The GISCI is pleased to announce the City of Galveston, Texas as a GISCI Endorsing Employer.  Galveston becomes the second government organization to receive the GISCI Endorsing Employer designation.  The City of Galveston supports its geospatial staff by encouraging all GIS staff to obtain their GISP certification, paying for initial and recertification fees along with appropriate training and continuing education courses, and supporting ongoing activities to maintain certification.  In addition, the City of Galveston looks for GISPs when hiring staff and strives to meet the ethical standards of the GIS Certification Institute and support their GISPs in meeting those standards.

The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) has created the GISCI Endorsing Employer Designation Program to help increase the value of GISP Certification for our primary stakeholders and to help facilitate the growth of the GISP Program within the geospatial community. The GISCI will grant the GISCI Endorsing Employer Designation to organizations that meet the criteria established by the GISCI as supportive of GIS Professionals and the GISP Certification process by way of internal activities, programs, and policies. The designation is not only a commitment to GISP Certification for staff but also to uphold the ideals of the GIS Certification Institute.

The GISCI Endorsing Employer Designation is available to all organizations (public, private/commercial) except for GISCI member organizations. Organizations seeking the designation must submit a formal application listing the criteria met as verified by the organization’s HR representative. A review committee will evaluate each application and if the organization meets the criteria, the committee will forward the application to the GISCI Board of Directors for approval. Each approved GISCI Endorsing Employer will last for three (3) years, provide the organization with permission to display its organization logo on our website, and provide permission to display the GISCI Endorsing Employer designation on its website. There is no cost to obtain this designation. A list of GISCI Endorsing Organizations can be found on the GISCI website at:  https://www.gisci.org/Employers/GISCI-Endorsing-Employer/GISCI-Endorsing-Organizations