Virtual college gets personal at graduation

Virtual college gets personal at graduation
They earned their degrees online, but Capella University grads came from afar to experience the cap-and-gown ceremony in person.
John Reinan, Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Last update: October 10, 2006 – 9:11 AM

They toiled for years, shut away in basements and spare bedrooms, struggling with late-night despair and wondering whether it was all worth the effort.
On Saturday, they donned their gowns and caps and gave their answer: Yes.

"I'm here so the people in the lobby can say, 'Congratulations, Doctor,' " said Doris McNeil, of Los Angeles, in the black gown with striped sleeves of a newly minted Ph.D. "This is fabulous."

McNeil was among more than 500 scholars who walked across the stage at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis as graduates of Capella University. For many, it was the first time meeting the classmates and teachers with whom they had spent years in academia.

Capella, based in Minneapolis, is one of the nation's largest online universities, with more than 16,000 "learners" in 63 countries. Although some students occasionally meet one another in periodic seminars, their academic journeys are generally conducted online in physical solitude.

That's why so many made the trip to the graduation ceremony, coming from California, Florida and even overseas. After all those hours alone in front of the computer, they craved hugs, handshakes and pats on the back from their teachers and fellow students.

"I want to share the excitement," said Harold Ramcharan of Raleigh, N.C., who earned a Ph.D. in information technology management. "Here, everybody's feeling the same thing."

When Jason Jones spotted Susan Smith's name tag, he strode across the lobby, arms extended.

"This is the Sue?" he asked. "This is the Sue!" he exclaimed when she nodded.

"I was in the class with you when you turned on your engines and flew past everybody," said Jones, of St. Cloud, wrapping her in a bear hug. "I felt your passion, and I used your tenacity to motivate others."

They both earned doctorates in addiction counseling. Fingering the soft, six-pointed cap awarded to Ph.D. graduates, Jones joked that the cap was what kept him going during his five-year program.

"This is all we talked about: the puffy hat!" he said, laughing.

About 80 percent of Capella grads earn either master's or doctoral degrees, and many said the online experience was much tougher than their undergraduate years at traditional colleges.

"Online, you're constantly interacting," said Anthony Williams, of St. Paul, who earned a master's in human services. "You can't slack off, put things off for a few days. All your communication is in writing, and you can't sit in the background."

Most Capella students work while they earn their degrees, and life often suffers for academics, said April Moen, of Sisseton, S.D.

"You've had to sacrifice so many things," said Moen, who took four years to complete a Ph.D. in higher education leadership. "Your family has to go on the back burner. My family knows that when they can't find me, I'm in front of the computer."

Sandra Cassidy wanted to go through the graduation ceremony to assure herself that her master's in psychology was for real.

"It kind of provides closure," said Cassidy, of Oregon, Wis. "Being online, you sometimes wonder, did I really graduate?"


John Reinan ? 612-673-7402