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 800
online courses and 17 undergraduate and graduate degree programs with 105 specialized areas of study. Capella learners, numbering more than 23,400, include a diverse group of adults from all 50 states and 56 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 — The School of Human Services' marital, couple and family counseling/therapy master's degree specialization is accredited by CACREP, making Capella University the first online university to have two CACREP-accredited counseling specializations.
- 2006 — Capella enrollment exceeds 15,000 learners.
- 2006 — Capella Education Company becomes a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: CPLA).
*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, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552), www.capella.edu.
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