Capella University Reviews in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN Area

Pros

Flexible
Pay is good (I was there long before the new comp plan)
Fun people

Cons

New pay structure that's hard to get a raise
Incredibly hard to get promoted now
Managers have a hard time motivating us and giving us incentives

Advice to Senior Management

Sales people need incentives to do well outside of their regular job duties. Also, the bar is set so high to get a promotion now whereas some people who have already been promoted don't come close to the exibiting the expectations that are set. The playing field needs to be leveled out.

Pros

The salary and compensation package are relatively good. It is family friendly for the most part. A lot of smart and good people work here.

Cons

Recent dramatic changes have not been managed well by leadership. Leaders subject employees to virtually meaningless corporate-speak in lieu of actual, substantial, communication. There's a vague feeling of paranoia and collaboration is growing more and more difficult.

Advice to Senior Management

Try some leadership and management practices that are known to foster collaboration, trust, loyalty and dedication. Right now whatever you're doing is having the opposite effect.

Pros

Strong focus on professional development.
Employees are intelligent, innovative, and overall a great bunch to work with.
Recognition program is fun and rewarding.
Meaningful work.

Cons

Strategic vision is not communicated and changes often.
Loss of extensive knowledge due to reorganizations.
Due to the current instability of the industry and organization, morale is at an all-time low.

Advice to Senior Management

Take time to review the current changes and their effect before altering the vision/path again.
Remember that your employees are what makes the One Capella vision possible.
Find a president that has the same passion and vision as Stephen Shank.

Pros

Good hours, good location and fun atmosphere

Cons

Hard sell, tough economy and others

Advice to Senior Management

Work with people to enable them to succeed

Pros

tuition benefit is great if you are looking to go back to school

Cons

lack of communication. Company direction isn't very stable

Advice to Senior Management

they went from hiring like crazy to two rounds of layoffs. Better focus on student success would be better

Pros

The benefits and time off are very reasonable. Management is flexible and supportive. Leadership is not afraid of change, but sometimes reorg a little too much.

Cons

Capella is in a constant state of change. Some feel handcuffed by the amount of change. Duties fo groups/jobs gets fuzzy when it is going to change in 6 months. Some groups really have trouble digging in and gaining traction on their job responsibilities with all of the change.

Pros

Good transportation benefits, easily accessible, decent workspace, a manager who cares

Cons

Senior leadership is constantly changing course, isn't transparent enough with employees, no opportunity for career enhancement, hard to advance career

Advice to Senior Management

Don't be paranoid - communicate with your employees. It's what they want and what they need.

Pros

Higher Ed is a field that is growing

Cons

Company automated bad work processes

Advice to Senior Management

Needs reorganization

Pros

Salary, professional growth and non-management co workers were great.

Cons

Leadership changes focus constantly, more concerned with profit than academic integrity, poor leadership, management and human resources department.

Pros

Fresh, innovative culture. A lot of opportunity for entry level staff to be promoted. If you hear otherwise, it is because that person has a bad attitude. I started entry level and everyone I was friends with eventually was promoted to other parts of the company.

Cons

Experience can vary widely by department or by direct supervisor. I had my best manager ever and my worst ever at Capella. Find out as much as you can about the management and culture in the actual department you are working in.

If you are a faculty member, know that Capella is trying to connect more with you but they're not quite there yet.

Advice to Senior Management

No directors should be in their same job any more than five years. This stifles innovation and growth in a department.