The Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC) process is very rigorous and truly shows a commitment to excellence in project management education on the part of the applicant school.

1. Letter of Intent

Candidate schools begin the process by submitting a Letter of Intent to the attention of the GAC Accreditation Programs Department. This letter should include the following:

• • The exact title and short description of the program(s)
• • The reason why it is seeking GAC Accreditation
• • A statement verifying the institution’s accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency or appropriate government agency
• • A description of the program’s administrative structure, including budgetary support
• • A statement that the program has been in operation for a minimum of two years and with one graduating class
  • The name(s) of the program points of contact, including contact information
  • The signatures of the program director and the senior manager or administrator (e.g. dean, department head or equivalent administrator) to whom the program director reports.

Upon receipt, the Letter of Intent is reviewed by the GAC Center for compliance. If the letter is found compliant, the applicant institution begins work on its programmatic self-study report. In addition, once the Letter of Intent has been accepted, Applicants become “Candidate Institutions,” and begin receiving informative communications from the GAC regarding the accreditation process, as well as the GAC monthly update newsletter.

2. Prepare Self-Study Report

The self-study process is challenging for the applicant institution, as it requires the applicant to reflect and report on the purposes and effectiveness of its program(s). Applicants have up to six months to prepare and submit this report, which presents evidence to demonstrate that GAC Standards for Accreditation are being met by the program. The report should include such information as:

• • Mission and Objectives
• • Assessment of Anticipated Outcomes
• • Academic Community/Faculty and Staff
• • Student Support Services
• • Student Selection Processes
• • Curriculum, Learning and Performance Objectives
• • Student Performance Criteria
• • Library/Learning Resource Centers and Educational Innovations and Technology
• • Financial Resources, Facilities and Equipment

See the GAC Accreditation: Preparing for the Self-Study Report template for more information. Once complete, the Candidate Institution submits a printed copy, as well as an electronic copy of the Self-Study Report, to the attention of the GAC Accreditation Programs Department at PMI. After receipt, copies are forwarded to all GAC Board members for review and consideration. Upon acceptance of the report, the Candidate Institution is notified, and the on-site visit is scheduled.

3. Onsite Visit Evaluation

The dates of the on-site visit are agreed upon by both the GAC and the Candidate Institution. GAC on-site visit teams are normally comprised of one team chairperson, and one or two additional team members. All team members are qualified for this activity based on their experience in project management and academic communities. During the on-site visit, team members:

• • Follow up on any question raised by the GAC Board during the review of the self-study report
• • Spend time interviewing key administrative officers, program representatives, faculty members and students that are enrolled or have graduated from the program
• • Review any classroom facilities, library resources and other resources used to support the program

GAC on-site visits typically require two business days to complete. The Candidate Institution is responsible for lodging and all expenses associated with the visit. At the completion of the visit, the team presents its findings to the Candidate Institution for review and verification. The final On-Site Visit Report and recommendations are then forwarded to the GAC Board for a final decision.

4. The GAC Decision

Upon receipt of the On-Site Visit Report, the GAC Board makes its final decision regarding a Candidate Institution’s program at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The decision is based on the collective evidence provided by the Letter of Intent, Self-Study Report and On-Site Visit Report. The GAC Board then votes to either:

1. 1. Grant Accreditation
2. 2. Defer Accreditation
3. 3. Deny Accreditation

Applicants are notified in writing of the ruling within 30 days of the decision by the GAC Board.

Note: This information is intended to serve as a brief overview of the accreditation process. For all of the details, please download the Accreditation Handbook or contact gac@pmi.org.

Accreditation Resources and Information Sessions

Institutions considering GAC accreditation of their program(s) are encouraged to utilize the following resources:

• The GAC hosts optional in-person and distance learning information sessions on accreditation throughout the year. Typically, these sessions are held in conjunction with GAC Academic Forums. Applicants are encouraged to attend to better understand the process and receive tips on preparing the Self-Study Report.
• For step-by-step information regarding preparing the GAC accreditation Self-Study Report, download the GAC Accreditation Self-Study Report Template.
• Visit the GAC Academic Network. This network allows the applicant to interact with current accredited schools to learn more about best practices, lessons learned and mentoring possibilities.