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Special Emphasis
The Higher Learning Commission's Handbook of Accreditation (PDF), section 5-3, provides the following description of a special emphasis: "In conjunction with its focus on self-study, an organization obtains Commission authorization to focus in-depth attention on a select group of issues critical to its pursuit of continuous improvement and educational excellence. The organization provides evidence that it fulfills the Criteria for Accreditation and reports on agreed-upon strategies and efforts it will use in pursuing ongoing organizational improvement. The Commission sends an evaluation team to the organization not only to address assurance issues associated with accreditation review but also to spend considerable time in a consultative role related to the previously agreed-upon special emphasis foci." |