Apply to be a volunteer Clinical Evaluator or Student Services Evaluator and work with the COCA.
The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is looking for evaluators to review clinical education programs and student services operations at Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (COMs). Applications for only clinical and student services evaluators are being accepted at this time.
Application Submission and Review Process:
Individuals selected to serve as COCA evaluators serve as volunteers, not as employees of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Individuals selected will be required to complete two online training modules and participate in at least one site visit as a trainee. COCA evaluators receive modest honoraria for their participation in site visits and direct expenses are reimbursed according to AOA policies. Evaluators are responsible for reporting and paying any required taxes on honorarium payments. Expenses are reimbursed for trainees, but no honorarium is provided.
The COCA conducts a limited number of site visits per year. Site visit assignments are made based on evaluator availability, conflicts of interest and location and timing of the site visit. Being selected to serve as an evaluator does not guarantee an assignment on a site visit. Evaluators must agree to adhere to confidentiality policies and declare potential conflicts of interest. Please be aware that COCA site visits entail physical activities such as automobile/air travel, walking, including stairs and extended workdays.
Please contact Wonda Montgomery, Program Manager, Accreditation, at wmontgomery@osteopathic.org, with any questions.
The COM Evaluator Manual helps members of the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation’s (COCA) Evaluators Registry prepare to fulfill their responsibilities before, during and after a site accreditation visit to a college of osteopathic medicine (COM).
Team members are responsible for thoroughly reviewing and understanding the COCA’s Standards and Procedures to assess the COM’s compliance with them. If you’re new to the accreditation process, check out the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors’ overview of the process.
In addition to outlining team members’ site visit responsibilities, the manual details AOA policies and procedures for traveling to and from a site visit, meals, accommodations and reimbursement. It also describes the different types of site visits and how COCA staff schedules and plans each visit.