CAPELLA UNIVERSITY - paid for degree but did not get one

I joined the PhD program of Clinical Psychology at a school called 'CAPELLA UNIVERSITY'. I was a computer science graduate from the 1980s and had been in the field of Business and IT for over 15 years by then. However, I chose to major in Clinical Psychology at CAPELLA UNIVERSITY, a field that I had a great deal of interest in. After accepting me first in the Masters program and then again in the PhD program in Clinical Psychology, I finally completed 100% of the coursework in August 2006. However, by then CAPELLA UNIVERSITY changed its opinion about me, and told me straight out that I should leave the program. I told them that I was 100% completed with the coursework and 91% completed with the entire Ph.D. program and that I had a good GPA (3.2) and that they had all of this time to tell me, but they did not. In essence, they took my tuition (some $100k worth) and never gave me a degree...in fact they did not even allow me to finish it.

A lawsuit ensued, and CAPELLA had the best attorneys in Minnesotta (supposedly Top 5 attorneys of Minneapolis). They spent over $100,000 compared to my $10,000 (spent for lawyers). Mid-way into the court battle, CAPELLA filed a SUMMARY JUDGEMENT asking the court to throw out the case because it was a frivolous case because Universities had the right to hire/fire students as they pleased in Minnesota. The judge agreed with them. Thus CAPELLA proved in court that they were allowed to do what they wanted with their students. (Universities have rights in Minnesotta to hire and fire students). The case ended a couple of weeks ago. During the course of the case, several settlement offers were placed on the table (some cash, a Masters Degree, a PhD in General Psychology, and a PhD in Industrial Psychology). I turned all of these down saying that I only a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

In any case, the case is now over because the judge ruled in favor of CAPELLA in the SUMMARY JUDGEMENT phase. So, I have to now find a better forum to complete my Ph.D in Clinical Psychology without having to complete a lot of work. I would like to find out if there is any regionally accredited University that will consider giving me credit for everything completed at CAPELLA and allow me to finish my 91% completed degree at CAPELLA.

I am trying to find an easy way to bring closure to this incomplete Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology.

A. Do you know of any regionally accredited institution that will transfer all of my credits in?

B. Do you know of any unaccredited institution with some name recognition that will allow me to complete degree?

C. Do you have any other recommendations for me as to what I can do?

D. If I were to finish up with a PhD in General Psychology or Industrial Psychology (not an option to complete with CAPELLA UNIVERSITY anymore), then, would you have any recommendations for another University?

(contact information removed by moderator at request of poster)

 

Hi Daniel - Obviously there's another side to this story that we have not heard. It's impossible to believe that this school arbitrarily decided to deny you your degree. Regardless of that, I'd suggest that you look through the various South African universities as their PhD programs are "dissertation-only." Best of luck.

 

Friend, you have a great deal to learn...!

 

PhD in General Psychology is better then no Ph.D at all.
I would take it first.

Then lets see what you can do to earn Clinical Psychology PsyD or Ph.D.

My wife is typing now:

Yeshiva U (Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology - Clinical Psychology PhD): a friend of mine is currently a student there. He really likes the program and his professors. You'll probably have a hard time finding the program on their website. On the Ferkauf website you first click "programs", and then "clinical psych, health emphasis" here is the direct link to make things easier... http://www.yu.edu/ferkauf/page.aspx?...42_282_btnlink.

"Health emphasis" program requires the same core courses as every other Clinical Psychology APA Accredited Program but there is extra attention paid to (and a bunch of electives offered that address) the psychology of individuals with both mental and medical diagnoses. The application deadline is January 1st.
Pluses of the program: its a joint program with classes and faculty at both Ferkauf and the well known Albert Einstein College of Medicine and there are lots of research opportunities btwn the two schools; it has an APA accredited neuropsychology Minor (essential for getting a Neuropsychology internship); My wife's boss who's a professor of psychiatry at NYU Med said it has a solid reputation. good mix of research and clinical. Average # of years till PhD = 5.

There are 2 students that transfered in to the program from other clinical psychology post graduate programs. You may need additional 2 years.

Minuses: Its in the Bronx, its a commuter school.

 

This isn't the first time that there's been a complaint (and legal action) against Capella.

Last time, the guy made a website describing the situation and posted all over everywhere, but as I understand it, Capella basically threatened him with financial ruin, and they got him to give them a statement. It was the most carefully worded statement ever, and when you read between the lines, it was exceptionally clear that it was not how he really felt, but was done to avoid being crushed.

Not saying Capella is a bad program but... now we have two cases like this, and I can't remember hearing of similar cases against other schools. It would be enough to make me wary of Capella.

And I agree with Dave; I've heard from many people that the Ph.D process is very political and this sort of thing can happen and there's virtually no recourse.

To the OP: I don't think Capella's clinical psychology Ph.D is APA accredited anyway, so if you are looking for a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, you would probably be better off at an APA accredited program anyway. The only distance-based one I know of is Fielding.

 

I probably would have taken the General Psych Ph.D in all honesty. There is no way for you to open that option again?

 

A Ph.D. in Industrial Psychology can earn $250 per hour (and that was around ten years ago) helping lawyers in accident cases.

 

I am currently in a doctorate program at Capella and was looking over the program guide. Did they dismiss you because you did not meet the requirements over a certain period of time? At one of the universities where I am an adjunct, we have had stories of students being dismissed for not finishing their undergraduate and master degrees within the time frame that is required by the university. I have also had a friend of mine who was academically dismissed from a state supported doctorate program here in NC for not completing his doctorate within the 10 year time frame, he was dismissed last year, he had taken some time off, started it up again, and just never really did much during the dissertation process. This university did say that he could try applying again after a certain time to the program or he could apply to another program.

 

I agree. Before we start slinging mud at Capella, I'd like to know exactly what their stated reason was for not allowing you to continue with your program -- you didn't state what their complaint was.

 

I don't see a Ph.D, in Clinical Psychology on their website but I do see PsyD which requires residences and internships in addition to the dissertation.

I do know someone who was kicked out of a Case Western doctorate program (I'm sure the student was to blame).

 

Two further questions. What do you mean by hire/fire students? Were you an employee of Capella U? This is terminology usually only used in employment situations.

Second -- are you saying that Capella was willing to settle by giving you a Ph.D. degree in another major, even though you hadn't finished all the requirements for the degree, or that you would be allowed back into a different program to complete a Ph.D.?

 

I would have taken an offered Ph.D. and gone for another one at a different institution.

Got to give a little to get a little.

 

I'm sure that's true. I'm equally sure that you're not the teacher.

 

I do find it curious that in settlement negotiations they were willing to allow the OP into another program (or to grant a degree in another program).

It would be interesting to hear the argument advanced by Capella as to why their action was justified in terms of their own policies. However, academic arrogance being what it is at almost every school, I doubt any information will be forthcoming.

 

Honestly, Chip, I just feel this is a suspicious post, for the following reasons:

1. The OP is talking about a lawsuit that surely would have made the press somewhere, just as the de Marca one against Capella was all over the 'net. However, a search turns up nothing about this case.

2. The OP is claiming to have been in a degree program/concentration that is not offered by Capella.

3. The OP is only offering his side of the story, without telling us the reason that Capella gave for dismissing him. If he truly believes that his case has merit, why not share that information with us as well, as well as the academic/institutional policies as stated by Capella that he feels they are violating?

4. If the OP is only seeking to transfer credits, then why all the backstory... especially as his backstory is rather vague about dates (did the case end in 2006? Or more recently?). And if his case is true, and indeed was dismissed by the judge three years ago, why the delay in looking for another program?

5. The OP claims that (at least in the way he worded it) that Capella offered him a choice of couple of Ph.D.s as a settlement. To just offer a degree without completing all the requirements to earn said degree would be in gross violation of accreditation policies; so I have a really hard time believing Capella would do something so egregious as that just to settle a case.

I'm not saying that the OP is a troll or that his story is not valid. However, what I am saying is that at the moment, based on the information he has given us, there's a lot of missing information and context, and I think that if a school (any school, not just Capella) is going to be accused of something as backstory for a plea for this forum's help in recommending other schools, then at least we should be presented with the full story. Otherwise, he should have just left all that about Capella out of his posting.

Just my two cents.

Cheers,
Adrienne

 

How can they offer you a degree if you never finished the requirements?

 

I'd be interested in knowing why anyone would come to any sort of conclusion based upon the the available information (the posting of a newbie, anonymous poster). If one had to come to a conclusion then let's look at the facts as they've been presented.

1. An anonymous newbie makes an unsubstantiated claim against an established, accredited school.

2. no facts are supplied that might allow an unbiased person to come to a reasoned conclusion.

3. it's clear that some sort of official process was completed which resulted it the students loss of status.


why would anyone assume that the student was correct? with all the checks and balances, all the liability concerns involved, why would you assume that this anonymous newbie is presenting the most precise summary?

 

A Google search for "capella university"+lawsuit produces 6,300 hits, related to a wide variety of legal actions . . . but a quick look just at the Google and Bing summaries finds nothing that seems related to OP's claims.

Here's a really strange thing. Someone has cobbled together more than 100 pages of rants and reprints on Capella, and figured out how to get it posted as a Google Book, entitled Capella Crimes, by "Offerman Stinks." (Offerman is Capella's president.)

None of the links to "buy this book" (Amazon, B&N, etc.) works, so there really is no book. I don't think Google intended for its Google Books to be used for this purpose. The "book" is fond at: http://tinyurl.com/y9x7gt6

 

I agree to most of the respones to take the Ph.D degree from Capella University as they offered. If you walk away with a Ph.D degree, then it is easy to earn a second one. I don't know what the different Psychology degrees do, but to have one than nothing.

 

If I was in your shoes I'd ask for

1) Ph.D Industrial Psychology
2) Ask for all your monies back (100%)

And I would move on with life.

This is not about you, it's how I would go in your shoes.

CAPELLA & NCU HAVE ISSUES - my 2 cents (CAPELLA acts like a dog with a bone, NCU makes rules as they go) from my point of view.
Also Dr. Bear brings up some good feedback (Comments based on information on hand - ie, these postings)