Capella University Reviews

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

Capella is innovatives, and the realationship building is good. You can go to school for free and build up skills.

Cons

Capella on promotes is you are friends and drinking buddies with someone in the right cliche. Many in lower management are lacking tack and experience, but are still promoted.

Advice to Senior Management

Start promoting and seeking skilled and qualified people to run your organization. Focus on better training and communication.

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

Not many. Free crapy education if you are into that

Cons

No direction
No feedback
No advancement
No communication

Advice to Senior Management

Get a clue on how to run the business. Communication is very helpful. I remember for our "christmas Bonus" one year the CEO and CIO walked around and handed out granola bars.

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