History of Capella University

Capella University was the inspiration of Stephen Shank, former CEO of Tonka Corporation, who felt that many adults were underserved by traditional universities. He envisioned a high-quality university that people could attend from any location.

In 1991, Shank established the corporate entity that would become Capella Education Company. In 1993, Dr. Harold Abel, an experienced leader in higher education and former president of three universities, joined Shank to found The Graduate School of America, now called Capella University. Originally, the university offered online master's and doctoral degrees in management, education, and human services.

Today, Capella University offers more than 1,250 online courses and 39 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in 129 specialized areas of study. Capella's nearly 34,000 learners include a diverse group of adults from all 50 states and 53 countries.

Milestones

• 1991 — The university's parent company, now called Capella Education Company, is incorporated.
• 1993 — The Graduate School of America (TGSA), now called Capella University, is founded by Stephen Shank and Dr. Harold Abel, who became its first president.
• 1993 — Capella receives approval from the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office to grant MS and PhD degrees in organization and management, education, human services, and interdisciplinary studies.
• 1997 — Capella receives accreditation.*
• 1999 — The parent company and university are renamed Capella Education Company and Capella University.
• 1999 — Capella joins the U.S. Department of Education Distance Education Demonstration Program.
• 2000 — Capella's School of Technology offers its first bachelor's degree in information technology.
• 2000 — Capella is chosen as an original participant in the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) of The North Central Association's Higher Learning Commission.
• 2001 — Capella University is named to the U.S. News & World Report list of Best Online Graduate Business Programs.
• 2003 — Capella Education Company is named to the Inc. 500 Hall of Fame after being named one of America's 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the fifth year in a row.
• 2003 — Capella's School of Human Services' mental health counseling master's degree specialization receives accreditation from The American Counseling Association's Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
• 2003 — The North Central Association approves Capella's plan to launch four-year undergraduate programs in business and technology.
• 2003 — Capella forms a collaboration with Augsburg College to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees starting in 2004.
• 2004 — Capella enrollment exceeds 10,000 learners.
• 2005 — Capella graduates its 5,000th learner.
• 2005 — The School of Human Services' marital, couple and family counseling/therapy master's degree specialization is accredited by CACREP, giving Capella University two CACREP-accredited counseling specializations.
• 2006 — Capella enrollment exceeds 15,000 learners.
• 2006 — Capella Education Company becomes a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: CPLA).
• 2007 — Capella's Master of Science specialization in Reading and Literacy receives approval as a program fulfilling the requirements for licensure in Minnesota by the Minnesota Board of Teaching, one of the few online Reading and Literacy programs to be state-approved.
• 2007 — The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security designate Capella University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.
• 2007 — Capella enrollment exceeds 20,000 learners.
• 2007 — Launched Education Specialist (EdS) degree
• 2007 — Graduated 10,000th learner
• 2008 — Capella University's accreditation is reaffirmed by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Capella’s next scheduled accreditation reaffirmation process will be during the 2014-2015 academic year
• 2008 — The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM™) acknowledged that three Capella HR specializations (in the BS, MS, and MBA programs) fully align with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates
• 2008 — The Master of Science specialization in School Counseling received approval from the Arizona Department of Education
• 2008 — The Doctor of Philosophy in Education specialization in Special Education Leadership received approval from the Minnesota Board of School Administrators
• 2008 — The Bachelor and Master of Science in Information Technology specializations in Project Management were accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI®) Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (PMI-GAC)
• 2009 — Dr. Christopher Cassirer became President of Capella University
• 2009 — Launched Doctor of Education (EdD) degree
• 2009 — Kevin Gilligan became Chief Executive Officer of Capella Education Company
• 2009 — Capella University is granted full institutional approval by the Minnesota Board of Teaching
• 2009 — Capella established the new School of Public Service Leadership
• 2009 — Capella University received the 2009 Learning Impact Award from IMS Global Learning Consortium
• 2009 — Capella University is a charter member of Transparency by Design, the initiative that developed and officially launched the College Choices for Adults website in August 2009
• 2009 — The Master of Science in School Counseling is accredited by the American Counseling Association’s Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.
Capella University, Capella Tower, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552), www.capella.edu.