Accreditation Timeline

The accreditation process with the Global Education Accrediting Commission (GEAC) typically takes between 12 to 18 months from the time an institution submits its application to the final accreditation decision, although it may be completed in as few as 3 months. The timeline may vary depending on the size and complexity of the institution, as well as any unique circumstances or challenges that may arise during the accreditation process. All institutions wishing to receive GEAC accreditation must hold GEAC institutional membership.

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Here is a detailed timeline of the GEAC accreditation process:

1. Main Application: All institutions wishing to become accredited by the GEAC must first become GEAC members. An institution interested in seeking accreditation with GEAC must first submit an application. The application includes basic information about the institution's operations, including its mission and goals, academic programs, faculty and staff, student services, facilities and resources, and outcomes and assessments.

2. Preliminary Review: Once an application is received, the GEAC staff conducts a preliminary review to ensure that the application is complete and meets the minimum requirements for accreditation.

3. Standards Applications: After the preliminary review, the institution can apply for GEAC certified compliance in all of the required GEAC standards. Different standards have differing processes, and the exact requirements for being compliant in each standard are listed on this website.

4. On-site Evaluation: After an institution is marked as compliant in all standards, a team of GEAC evaluators visits the institution to conduct an on-site evaluation. The evaluation includes interviews with faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders, as well as a review of documentation and facilities.

5. Report and Recommendation: Following the on-site evaluation, the evaluators prepare a report detailing their findings and recommendations. The report is submitted to the GEAC committee for review and a final accreditation decision.

6. Accreditation Decision: The GEAC committee reviews the evaluation report and makes a decision regarding the institution's accreditation status. If the institution has met all of the standards for accreditation and has had its responses for standards applications verified by on-site evaluators, it will be granted accreditation for a specified period of time, not to exceed five (5) years. If the institution has not met all of the standards, it may be given an opportunity to address any deficiencies and undergo another evaluation.

7. Follow-Up and Monitoring: Accredited institutions are required to undergo periodic evaluations and submit reports to demonstrate their ongoing compliance with GEAC standards. The frequency of follow-up evaluations varies depending on the accreditation status and the institution's track record of compliance.

8. Reaccreditation: Accreditation with GEAC is valid for a specified period of time, after which the institution must undergo a reaccreditation evaluation to maintain its accreditation status.