capella University, initially named TheGraduate School of America (TGSA),offered master’s and doctoral degreeprograms in management, education,and human services. Two years afteraccreditation, TGSA became CapellaUniversity and went on to establish theSchools of Business, Education, HumanServices, Psychology, and Technology.Today, Capella University offerscertificates and bachelor’s, master’s, anddoctoral degrees across five schools.In 2001, Dr. Michael Offerman,formerly a leader within the Universityof Wisconsin system, became presidentof Capella University. DuringDr. Offerman’s tenure, Capella hasmade learner success the strategicinitiative for the university byemphasizing academic program qualityas well as academic advising and learnersupport services.A major milestone achieved during hispresidency occurred in 2003, whenThe Higher Learning Commission ofthe North Central Association grantedCapella permission to offer a fullfour-year bachelor’s program.The undergraduate learning experiencehas been enhanced by a reorganizationof schools in 2004 to form the School ofUndergraduate Studies and the Schoolof Business and Technology in additionto the existing Schools of Education,Human Services, and the Harold AbelSchool of Psychology.Affirmative ActionCapella University is an affirmativeaction employer.Ownership of UniversityCapella University is wholly ownedby Capella Education Company,a Minnesota corporation.Institutional Accreditation

Volume 06-07, No. 2CAPELLA UNIVERSITY7General OverviewAcademic Program OptionsCapella University offers graduatecertificates, the Bachelor of Science(BS), Master of Science (MS), Master ofBusiness Administration (MBA), Doctorof Philosophy (PhD), and Doctor ofPsychology (PsyD).Course FormatsCourses are offered online and indirected study formats. Designateddirected study courses are available onlyto doctoral learners in the Schools ofBusiness and Technology, Education, andHuman Services. Directed study courses,in which learners work one-to-one with afaculty tutor, are offered quarterly.Additional details and requirementsrelated to these course formats can befound in the Academic and OtherUniversity Policies section of this catalogor on iGuide.Academic ResidenciesAll doctoral programs, clinically-focusedmaster’s programs, and some postmaster’s certificate programs requirelearners to attend academic residencies(colloquia, the year-in-residence, orpre-practicum) offered in variouslocations. Academic residencies provideopportunities for learners to becomefamiliar with Capella Universityresources, to develop or affirm academicskill sets, to acquire clinical skillcompetencies, to learn researchmethodologies, and/or to prepare forthe comprehensive examination anddissertation processes. It is through theseface-to-face encounters that learnersextend participation in Capella’slearning community by networking,focusing on academic success strategies,interacting with peers and faculty, anddeveloping academic competencies thatsupport program completion. Capellabelieves that the sense of communitydeveloped during residency experienceswill endure throughout the program andbecome an essential part of a successfullearner experience. Additional detailsregarding residency content andrequirements can be found on iGuide.Capella’s Commitment toLearner SuccessCapella University is committed tohelping learners succeed. To that end,the university has developed a uniquecombination of course work and supportservices intended to facilitate a strongstart for learners. New learners canexpect the following support: The University Orientation Seminarprovides all new learners with theknowledge, skills, and advice theyneed to be successful in Capella’sonline learning environment.Learners navigate Capella’s onlinecourseroom, take a virtual tour ofuniversity support services, andengage in an online discussion withan orientation facilitator and othernew learners. An outstanding first course that setsthe stage for the rest of the learner’sprogram.Learner ServicesFor day-to-day needs, Capella’s learnersupport services are available onlinethrough iGuide, via e-mail, and throughtoll-free calls within the United States. iGuide – iGuide allows learners toaccess Capella’s services in oneconvenient place. Learners canregister for classes, apply for financialassistance, view an unofficialtranscript, and access a variety of otherconvenient services including theuniversity Learner Handbook. iGuidecan be found at www.capella.edu. Advisors – Advisors help learnersmake a successful transition into theirprogram at Capella and serve as anongoing source of support throughouttheir education at Capella. Advisorsinclude academic advisors and learnersupport associates. Advisors areassigned by degree program and arededicated to assisting learners in thatprogram’s specializations. Advisorscommunicate with learners on anongoing basis, providing academicand personal strategies and support,clarifying university procedures,tracking and discussing academicprogress, and providing informationabout any changes that may affectlearners. A list of advisors by schooland degree program can be found oniGuide under Advising & AcademicSupport – Meet the Advisors. For questions or concerns regardingregistration, courses, access, financialaid, billing, or technical problems thatare not answered on iGuide, learnersupport associates are available toassist learners at 1-888-CAPELLA(227-3552), option 2, or by e-mailingLearner Support atlearnersupport@capella.edu. Academic Records – The Office of theRegistrar maintains the academicrecords of learners as they progressthrough their courses and degreeprograms at Capella University. Itsmission is to provide confidential,accurate academic records. Learnersmay request official transcripts andview and print their unofficialtranscripts any time through theRecords and Transcripts section oniGuide. Alumni Center – Alumni benefit fromnetworking opportunities, professionalemployment information and careerservices, an alumni newsletter, alumnigrants, discounted courses, selecteduse of library resources, and theopportunity for free attendance ateducation industry trade shows whereCapella is exhibiting. Furtherinformation on the Alumni Centercan be found on iGuide. Bookstore – Textbooks and softwaremay be purchased through thebookstore, accessible through iGuide.GENERAL OVERVIEW1-888-CAPELLA

81-888-CAPELLACAPELLA UNIVERSITY Volume 06-07, No. 2General Overview, continued Armed Forces Support Services –Armed Forces Support services areavailable to Capella University learnerswho are affiliated with the Armed

range of academic library resources through Capella University Library. We believe that Capella University delivers the quality, convenience, and impact working adults expect from higher education. Thanks for joining us. Michael J. Offerman, EdD President Michael J. Offerman, EdD President, Capella University A Message from the President