Capella had a very nice commencement program yesterday (Saturday) in Atlanta at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. I understand approximately 150 graduates participated. Family filled the available seats in the main level and the two balcony levels. Also was webcast live for those not able to participate in person. The joy and pride expressed by the children, spouses, parents, and friends of the graduates was a very uplifting thing to see and hear. I hope anyone attending an online university takes advantage of the commencement opportunities. Most say it puts a very meaningful cap on the journey. I believe Capella is having two this year with the second being in Dallas.
Hi Paul! Really nice to hear that the Capella comencement was a success! I am looking forward to my graduation ceremony at Aspen in August! It will be really nice to see some of the the people I have attended classes with and also some of my profs. Good stuff!! Mahmood
Poor NCU I concur that the graduation ceremonies are important. Walden University always has great graduation ceremonies every year as well. My University however, Northcentral University, has a very low attendance rate when it comes to graduation. When viewing the graduation ceremonioes online, it looks like only a few dozen attend. The ceremony is nice, but I wouldn't attend if it is so small, and it looks like its in a conference room. This kind of Saddens me, as I graduated previously from OU, and UM, two very big schools, and I never attended either graduation ceremony due to work.personal commitments. I regret that, because of the gala spectacle they are both famous for. I guess that I will never have the experience of that "big" graduation.
UOP has rather large and nice graduation ceremonies (in 40 different states), they had one of the largest ever in phoenix a couple years ago (2000 graduates from all over the world). Here in Northern VA we are planning to have commencement at the DAR (constitution hall) and are expecting 500-700 graduates this year. The students family member's reactions are a sight to see, it is a very uplifting experience much like Capella's.
Re: Re: Poor NCU I would give the overall experience a thumbs up. The coursework is relevant, and is pretty high in volume. The difficulty is similiar to the graduate work I did at OU. Mentors are pretty good, but they vary. I've had some incredible mentors, and some others have been not as good, but I've never had one that I'd classify as bad, or horrible. But that's the same at any university: you mesh with some professors, some you don't. The libraries are very good, and I've always praised them on this forum. Now the Dissertation process is another story all together. You can expect to do a lot of work, and be up some nights pulling your hair out. My commitee chair is an APA nazi and rips my papers to shreds, ensuring that I do it %100 right, but that's how I would want it to be. The process is very well designed as well, and is split up into 6 modules, 1 Comprehensive Exam, and 3 Dissertation Courses. You can expect to be working on it at least 18 months or so (At least I am). Additionally I believe that you get out of an education what you put into it, and I have made sure to do so.
