Kudos to Capella University

Posted by Phyllis Stith on August 17th, 2008

I have just completed 2 full weeks of doctoral study at Capella University and I must say that I am overly impressed with the school’s level of organization across all levels. Although this is not my first experience with the online learning environment, I have discovered that Capella provides an effective and efficient program on all areas which satisfies my desire to have stress free occurrences.

I found the registration and enrollment process to be easily comprehendible because the school gives each student a “To Do” list in electronic format that allows them to track needed documentation that are mainly submitted online although transcripts from previous schools have to be faxed. Therefore, the student is always aware of any requirements that have been unfulfilled. In addition, each student is given an enrollment counselor who is readily available to walk students through the enrollment process and to answer any questions or concerns. Moreover, the school lists all of the financial aid forms online which does not require additional searches from outside sources. It is also important to note that it has proven to be very efficient in disbursing refunds because I received a direct deposit during the second week of class.

The school also has a mandatory orientation class (non-credited) that is structured in such a way as to help students maneuver through the online environment at Capella. As such, students are given tutorials on everything from course room functions to grading methodologies. Additionally, the orientation provides strategies for effective communication techniques that should be used in the online environment. The orientation is also self paced so that students can have the opportunity to review material as much as needed before taking the final assessment which will be used by the school to determine the student’s ability to succeed in the online learning environment.

Although the actual class did not start until August 4^th, the course room was available to students on August 1^st. This was very beneficial to me because it gave me the ability to get a jump start on my assignments. In addition, every assignment is clearly posted for every week of the quarter which means that I will be able to manage my time effectively in the weeks to come.

Finally, I have discovered that my first class is highly structured and consists of various types of learning activities to include: required textbook readings, streaming videos, threaded discussions and online journals. Thus, Capella offers a well rounded educational program and I earnestly look forward to continuing the journey towards the PhD with this institution.

For these reasons, I conclude that I have chosen an excellent school that is committed to promoting higher education.

Tags: Capella University