Every ten years, each member institution of SACS undergoes a self-study that involves faculty, administrative officers, staff, students, and trustees in a close examination of the institutional effectiveness of the institution. This process, which lasts two to three years and culminates in the reaffirmation of accreditation by SACS, ensures the public that the institution meets established standards and is committed to improvement of educational quality. At the completion of the self-study, a visiting committee of peers from other institutions assesses the educational strength of the institution and formulates recommendations for future improvements.

GC is using the Alternate of Strategic Self-Study Model. The primary goals of GC's Self-Study are to (1) document and evaluate the College's compliance with the SACS criteria, (2) review, analyze, and evaluate whether each of the four core values identified for this strategic self-study are integrated into the fabric of the College, and (3) demonstrate that the assessment and planning activities of the College reflect the SACS accreditation criteria (see section below for more detail).