Capella History
In 1992, Stephen Shank, former CEO of Tonka Corporation, provided the vision, leadership, and a portion of the initial funding for the incorporation of a distance- learning institution of higher education. Shank had observed that adults were under-served by traditional universities, partly because attending classes can be difficult for many working adults, and traditional curriculum may not correspond with the professional goals of mature adults. He envisioned a barrier-free university that people could attend remotely. The Graduate School of America (TGSA), which eventually became Capella University, was established.
In 1993, Dr. Harold Abel, an experienced leader in higher education and a former president of three universities, joined Stephen Shank to serve as founding president and academic leader of The Graduate School of America (TGSA). Dr. Abel assembled a premier faculty, built graduate curricula, and guided the university toward academic accreditation. In 1997, during the presidency of Dr. Bruce Francis, TGSA was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and became a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) (since dissolved). The university’s accreditation was reaffirmed by the Higher Learning Commission in 2008, 2012, 2017, and in 2023.
The Graduate School of America initially offered master’s and doctoral degree programs in Education, Human Services, and Organization and Management. Two years after earning accreditation, TGSA became Capella University and went on to establish the schools of Business, Education, Human Services, Technology, and the Harold Abel School of Psychology.
In 2002, to better meet the needs of its learners for demonstrable mastery of knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions specific to their careers, Capella adopted a competency-based educational (CBE) model. In 2013, Capella offered its learners another innovation that extends access and helps them meet their personal and professional potential: Capella became the first university to launch bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a direct assessment option, called FlexPath. First offered in business and psychology at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, FlexPath options were later expanded into nursing, IT, project management, health care administration, and education, and are offered at all degree levels. In 2020, Capella received Higher Learning Commission and Department of Education approval to offer the first doctoral-level FlexPath option.
With a goal continuing improvements in learner outcomes and impacts, in 2020, Capella was reorganized into four schools: the School of Business, Technology, and Health Care Administration; the School of Nursing and Health Sciences; the School of Public Service and Education; and the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. These schools include offerings in business, technology, health care administration, health sciences, nursing, education, human services, social work, psychology, and counseling disciplines.