Experiential pedagogical elements, staff training, financial responsibility, admissions, student supervision, insurance, incident reporting, etc.

This certification is one that every applicant organization will have to pass. Every organization that carries the GYA Seal of Accreditation has been vetted to ensure that they have a high degree of integrity such that, for instance, their materials reflect the actuality of their programs, the staff (both office and non-office) function with an academic and ethical standard that is beyond reproach, and that they are honest in every communication. Integrity of pedagogy, financial responsibility, marketing, recruitment, clarity of program rules, documentation standards, admissions processes, student supervision, student insurance, staff training, labor rights and education (for staff and students), student-privacy (FERPA), mandatory incident reporting, abidance of all local laws, and cross-cultural awareness.

Every organization will likewise be required to include a detailed list of their students for pre and post-program surveys in the interest of longitudinal gap year data collection. Organizations that don’t function with a high degree of integrity sour the name of gap years and all reports to the contrary will be thoroughly investigated by GYA staff.

Inclusion of community, planning, supervisory training, etc.

GYA holds organizations that include service-learning* as part of their programs to the highest levels of ethics and integrity as they engage with their community partners. Responsible service-learning, or volunteering with a focus on learning, presents complexities for all stakeholders, especially those traditionally-considered to receive service. Thus, a high degree of planning for common purposes and reciprocity in organizational partnerships, as well as agreed upon project longevity must be considered before, during, and after program activities. Gap year program providers must intentionally and critically consider potential positive and negative impacts on global and domestic communities in which they engage.

Typical activities that might count as volunteering or service-learning could be teaching, construction projects, or environmental projects.

GYA  partners with Community-Based Global Learning Collaborative as a partner in the development and implementation of their Fair Trade Learning standards.

The evolving nature of this work requires a commitment to continuously improving standards for how we engage in the world, especially in service-learning contexts. As we update our Standards, including Fair Trade Learning, we’re also updating our language. We will update this information with the next set of published standards.

This is intended to cover organizations that have as a program component a more independent approach. Organizations that will require an application for this certification will have fewer direct supervision mandates for their staff, and more emphasis on adequate student preparation. Regular communication will be required and an adequate safety net to ensure proper student vetting, as well as a proper internship and ground-supervisor vetting.

Many organizations make use of expert partner-organizations to add to their students’ experience – this could mean going SCUBA diving, or even trekking or bungee jumping – but in every case where an Accredited Program incorporates such partnerships, simple checks will be required to insure that there’s a clear and documentable understanding of whom is responsible for what (e.g., equipment, medical staff, insurance), and to ensure that GYA’s Standards are continued throughout all partnerships, existing and new. Encouragements for locally-owned, financially-responsible, culturally-sensitive, environmentally-conscious partnerships are a hallmark of this certification. Organizations that outsource for home stays, language classes, SCUBA classes, treks, transportation companies, or adventure activity organizations are chief among those that will require the Partnerships Certification.