CAPELLA UNIVERSITY - paid for degree but did not get one

As I posted in the washout thread, I completed all coursework for an MPA at Florida Gulf Coast University (SACS accredited state school) with a 3.8 GPA. Halfway through my Capstone semester my Advisor decided all my work was garbage and that he was just a Reader. The person who was actually my Reader had earlier made it a point to tell me the difference between Advisor and Reader. Ironically the Reader was listed on the FGCU web page as an expert in ethics but said nothing regarding the actions of the Advisor; I guess ethics is taught, not practiced. I later published my Capstone project in a peer reviewed, FBI sponsored journal.

I filed complaints with the university ombudsman and then with every agency I could think of in the state of Florida. It turns out universities can screw one over with impunity. Incidentally, the advisor received his PhD at Capella.

As for transfer, the best I could find was 15 credits.

 

I have perfomed a court records search on PACER and the Minnesota Judicial Court System. There is not any case to the best of my knowledge that meets the criteria listed by the OP. There was a case that was dismissed by the courts on 9/23/09, but that case was dismissed by the court due to a number of reasons - the Capella attorney's didn't even make any motions on it.

Perhaps the OP can give the case number or other identfying information so both sides of the issue can be presented in the matter of fairness.

Shawn

 

"The Ph.D. Trap" -- a most interesting book

Here's a chance for me to re-recommend this worthy book, and its successor, "The Ph.D. Trap Revisited."

Author Wilfred Cude was totally shafted by his university. His dissertation had been accepted. A prestigious journal in his field wanted to print one chapter, and that seemed like a good career move, and he agreed. Since the journal came out before his final defense, the Dean ruled that he had violated the university's rule that "previously published material cannot be used in a dissertation." He fought it in every way he could, for several years, and finally gave up, and researched and wrote this book.

Here's what the Amazon site says:

"When The PhD Trap was first published in 1987, it hit academe like a bombshell. The PhD Trap Revisted amplifies Cude's argument with a synthesis and analysis of new data and information. Wilfred Cude dares to pull back the veil of graduate school life to expose the harsh realities of modern advanced study. Using statistics, academic history, and diverse intellectual tradition, Cude reveals the PhD program in most disciplines to be savage, mechanical, and cruel -- an exploitative construct that often frustrates legitimate intellectual inquiry, shatters viable career expectations, and mangles personal and professional relations."

Not surprisingly, Farley Mowat wrote a strong testimonial.

 

Sorry if it has been stated before in this topic . So times read these thigns give me headaches, But I wanted to make sure that you new this , the fielding institute will help you get use Clinical Psychology stuff.

 

Point taken.

The points subsequently raised by other posters, particularly the lack of any official record of legal action, and, in reviewing it, the notion that Capella would have offered alternative degrees, indicate that something is definitely fishy with the poster in question.

I must admit the previous, widely publicized lawsuit against Capella, their response to it, and their attempts to erase all Internet records of the lawsuit, along with the carefully-worded statement from the plaintiff that settled the case, primed the pump for me to be a little more skeptical of Capella than I otherwise might have been, but I agree that this situation is most likely either completely false, or grossly misrepresented by the original poster.

 

How could you know that?

 

Coursework is vastly different from a dissertation. Depending on the college or university, anywhere from 50 to 70% of all doctoral students leave the program once they get to the dissertation.

Once a student gets to the dissertation, he is at the mercy of his own intellect, creativity and his dissertation chair. He must also be able to take criticism -- repeatedly -- and discourse it in a favorable way. Here is a strange example that isn't uncommon:

• Committee member x tell you that you did your hypothesis all wrong and he tells you that it's not needed and he tells you to remove it, so you remove it.
• Three months later, committee member y tells you that you need a hypothesis -- and he questions why you don't have one in the paper, so you put it back.

Is this doctoral hazing to see how you hold up under the pressure? Regardless of how you define it, all doctoral candidates must be prepared for it. Just do what they tell you and get the degree -- and then move on.

 

Why isn't there any response from OP? I would think this is just trying to stir up debate, without all of the information.

 

get one of these posted in your name!

Capella University settles counterclaim lawsuit against former learner
MINNEAPOLIS, January 15, 2009 - Capella University has agreed to settle its counterclaim lawsuit claiming defamation and interference with business relationships against a former Capella student named Jeffry La Marca.

Mr. La Marca had sued Capella claiming discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That lawsuit arose out of difficulties La Marca claimed he encountered when Capella converted its courseroom to a new learning platform. After a five day trial in November 2007, the U.S. District Court dismissed La Marca's claims finding that Capella had not engaged in any sort of discrimination or retailiation against Mr. La Marca. Capella countersued claiming defamation and interference with business relations.

The lawsuit on Capella's counterclaims was scheduled to begin on January 13, 2009. The settlement agreement states that Mr. La Marca will relinquish ownership of all his Web sites to Capella. In addition, he has agreed to cease all further activities referencing Capella and has withdrawn his appeal of the decision in the lawsuit he brought against Capella for alleged violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Mr. La Marca has also issued an apology that will be posted on Capella’s Web sites. Mr. La Marca received no compensation in exchange for the settlement.

“Capella is pleased with the settlement agreement and that Mr. La Marca’s Web sites, blogs and other postings on the Internet, which Capella believes were designed to harm Capella’s reputation, will be removed,” said Steve Shank, Capella’s chairman and CEO.

 

another one

Posted on July 8, 2009 by michele
http://www.justcolleges.com/online-college-reviews/capella-university-review.htm?review=63

For those of you who are going to Capella for the doctorate programs or are in the planning stage - beware!
Capella is a rip-off! I completed my phd program while I lived in Florida and then relocated here in Kansas.
When I attempted to apply for licensure here in Kansas, imagine my surprise when I was informed that Kansas
does not recognize Capella University due to their residency requirement (no face to face with your
professor)!

I then contacted Florida's Board and they informed me of the same thing! As a matter of fact they went so far
as to tell me that no state recognizes their program except Minnesota!

I then contacted Capella and spoke with my advisor (whom I had for four years) and she told me "yes that's
true." Why didn't you tell me this prior to my loss of $107,000?

Of course if you want to do nothing but write books, then Capella is the place for you. But if your like me
and want to counsel, then you're SOL!!! I can't believe this! Now in order for me to counsel here in Kansas
where I plan to live for quite a while, I need to obtain another masters degree, but one in social work at which
time I can obtain a license and practice!

One last thing, when I spoke with the Kansas Board, they were shocked that no-one had told me of this problem,
and suggested that I find a really good lawyer. Ya Think???!!!

 

I think about 20 minutes of research prior to spending $107,000 could have saved her a lot of time and money. Heck, there are only 50 states; how long would it take for anyone to research whether a potential program would be recognized for licensure in each state? It would seem prudent to do some research before such a burdensome endeavor. Some lessons are learned in very expensive ways I guess...

 

spending $107,000


Does sould like alot of green for a C rated profit center

 

I contacted the OP, Daniel John, via email, told him that a number of questions have been raised by his posting, specifically the fact that no one can find any record of the lawsuit, and that Capella does not appear to offer a Ph.D in clinical psychology.

I asked him to please respond to these issues by providing the name of his attorney, or the necessary information to identify the case, or, alternatively, to identify which parts of the facts as stated are not correct and to correct the information.

His response was to ask us to delete the post (which we will not be doing.)

I've responded again and asked that he addressed the issues that have been raised.

Hopefully we will get some sort of response.

 

We are Fired Up & Ready To Go

 

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/13/fiduciary

Is this the case?

 

According to the OP and Chip, I don't believe so.

Shawn

 

Capella does offer a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. They are not currently APA accredited though they are working on it.

http://www.capella.edu/schools_programs/psychology/psyd/clinical_psychology.aspx

 

Right.

The poster claimed he was in a Ph.D program. You would think the poster who has done 91% of his written work would know what program he's enrolled in.

 

The case against Capella was dismissed by the judge and La Marca's complaints were also dismissed several times by the (OCR) Office of Civil Rights.
The OCR found no wrongdoing by the school.



I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff is back again....


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.

No, but keep in mind that this case was very well documented, and it showed that Jeff was pretty much a jerk and engaged in abusive language against professors.

Some years back I remember degreeinfo was a huge hate target in one of the Google distance learning newsgroups. The posters also attacked certain degreeinfo people that we know. They were very vocal but as far as I know, these were only a handful of people with an ax to grind who wanted to pollute the entire newsgroups with hate messages. Jeff was no different.

 

Woman from Capella

I am sure Capella has some culpability here with this woman. But my Lord, do you mean to tell me that a psych student in a doctorate program has not taken the time in a four year period (or even before she entered the program) to call the state psychology board to find out their requirements for education? This is really a stupid thing to do on the part of the student. She must bear most of the responsibility here in my book. You don't plan to spend thousands of dollars without making sure you can use the degree in your own state.