ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

To: ACBSP Educational Programs and The GAFM International Board of Standards Global Membership

From: J. Alderman, President/CEO and George Mentz (GAFM CEO/Gen. Counsel)

Date: February 25, 2016

Re: Reaffirmation of ACBSP Alliance with the Global Academy of Finance and Management                     

For more than 10 years, ACBSP and the GAFM have benefited from a mutual articulation alliance between the ACBSP programs and the Global Academy of Finance and Management.  At this time, the ACBSP and the GAFM International Board of Standards have voted to reaffirm the agreement under the terms and conditions as follows:

• All ACBSP baccalaureate/graduate schools that have attained accredited status would be officially recognized by the GAFM as an educational and degree path toward certification eligibility.

• ACBSP accredited business school programs would also be recognized as GAFM eligible programs and whose accredited programs shall count towards the GAFM Master Financial Planner (MFP) designation and other credentials including the: AFA, AMA, AMC, CAM, ChE, CIPM, CRA,  CPM, CWM, MPM, and RFS, and additional credentials as may be determined on the www.GAFM.org websites and brochures.  

• Any graduate of an ACBSP accredited business school program with a major or concentration in management, economics, risk, business, accounting or finance (4 or more finance related courses) shall meet the educational requirements for a relevant  Certification from GAFM as long as the student graduates with a 3.0+ GPA. Thus, the student would be able to apply for Certified or Chartered status upon graduation. 

• Any member of the faculty of an ACBSP accredited business school program is eligible to apply for certification in any GAFM Certification Program as a pre-qualified candidate. 

• Upon meeting the educational and experience requirement and becoming certified, the student or faculty member would be required to abide by the GAFM Code of Professional Ethics and obtain 15 hours of continuing education per calendar year from an ACBSP school by teaching or by attending courses.

• GAFM will grant continuing education credit and ISO 29990 recognition for continuing education courses offered by ACBSP schools and at ACBSP conferences.

• ACBSP and GAFM will mutually announce this alliance in its newsletter each year along with a web link and will publicize this alliance through its normal media strategy

. • The IBS/GAFM will continue to maintain its corporate membership with ACBSP as it has for over a decade.

Signed for and on behalf of ACBSP    ACBSP President/CEO