Fact Fifty-four (October 11, 2007) – Capella University: An Honest Review of Michael Offerman’s Hypocrisy

Some things are so funny that they can't be ignored. For example, Capella's Feeble President, Michael Oaf Offerman – the one who lies about bogus studies (i.e., Capella's WebCT study that he stated was "UNIVERSALLY praised for being exceptionally user-friendly and intuitive, and providing new and useful online tools," was "recently featured" in an article on "College Accountability" that appears on "Inside Higher Education." We've got to admit, using Offerman's name in the same sentence as the word "accountability" is almost obscene! It didn't take much effort; however, to reveal just how absurd the Inside Higher Education article really is – it almost reads like an advertisement for Capella University!

Let's take a look at some of the FACTS pertaining to Oaf Offerman’s role as the lead of the "panel of the Presidents' Forum of Excelsior College that crafted the accountability proposal." First of all, guess who serves as the provost at Excelsior College? Dana Offerman! What, another Offerman? Why of course – good 'ole Dana used to be the "vice provost" at Capella University who served under provost Karen Viechnicki – the very same one who lied to a law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Education. It gets even better though! Dana Offerman also happens to be Michael Oaf Offerman's wife! So, how many ways can we spell "nepotism?" Rather disgusting, to say the least. We'll soon be reporting on good 'ole Dana Offerman and a hilarious piece of "research" she did involving her hubby's school, Capella University.

According to information gleaned on the 'net, Excelsior College has proudly proclaimed that they are "a private, not-for-profit college [whose] business practices are in many instances aligned with those of for-profit institutions." Gosh, isn't that impressive? Certainly not something we would brag about. Currently, Exlax [sic!] College is the proud home of the Presidents' Forum (led by Michael Oaf Offerman) which has just recently released their "Principals of Good Practice" which claims

". . . were developed to ensure that higher education courses and programs for adults learning at a distance are of high quality and readily accessible" and that these "principles facilitate the continuous improvement of adult higher education programs delivered at a distance by establishing benchmarks of quality."

Oh, puulllleeeeeeeaze! Pardon us while we vomit! It doesn't take much effort to reveal just what a pile of hypocritical excrement in print these so-called "principles" really are. Let's examine some of the most hilarious ones:

"Principle 2.

"Accountability to Stakeholders The institution demonstrates its accountability to stakeholders by openly sharing aggregate learning assessment results, quality indicators, and academic program reviews of its distance education courses and programs."

FACT: Michael Oaf Offerman stated that Capella University's study of WebCT was "UNIVERSALLY praised for being exceptionally user-friendly and intuitive, and providing new and useful online tools" and yet both he and Capella University have REFUSED to publish these. In fact, Offerman's lies about this so-called study are so egregious that Capella’s own shysters from the "law firm" of Drinker Biddle & Reath, Sir Chrisy the Sissy L'Orange the Liar and Horse's Ass Capella Stella Fey Epling had to ask for a "protective order" from a Federal Court in order to prevent this non-existent study from being made available to the public. Of course, even L'Orange's and Epling’s "protective order" can't hide that fact that Capella NEVER studied the FACT that WebCT is not accessible to those with disabilities, along with the FACT the Capella NEVER conducted any studies which determined that WebCT was, as Oaf Offerman stated was "UNIVERSALLY praised for being exceptionally user-friendly and intuitive!"

"Principle 5. Curriculum Delivery

"The institution ensures that the content and quality of its courses and programs are comparable regardless of delivery method. The distance delivery model(s), course materials, and technology are appropriate to the content and needs of the student, and do not create barriers to learning."

FACT: If Michael Oaf Offerman really believes this then he most certainly must be delusional! Capella University doesn't give a damn about the fact that their own actions created "barriers to learning." Not only has Offerman's refusal to publish his bogus study of WebCT but both he and Capella University intentionally REFUSED to listen to all of the students who were complaining about the huge barriers to learning that his "school" created. All one needs to do is look at some of the actual complaints made by an extremely large number of students in order to reveal what a hypocritical liar Oaf Offerman really is. Click here to view THIRTY-FOUR actual complaints from just a few of the Capella students who were complaining.

"Principle 7. Faculty Qualifications and Training

"The institution ensures that all faculty members engaged in distance delivery to adults meet the academic qualifications and standards required by the institution’s accrediting and oversight bodies."

FACT: Capella University hires and retains REAL charlatans, such as Diane Stottlemyer who have literally bought and used entirely bogus degrees from diploma mills. There is absolutely no way that Stottlemyer’s "degrees" from Lacrosse "University" would EVER "meet the academic qualifications and standards required by the institution’s accrediting and oversight bodies" Earth to Oaf Offerman, Earth to Oaf Offerman? Are you there?

"Principle 12. Disclosure

"The institution discloses throughout its marketing and communications, accurate, truthful information about its mission, accreditation, courses and programs, services, policies, transfer credit policy, tuition and fees, use of recruitment incentives, its recruitment processes, and other factors important to prospective and current students and other stakeholders."

FACT: Michael Oaf Offerman and Capella University not only REFUSE to "disclose" information about Capella’s unethical marketing practices but actually engages in hiding that information from the public. For example, the Chronicle of Higher Education just reported ("University of California Campus Collects a Bounty for Sending Students to a For-Profit College") on the FACT that Offerman was PERSONALLY INVOLVED in a kickback scam with his buddy from the University of California, Irvine, Gary Matkin, Dean of Continuing Education (and Kickback Affairs) whereby Capella pays $500 per student who transfers into Capella’s programs. As the Chronicle noted,

"In addition to accepting the money from Capella, the University of California at Irvine appears, according to e-mail messages and a student who uncovered them, to have tried to hide the payments.

While setting up the relationship, Gary W. Matkin, dean of continuing education at Irvine, wrote in a September 2002 e-mail message to Capella's president, Michael J. Offerman, to tell him that Capella's "lawyers still have problems with our marketing arrangement, even though we have been careful not to talk about per-student arrangements."

That's not all though! The Chronicle also noted Capella's and UCI's REFUSAL to provide additional information about this unfolding scam. Specifically,

"Like Ms. Lawhon, of Irvine, a spokesman for Capella, Michael Walsh, initially declined to comment, then issued a written statement. In the statement, he said 36 students had 'taken advantage of the articulation agreement over the past five years'. . .Both Ms. Lawhon and Mr. Walsh declined to say whether their universities were involved in similar practices with other institutions."

Why not, Michael Walsh? As one of Capella's spokesholes, why is Capella's lying president and Oaf, Michael Offerman feigning concern for "accountability" when, in FACT, he is involved in trying to COVERUP his personal involvement in this kickback scam? Just how many schools does Capella pay kickbacks to? Does his wife’s latest “school”, Excelsior College, also receive KICKBACKS from Capella?

Gosh, we almost forgot, Michael Oaf Offerman claims to be concerned about "accountability" (which, as far as we're concerned, is nothing more than another one of Capella’s publicity stunts). If Offerman was REALLY concerned with honesty and integrity, he would have made his bogus WebCT study public YEARS ago (that's what all REAL research institutions would do) as well as instantly disclose ALL of the schools that Capella pays kickbacks too. Then there's the little matter of the FACT that Offerman was also personally involved in the matter where Capella University was just found in violation, on TEN COUNTS, of intentionally violating Federal Law – the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (which, contrary to what Capella's shyster and "ever the legal scholar" Sir Chrisy the Sissy would have the world believe) is lovingly referred to as FERPA by those with a at least a few active neural firings. Of course, we already knew that Offerman was a liar – guess he's not too concerned about his hypocrisy and dishonesty as long as he keeps on getting even richer by cashing in on his insider options with Capella’s stock.