Capital University Information

Capital University (Capital, Cap, or CU) is a private research university in Bexley, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. Capital was founded as the Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Ohio in 1830, and later was associated with that synods successor, the American Lutheran Church. The university has undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as a law school. Capital University is the oldest university in Central Ohio and is one of the oldest and largest Lutheran-affiliated universities in North America.

Capital University was founded on June 3, 1830, as the "Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Ohio" in nearby Canton, Ohio, 40 years before what would become The Ohio State University, securing its title as the oldest university in Central Ohio. It moved to downtown Columbus in 1832, and was renamed as Capital University on March 2, 1850, when the seminary was reformed as the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary of Columbus, Ohio (ELTS), occasionally still known by the misnomer of "Capital Seminary", when the denomination was renamed as the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States and grew into a nationwide church body. The first president of the renamed university was William Morton Reynolds.

In 1930, the Joint Synod was merged with two other smaller German language groups, the Iowa Synod (formed 1854) and the Buffalo Synod (founded 1845) into a major nationwide grouping entitled the American Lutheran Church (ALC), headquartered in Columbus. The ALC existed only three decades, until 1960, when it in turn participated in a larger merger with several other groups of Lutherans in the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish traditions and was renamed The American Lutheran Church. The second ALC lasted until the formation of the current Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988, with offices in Chicago, Illinois.

The neighboring ELTS in Bexley merged with the theological department known as Hamma Divinity School of nearby Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, in 1978, and reopened on the Columbus campus as Trinity Lutheran Seminary, where it continues today as a theological seminary of the ELCA.

The university eventually moved its main campus to the rural periphery of the state capital in the community of Bexley. This rural area has since developed into an upscale suburb. Capital Universitys educational mission is based on Lutheran values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and leadership. A current motto used at the school is "Ask. Think. Lead", a continuing reminder of its educational mission.

In recognition of several buildings historic architectural merit, in 1982 a portion of the campus was entered on the National Register of Historic Places as the "Capital University Historic District". The district comprises Mees Hall, Bexley Hall, the Kerns Religious Life Center (formerly Rudolph Hall), and Leonard Hall. The district also encompassed Lehmann Hall and Loy Hall, both of which have since been demolished.

In May 2004, the university received approval to close Mound Street between College Avenue and Pleasant Ridge Avenue from the city of Bexley. The university in 2006 constructed a pedestrian mall on the closed portion of Mound Street which included parking, improved lighting, benches, and landscaping. The $2.5 million project unified the northern and southern portions of campus.

On April 20, 2015, University President Denvy A. Bowman announced his intention to retire as president effective July 1, 2016, ending his ten-year tenure as president.

On February 9, 2016, Capital announced Dr. Elizabeth L. Paul as the universitys president elect. She is the 16th president of Capital and is the first woman to hold the position at the university. Dr. Paul comes to Capital after serving as provost at Stetson University in Florida.

In the fall of 2016, Capital University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary announced that the two would reunite after 58 years of operating separately. The two operated as one institution from 1830 to 1959. The goal is to have the reunion plan completed by summer of 2017 with implementation to follow over the next two years.

Capital is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Capitals tuition for a full-time undergraduate student is $33,282 for the 2016–2017 academic year. Room and board expenses total about $9,422 per year. The student-faculty ratio at Capital University is 11:1.

Capital University has more than 60 majors and 51 minors to choose from. Some majors include education, nursing, economics, criminology, athletic training, business, accounting, chemistry and many others. Capital University has a strong and well-established music program and diverse majors such as Music Education, Performance Majors, Music Technology (either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music), and Music Industry.

The academic buildings on campus include Battelle Hall, Ruff Learning Center, Troutman Hall, Kerns Religious Life Center, Huber-Spielman Hall, Conservatory of Music, and Renner Hall.

On June 8, 2015 the Board of Trustees approved the demolition of Loy Hall to proceed with the construction of a Convergent Media Center. The project is estimated to cost approximately $16 million with an anticipated completion date in August 2016. The building will be the new home for Cap TV, WXCU Radio, The Chimes (student newspaper, and conservatory rehearsal space, as well as conference rooms and classrooms. The original hardwood floor of Loy Hall will be repurposed into tables in the new building.

Capital University Law School is an ABA-accredited private law school located in downtown Columbus. Capital Law was voted a "Best Value Law School" on the basis of tuition by the National Jurist magazine in 2009. In 2011, the National Jurist magazine, as well as preLaw magazine named Capital as one of the nations top law schools in preparing students for legal careers in public service. In 2012, the magazines listed Capital as one of the nations top law schools in terms of preparing its students for the bar exam.

Capital University features more than 70 student organizations. This includes 13 fraternities and sororities, arts and media organizations, cultural organizations, honors societies, campus programming, religious organizations, service organizations, and government and social organizations. Some examples include Pride, PRSSA, Circle K, Jewish Student Association, ReCap Literary Magazine, the Chimes (student news), intramural sports, student government, and numerous music organizations in which both non-music and music majors can perform.

Capital is a residential campus that operates on semester scheduling. Most students live on campus in one of seven residence halls: Saylor-Ackermann Hall, Cotterman Hall, the Lohman Complex (comprising several residence halls), Schaaf Hall, Capital Commons, College Avenue Hall, and the Capital University Apartments (formerly the Woodsview Apartments).

Capital Universitys music program is well-respected in the music community. Consisting of traditional and contemporary tracks, legendary faculty member Ray Eubanks started the jazz program and the music industry programs, which were some of the first in the nation. The largest degree concentration within the Conservatory is the Music Technology program, consisting of two tracks authored by Dr. Rocky J. Reuter, who also created the composition degree, the MIDI Band (an all-electronic live ensemble that has toured throughout the mid-west and eastern US), Ensemble Now (an improvisational-based contemporary music ensemble) and NOW MUSIC Festival, an annual celebration of contemporary music. The Chapel Choir has performed around Ohio and the world, including Carnegie Hall. The annual Christmas Festival at Capital, led by all the choral ensembles (the Capital Chordsmen, Womens Chorus, Choral Union, and Chapel Choir), is a popular local event and community institution. Recently, the university appointed its first female Assistant Dean of the Conservatory of Music.

The campus radio station, WXCU Radio, is entirely student-run and managed. Starting in 2007, the radio station began streaming online only with an alternative and indie rock format. Students have the opportunity to host their own radio show and interview nationally touring acts. Additionally, the station hosts several concerts and also supports the efforts of other groups campus-wide. Participation can be either extra-curricular for Pre-Professional credits. The station takes music submissions and frequently features music produced by students.

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