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Content Category: Accreditation

COCA Travel

For COCA Evaluators

Submitting your COCA travel expenses

Follow these steps to track receipts & submit your expense report

As a COCA site evaluator, you will likely travel on behalf of the commission to complete site visits at colleges of osteopathic medicine across the nation. The following information is intended to guide you through the process of documenting and submitting your trip expenses for reimbursement.

Please note, all expenses should be submitted to COCA staff no more than two weeks after a site visit concludes.

Remember to keep all itemized receipts during the duration of your trip and/or take photos of your receipts so they are stored on your phone for easy submission. Pro Tip: AmTrav offers an expense report feature via their website and app where where you can upload your receipts and create a mock-up expense report. You will still need to fill out the expense voucher provided by COCA Staff, however, the expense report feature in AmTrav can be a valuable tool to make creating your report easier.

Entering receipts in AmTrav

Follow the steps outlined below to keep track of your travel receipts and generate an expense report in Amtrav.

Step #1: Log into AmTrav: https://a2b.amtrav.com/

Step #2: From the left-side menu in AmTrav, select the “Expense Reports” option under the “See” section.

Step #3: Select “Start Report” under “My Expense Reports.”

Step#4: A box should appear on your screen asking for a “Report Title.” Please use the COM name as the report title.

Step #5: You should now see a blank expense report.

Step #6: Under “Inbox” in the Expense Report section, select +Add to upload copies of your receipts.

Step #7: After uploading your receipts, you will be able to drag each receipt over to the designated slot in the expense report, as shown below.

Step #8: As a final step, you have the option to “Download Report” or “Email Report” and save to your files.


Completing your expense voucher

Please follow the steps outlined below for submitting your expense voucher.

Step #1: Always enter your name & address in the top right corner. The address entered here should match the address submitted on your direct deposit form when you first became an evaluator. If this address has changed, please contact Wonda Montgomery at predoc@osteopathic.org to have the finance department update your info.

Step #2: Submit all expense vouchers to predoc@osteopathic.org (you may also cc your Team Secretary).

Step #3: Remember to fill out the COM name, location and date of site visit. Make sure you enter the appropriate number of days for the honorarium. (Note: The honorarium includes travel days, plus days on site).

Step #4: Make sure all sections of the expense voucher (e.g., meals, transportation, honorarium) are filled out properly. The total expense should be entered in the yellow highlighted box shown above, not under the section title. Additionally, please ensure all section totals are included in the final total reimbursement box.

Step #5: Finally, please ensure you have all receipts for each expense. The Expense Voucher and all receipts should be in a single PDF document when submitted to the COCA for reimbursement.

Step #6:  Expense forms must be signed.

COCA Meetings

Leading the way

Upcoming and past COCA meetings

COCA reviews site visit reports, change requests and other items pertaining to the accreditation of osteopathic medical schools.

The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accreditor of colleges of osteopathic medicine. COCA members meet periodically to review site visit reports, change requests and other items pertaining to the accreditation of osteopathic medical schools.

The following reviews will take place at the April 11-12, 2024, meeting:

  • A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic in Arizona – Substantive Change, Change in Curriculum Application
  • Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine – Comprehensive Site Visit
  • Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Pre-Operational Site Visit
  • Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine – Comprehensive Site Visit
  • Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine – Year 2 Planned Class Size Increase Monitoring Report
  • Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine – Florida Campus Pre-operational Site Visit
  • Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine – Comprehensive Site Visit
  • Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Year 1 Planned Class Size Increase Focused Site Visit
  • Duquesne College of Osteopathic Medicine – Pre-Operational Site Visit
  • Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Progress Report
  • Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Part II Additional Location Application
  • Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Knoxville Campus – Planned Class Size Increase Application
  • Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine – Part II Additional Location Application
  • Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Comprehensive Site Visit
  • Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine – Progress Report
  • Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine – Pre-Operational Site Visit
  • Proposed Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine – Candidate Status Application
  • Proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine – Pre-Accreditation Status Application
  • Proposed D’Youville University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Pre-Accreditation Application
  • Rocky Vista University Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine – Year 1 Focused Site Visit
  • Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Year 1 Additional Location Monitoring Site Visit

The open session portion of the meeting will be open to the public and broadcast in a livestream webinar format via Zoom. Executive sessions are closed to the public.

The COCA will consider and adjudicate applications for change in location, additional locations, candidate status, planned class size increases and changes in curriculum, and review comprehensive and focused site visit reports, mid-cycle reports and progress reports. The meeting agenda is forthcoming.

Register

The COCA will accept third-party comments on any of these reviews until March 12, 2024. View instructions on how to provide third party comments.


Future Meetings

Upcoming 2024 Meeting Dates

  • June 21, 2024
  • Aug. 29-30, 2024
  • Dec. 5-6, 2024

Past meetings

Previous 2023 Meeting Dates

  • Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2023
  • June 23, 2023
  • April 14-15, 2023
  • Jan. 18, 2023

Final Actions

View all final actions taken by the commission at past meetings dating back to 2011.

COCA Staff

Who what where

Contact COCA staff by phone or email

Here’s how to reach staffers from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
142 E. Ontario St.
Chicago, IL 60611-2864
(312) 202-8124
predoc@osteopathic.org

Genie James, MMSc
Vice President
(312) 202-8191
gjames@osteopathic.org

Richard Winn, EdD
COCA Secretary
(312) 202-8484
rwinn@osteopathic.org

Daniel Mendelson, MEd, CAE
Associate Vice President
(312) 202-8095
dmendelson@osteopathic.org

Gregory Pytlak, MS, MBA
Senior Director
(312) 202-8162
gpytlak@osteopathic.org

Penny Evans, CAE
Director
(312) 202-8046
pevans@osteopathic.org

Cailie Swillum, MPA
Program Manager, Policy and Data Analytics
(312) 202-8177
cswillum@osteopathic.org

Brianna (Bri) Kelly
Program Manager, Site Visit Operations
(312) 202-8097
bkelly@osteopathic.org

Wonda Montgomery
Program Manager, Accreditation
(312) 202-8163
wmontgomery@osteopathic.org

Alexandria Strickland
Administrative Specialist
(312) 202-8043
astrickland@osteopathic.org

Accreditation Guidelines

Medical education

Ensuring high academic standards and continuous quality improvement

Access the COCA handbook and accreditation resources for current, new and developing colleges of osteopathic medicine.

The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. COCA serves the public by establishing, maintaining and applying accreditation standards and procedures to ensure that academic quality and continuous quality improvement delivered by the colleges of osteopathic medicine reflect the evolving practice of osteopathic medicine.

Accreditation signifies that a college of osteopathic medicine has met or exceeded the COCA standards with respect to mission, goals and objectives; governance, administration and finance; facilities, equipment and resources; faculty, student admissions, performance and evaluation; preclinical and clinical curriculum; and research and scholarly activity.

COCA Handbook and Policies

COCA Handbook

Complaint Review Procedures

Complaint Form

Policies and Procedures

Accreditation Services for Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

COCA Progress Report Procedures

Mid-cycle Report Instructions and Schedule

Accreditation Standards

Policy updates

COCA updates standards for continuing and new colleges of osteopathic medicine

Access COCA standards for continuing COMs and for new and developing COMs, as well as the substantive change policies and procedures.

On Sept. 26, 2023, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) approved the 2023 accreditation standards for continuing COMs and new and developing COMs, including the evidentiary submissions that accompany those standards. The revised standards are effective Sept. 26, 2023.

All COMs with continuing accreditation must comply with the 2023 accreditation standards beginning July 1, 2024, although COMs with continuing accreditation may voluntarily begin to comply with the revised 2023 accreditation standards beginning Sept. 26, 2023, if their current circumstances permit.

New and developing COMs whose applications are for either candidate status or pre-accreditation status must complete their current phase of the respective application processes under the 2019 standards. Once that phase of the development process is achieved (after Sept. 26, 2023), a new and developing COM must comply with the 2023 revised standards for the next phase of the accreditation process.

All COMs and new and developing COMs are expected to comply with the 2023 revised accreditation standards by July 1, 2024.

Disclaimer: The Standards of Accreditation document is edited and revised periodically by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), and is, therefore, subject to change without notice. Inquiries concerning changes to the document and requests for the current version of the document should be sent to the Department of Accreditation via email to predoc@osteopathic.org. By requesting this document, the user acknowledges that he/she has reviewed this disclaimer and understands its terms.

These newly formatted documents include both a bookmarked table of contents, as well as a linked table of contents within the PDF document for easier use.

Please note that the evidentiary submissions documents for continuing COMs and for new and developing COMs have been incorporated into the respective Standards documents, and the evidentiary submission document for substantive procedures has been incorporated as an appendix into the Substantive Change Policies and Procedures document. Samples of the tables referenced in the evidentiary submissions are provided below. Spreadsheets for entering the requested data will be provided through the COCA-online platform when an application/report is initiated.

You can access the 2017 COCA Standards below:

Page last updated: Feb. 2024

COCA Reports to AOA House of Delegates

Year in review

Examining the growth of osteopathic medical education one year at a time

The following reports reflect actions taken by the Commission of Osteopathic College Accreditation for the prior fiscal year.


COCA Members

Change leaders

Meet the members of the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)

COCA oversees accreditation standards and procedures for colleges of osteopathic medicine.


2023-24 COCA membership roster

Jeffrey Stroup, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, Chair
Senior Vice President and Provost, and Professor of Internal Medicine
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Chief Operating Officer
Oklahoma State University Medical Authority and Trust
Tulsa, OK
Hospital or Healthcare Administrator (2022-25)
COCA Executive Committee Member

Robyn Phillips-Madson, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Vice Chair
Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
San Antonio, TX
COM Biomedical Science Faculty Member (2023-26)
COCA Executive Committee Member

Juan F. Acosta, DO, MS, FACOEP-D, FACEP
Associate Medical Director, Emergency Department
Saint Catherine of Siena Medical Center
Secretary/Treasurer, Assembly of Osteopathic Graduate Medical Educators
Smithtown, NY
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2021-24)

Muneer E. Assi, DO, FACOI
Private Practice Physician – Internal Medicine
El Paso, TX
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2022-25)

Susan Belanger, PhD, MA-HCML, MA-BEHP, RN, HEC-C, NEA-BC
Senior Vice President of Mission Integration and Ethics
Covenant Health
Tewksbury, MA
Public Member (2021-24)

Adam Berry, OMS III
Student
Rocky Vista University
Ivins, UT
Student – Nominated by SOMA (2022-24)

Courtney Blau, JD, LLM, RDMS, CHC
Senior Legal Counsel, Risk Management & Compliance
Norman Regional Health Systems
Norman, OK
Public Member (2022-25)

Linda Boyd, DO
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Lewisburg, WV
Dean (2022-25)
COCA Executive Committee Member

Nadege Dady, EdD
Dean of Student Affairs & Assistant Professor
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York, NY
Student Services Representative (2021-24)

John M. Kauffman, Jr., DO, FACOI, FACP
Founding Dean and Professor of Medicine
Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pittsburgh, PA
Dean (2022-25)
COCA Executive Committee Member

Lori A. Kemper, DO, MS, FACOFP
Dean
Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Glendale, AZ
Dean (2023-26)
COCA Executive Committee Member

Brian A. Kessler, DO, FACOFP
Dean and Chief Academic Officer
Campbell University-Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Buies Creek, NC
Dean (2021-24)
COCA Executive Committee Member

Janice A. Knebl, DO, MBA, FACOI, FACP
Director, Center for Geriatrics
DSWOP Endowed Chair and Professor, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, TX
Clinical Science Faculty (2021-24)

Patricia McKelvey Dieter, MPA, RN, PA-C, DFAAPA
Emeritus Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC
Public Member (2023-24)

Ryan Ottwell, DO
Resident
St. Joseph Mercy/Trinity-Health Hospital
Ann Arbor, MI
DO Resident/Fellow/New Physician in Practice (2023-25)

Stephen M. Scheinthal, DO, DFACN, DFAPA, CS
Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Professor of Psychiatry
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Stratford, NJ
GME Leader (2023-26)

Evelyn A. Schwalenberg, DO, FACP, FACOI, FNAOME
Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Medical Student Clinical Education and Advising
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internal medicine specialist
Biddeford, ME
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2021-24)

George J. Scott, DPM, DO, FACOFP
Campus Dean, Sewell Campus and Professor of Family Medicine
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Sewell, NJ
GME Leader (2023-26)

Tianfu “Andy” Shang, OMS III
Student
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Yakima, WA
Student – Nominated by COSGP (2023-25)

Scott A. Steingard, DO
Private Practice Physician – Family Practice
Phoenix, AZ
State Medical Licensing Board Physician Member (2023-26)

James M. Turner, DO, FACOFP, FACOEP-D
Fort Smith, AR
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2021-24)
COCA Executive Committee Member

COCA Final Actions

Shaping education

COCA announces accreditation decisions for colleges of osteopathic medicine

COCA establishes, maintains and applies accreditation standards and procedures.

The AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the accreditor of colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs). Accreditation from the COCA signifies that a college has met or exceeded the Commission’s standards for educational quality.


Third-Party Comments

Your voice matters

The AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) welcomes third-party comments on its accreditation reviews.

The COCA will receive, review and consider third-party comments on comprehensive reviews, Candidate and Pre-Accreditation applications, requests for substantive change and requests to enter into a teach-out agreement.

Persons wishing to present third-party comments must provide their comments in writing 30 days prior to the COCA meeting at which the matter will be reviewed. All third-party comments must be submitted in writing. Employees and students of the COM under consideration may not submit third-party comment. While the comment document must identify the commenter, the COCA will keep the identity of the commenter confidential to the extent possible. The COM will be notified of the third-party comment and will receive a copy of the written comments so that they can respond to the comments.

Please send any requests to submit third-party testimony or questions to predoc@osteopathic.org.