GAC is continually improving to align with best practices and to enhance the accreditation process for our programs and volunteers. The following procedures have been revised and will be published in Handbook of Accreditation for Academic Programs in Project Management and Related Programs - Fifth Edition (5.1), effective April 2025.
Register for an upcoming webinar to learn more. If you cannot attend the webinar, we recommend you register and watch the recording to ensure you are updated on the revised policies and procedures.
- Visits for Reaffirming Programs: Programs that are reaffirming accreditation will automatically have an accreditation team visit. Reaffirming programs will begin planning their visit upon acceptance of the Letter of Intent. (GAC Handbook 5.1 section B.3.)
- Accreditation Decisions - Accreditation Cycle Length: GAC has revised the maximum accreditation cycle length from five years to six years, and the minimum cycle length from three years to four years. (GAC Handbook 5.1 section B.4.)
- Team Recommendations: Accreditation Visit Teams will now provide an Accreditation Visit Advisory Statement in place of an Accreditation Recommendation.
- Procedural Probation: GAC has developed a new accreditation status for programs that fail to maintain compliance with procedural requirements. (GAC Handbook 5.1 section B.4.3.)
- Substantive Change: Significant changes to the curriculum of an accredited degree or award that may affect the program’s alignment with the GAC core areas of focus, including replacing 25% or more of the program’s courses or subjects that align to the GAC core area of focus, is considered a substantive change. (GAC Handbook 5.1 section B.5.2)
- Degrees or Awards Eligible for Accreditation – Minors, Concentrations, and Specializations: The minimum number of management of projects content credits and study hours was decreased for programs with a minor, concentration, or specialization in portfolio, program, and/or project management to expand eligibility to more programs. (GAC Handbook section C.2.)
- Degrees or Awards Eligible for Accreditation – Doctorate Degrees: Eligible doctorate degree courses/subjects, if applicable, and/or dissertation/thesis/doctoral outcome topics must include content aligned to one or more of the GAC core areas of focus. (GAC Handbook section C.2.)
Degrees or Awards Eligible for Accreditation – Third-party Providers: The institution is also responsible for management, assessment, and oversight of any aspect of the program