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Since its start more than 90 years ago, Capitol Technology University has remained true to its mission: preparing students for careers in a quickly changing world. With a tradition of academic excellence and practical learning, Capitol Technology University has equipped its alumni with the knowledge and skills to evolve with the advanced sophistication of technology.
Capitol Technology University was founded in Washington, DC, as the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute (CREI), in 1927 by Eugene H. Rietzke. A Navy veteran and radio operator, Rietzke saw the need for an advanced school that would produce talented radio and electronics technicians. CREI began as a correspondence school, but its popularity led to the 1932 opening of a residence division, allowing students to work hands-on in laboratories. As radio technology improved, new training programs and courses were quickly added. Following World War II, CREI became one of the first technical institutes accredited by the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development.
The institute entered a new era in the mid-1950s when it began awarding three-year Associate of Applied Science degrees. The school expanded its reach to new programs in applied engineering and electronics. The institute also changed its name to Capitol Institute of Technology (CIT) in 1964. CIT awarded its first Bachelor of Science degrees in 1966 to four graduates of its electronics engineering technology program. Anticipating the need for more room, CIT relocated in 1969 to Kensington, Maryland.
During the following decade, enrollment increased as well as program offerings. In 1976, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools granted accreditation to Capitol. The National Science Foundation also provided funding for new instructional scientific equipment. Quickly outgrowing its space, Capitol’s leaders recognized a need for a permanent home and began searching for a new campus.
In 1980, the college found its home in Laurel, Maryland. Within three years, Capitol purchased the 52-acre former site of the Beltsville Speedway, built new academic facilities and opened its doors. The college added two more engineering technology degrees after experiencing a surge in enrollment. Within the next decade, a capital campaign and funding from the state of Maryland raised millions for buildings, equipment and a scholarship endowment. The campus expanded with Telecommunications Hall and the 340-seat Avrum Gudelsky Memorial Auditorium.
In the late 1980s, Capitol’s leadership again recognized the transformation in the institution. The technical-based curriculum had become broader by increasing the number of humanities and social science courses offered. With a spacious campus and the addition of four-year degrees, the school had shed its skin as a technical institute. Preferring a title and an environment that would better suit the evolving institution, the Board of Trustees changed the school’s name to Capitol College. Along with the name change came a plan to offer more degrees in engineering and management, build on-campus housing, and convert from a quarterly academic calendar to a semester system.
The period of growth continued in the 1990s. Capitol College began offering master’s degrees. The college began several outreach efforts and business partnerships, such as the NASA PREP summer program for minority students and the Maryland Distance Learning Network. As the 20th century came to a close, the college also expanded the John G. and Beverly A. Puente Library, creating a spacious state-of-the-art facility with a multimedia teaching center.
The opening of the William G. McGowan Academic Center in 2005 marked the beginning of the next era for the college. The academic center expanded the Department of Computer Science, Space Operations Institute, and the BRAC-funded Cyber Battle Lab.
In 2010, Capitol College launched its first-ever doctoral degree. The doctorate in information assurance prepared students for leadership roles in the burgeoning field of cybersecurity. Since the college offered the degree almost exclusively online, Capitol began accepting doctoral students from across the globe. Four years later, the institution added its second doctoral degree in management and decision sciences.
The increased growth and diversity of programs led the college to become Capitol Technology University in 2014. Since then, the University has embarked on a longterm strategic plan of continued expansion, including the addition of new facilities on campus and increased academic programs. In 2017, Dr. Bradford L. Sims became the eighth president of Capitol Technology University, inheriting the proud legacy that began with Eugene H. Rietzke.
As a respected regional leader, Capitol Technology University continues to attract the attention of government agencies and corporate partners. Through a partnership with NASA, Capitol offers academic programs in astronautical engineering and practical training at its Space Operations Institute. The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security have designated the University a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has named the University one of its 12 educational partners.
Today, Capitol Technology University is the only independent university in Maryland that specializes in providing a relevant education in engineering, business, and related fields. The institution takes pride in its proven record of placing graduates in competitive careers with salaries higher than the industry average. Capitol Technology University currently offers three associate degrees, 28 bachelor’s degrees, 28 master’s degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees.
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