MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 17, 2013 - As part of its ongoing effort to support innovations in higher education that help make earning a degree more affordable, and student outcomes more transparent, Capella University is sponsoring a panel discussion at the New York Times Schools for Tomorrow conference on Sept. 17 titled "Increasing Higher Education Affordability and Completion through Online Innovations."
Capella University President Scott Kinney will be joined by Mark Becker, president of Georgia State University; Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation; and Burck Smith, founder and CEO of StraighterLine to discuss innovative online models that are lowering the cost of degrees and increasing degree completion. The panel will be moderated by Melody Barnes, CEO of Melody Barnes Solutions and former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
The panel discussion is scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. ET. A live webcast can be viewed at www.nytschoolsfortomorrow.com.
"I am excited to collaborate with other education leaders who are committed to exploring opportunities to make higher education more affordable and increasing completion rates. Each of these institutions is driving innovation in online learning models to help make that happen," Kinney stated.
The U.S. Department of Education recently approved Capella's innovative FlexPath programs, making it the first university to offer competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs that utilize an approved direct-assessment learning model as opposed to the traditional credit-hour standard. The two Capella programs approved to operate under the FlexPath model are the Bachelor of Science in Business and the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The FlexPath programs offer the potential to significantly reduce the cost of a degree, accelerate the time required for degree completion, and better align learning to the needs of employers and society.
As of June 30, 2013, approximately 36,000 students were enrolled at Capella (http://www.capella.edu), an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing high quality online degree programs for working adults. The learning and career outcomes of Capella's students and alumni can be found at www.capellaresults.org.
Capella University (www.capella.edu) is an accredited online university* that has built its reputation by providing quality online degree programs for working adults. About 70 percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master's or doctoral degree programs in business, counseling, education, health administration, homeland security, human resource management, human services, information technology, nonprofit management and leadership, nursing, psychology, public administration, public health, public safety, and social work. Capella also offers bachelor's degree programs in business, information technology, nursing, psychology, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 144 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 22 certificate programs. Approximately 36,000 learners were enrolled as of June 30, 2013, from all 50 states and 61 other countries. Capella is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Founded in 1993, Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit http://www.capella.edu or call 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552).
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*Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.
Capella University, Capella Tower, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552), www.capella.edu.