1. Any institution that is not institutionally accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education may not offer any degree in Georgia (including but not limited to associate, bachelor’s, master’s degrees and doctorate degrees).
  2. For any unaccredited institution authorized to offer a graduate-level degree in Georgia or which has submitted a materially complete application for authorization, as determined by the Commission in its sole discretion, to offer a graduate-level degree in Georgia prior to July 1, 2020, that institution will have until July 1, 2023 to obtain accreditation with an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or be a candidate for accreditation status with an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and, in the sole determination of GNPEC, showing substantial progress toward becoming fully institutionally accredited by July 1, 2024. In the event that such an institution subject to the above deadline to obtain candidacy status by July 1, 2023 was delayed in enrolling students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission will extend the deadline for the institution to obtain candidacy status to July 1, 2025, showing substantial progress toward becoming fully institutionally accredited by July 1, 2026. To receive such an extension, the institution must apply in writing to the Executive Director on or before June 15, 2023. A plan for compliance shall be included with the written extension request for the   commission to monitor the status of the timeline.  The Executive Director may deny, in whole or in part, the plan for compliance or require changes prior to approving the extension.
  3. For any unaccredited institution authorized to offer a degree in Georgia prior to August 29, 2022, that institution will have until July 1, 2025 to obtain accreditation with an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or be a candidate for accreditation status with an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and, in the sole determination of GNPEC, showing substantial progress toward becoming fully institutionally accredited by July 1, 2026.
  4. An accredited institution will not be permitted to offer any degree program that is not directly included as part of its institutional accreditation or other programmatic accreditation recognized by the United States Department of Education.

 

 

 

Approved by Commission Vote May 15, 2023.