Chapter 1
Introduction

1.0 Introduction	The goal of baccalaureate degree programs in graphic communications is to prepare students for productive technical, managerial, and/or marketing careers in this dynamic industry. The accreditation procedure presented herein has been established to assist collegiate educators to develop and strengthen graphic communications academic programs whether the programs are separate majors, minors, or concentrations within an academic major, such as industrial technology.
1.1 Philosophy	Graphic communications programs in institutions of higher education have a wide range of objectives and goals, but share a common purpose of preparing graduates for technical, managerial, and/or marketing careers related to creating, assimilating, reproducing, and disseminating graphic images (the printing, imaging, publishing, packaging and allied industries). In general, careers in graphic communications encompass professions that require graduates to possess appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes, and dedication for success. Students are required to complete a program of study, which includes courses in the major field, supporting field(s), and general education. The accreditation process is designed to be responsive to the needs and requirements of academia, the industry, and society. These programs, therefore, are designed to provide the academic rigor and excellence required by academia, the professional rigor and responsiveness required by the industry, and to meet or exceed the standards set by society to provide a literate educated citizenry. The primary purpose of the accreditation process is to foster voluntary attainment of professional standards and to encourage excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement consistent with the stated mission and objectives of the program which inspire the confidence of the educational community, the industry, and the public being served. Accreditation represents the primary mechanism for addressing these issues of educational quality across graphic communications programs. It is important to recognize that accreditation should be viewed as a continuing process which does not end with attainment of initial or renewed accreditation status.
1.2 General Principles	The integrity of the academic unit must be upheld and the Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications (hereafter, ACCGC or the Council) must recognize the diversity of each higher education program. Council members must also recognize that each academic unit will have a separate mission statement and that each unit will have special resources as well as varying types of facilities. Accreditation seeks to promote the idea of serving the profession and industry, plus providing stimulation for improving and/or maintaining quality in graphic communications programs in baccalaureate degree granting institutions. Emphasis must be placed on the outcome of the educational process. Programs must meet the minimum standards as presented in this document. The program must be considered professional with students seeking careers in graphic communications. The academic unit must have clearly defined statements of philosophy, goals, and objectives. Members of the educational unit must also identify how the curriculum is established, how faculty are developed, and how instruction is delivered to implement and achieve the program's philosophy, goals, and objectives. While it is understood that education institutions have jurisdiction over their own policies and programs, it is nonetheless valuable to have participation of industry representatives, as well as representatives from peer programs in other institutions, in evaluating graphic communications programs. To fulfill institutional degree requirements, it is also important to recognize that students are required to take courses in general education, courses in support of the major, and courses within the major. The accrediting process also includes a review of non-graphic communications courses used to support the graphic communications curriculum.
1.3 Purposes	The purpose of the ACCGC is to promote and encourage sound baccalaureate level educational programs in graphic communications. The Council also seeks to enhance quality of instruction through self-study and periodic review. Further, the accreditation process strives to stimulate the exchange of ideas between administrative and instructional personnel in academia and personnel in the graphic communications industries.
1.4 Program Criteria	Although educational terminology varies from institution to institution, terms such as major, minor, concentration, related field, emphasis, pattern, or option describes curricular groupings, which may be identified as a program in graphic communications. In general, to justify consideration for accreditation through the Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications, it is expected that each program will have a minimum critical mass of graphic communications course work. For a major in graphic communications, a minimum of 30 semester hours of graphic communications course work is considered necessary. For programs which require less than 30 semester hours of graphic communications course work (such as a minor, concentration, related field, emphasis, pattern, or option), an offering of 18 semester hours within graphic communications courses is considered the minimum. Programs with less than these recommended minimums in graphic communications would need to provide justification to be considered for ACCGC accreditation. Only graphic communications programs from baccalaureate degree granting institutions may apply for accreditation. Individual segments of graphic communications programs cannot be granted accreditation by ACCGC.
1.5 Accreditation Authority	The Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications (ACCGC) is an independent body under secretariat services of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF). The ACCGC operates under its own Bylaws and is dedicated to the improvement of, and recognition for, collegiate level curricula in graphic communications. The Council derives its authority and responsibility for accreditation from its Bylaws where it states the following: The mission of the Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications is to provide viable, credible, and defensible accreditation standards that can be used within colleges and universities where graphic communications programs are offered. Specifically, these four results should take place: developing and strengthening graphic communications programs at the collegiate level; helping enhance and maintain quality of instruction through periodic review; stimulating the exchange of ideas between academia and industry; and providing recognition to those collegiate programs that achieve and maintain acceptable standards.