COCA: Selected Topics Konrad C. Miskowicz-Retz, Ph.D., CAE Director, Department of Accreditation June 29, 2007 (Baltimore, MD)

2 Today’s Presentation Role of AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation “COCA” Standard Revision Process? Standards Effective July 1, 2007? Standards Under Review? In the next three next months…

3 My Approach Address the three questions Participate in a conversation, from the COCA staff director’s view Present a small amount of numerical data Abstain from value judgments

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7 Role of COCA As an accreditor: Grant accreditation status to COMs that meet the standards Deny or withdraw accreditation status to COMs that do not meet the standards Maintain accrediting agency’s recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education

8 Role of COCA Develop and consistently apply standards and procedures based upon expectations of its stakeholders: “internal publics” within the profession; “external publics” from outside the profession.

9 Role of COCA Environmental Analysis of Higher Education Student  Consumer Quality, Cost, Access  Accessibility; Affordability, Accountability Higher education is “part of the problem”? Accreditation is “part of the problem”?

10 Role of COCA Environmental Analysis of Higher Education Accreditors are focusing on competencies: outputs and outcomes over process Anticipate regulations from U.S. Secretary of Education Higher Education Act Reauthorization

11 Role of COCA Environmental Analysis of Higher Education in Healthcare Education of physicians is a sequential process that prepares for the next step

12 Establishing Standards? Systematic Review  Address standards “as a whole” and begin working on problem areas within 12 months Topical Review: ongoing, based upon environmental analysis and current experience  “wordsmithing”, “fine tuning”

13 Establishing Standards? Systematic Review: Survey to determine if each standard (a) has a clear intent, and (b) is relevant to osteopathic education. Initiate revision within 12 months See end of Chapter I: COM Accreditation Standards and Procedures for more details.

14 Establishing Standards? Topical Review considers: Requirements of U.S. Department of Education Concerns of internal stakeholders Environmental analysis

15 Establishing Standards? Topical Review difficulties: Balance of {accreditation / regulatory needs} versus needs of the profession Problem? or Solution in search of a problem? Consensus can be difficult to achieve  March 3, 2007 open forum

16 July 1, 2007 Standards Standard 6.1: Curriculum Added guideline listing areas of education (language found in pre-2004 standards) Added guideline listing curriculum models (new)

17 July 1, 2007 Standards Standard 6.1.1: Length of curriculum Added guideline stating 130 weeks (language found in pre-2004 standards)

18 July 1, 2007 Standards Standard 6.5.1: Predoctoral competencies Five capabilities are stated broadly: OPP, medical knowledge, interpersonal & communications, practice environment, “basic support skills”

19 July 1, 2007 Standards Standard 6.8: Old standard 5.4, regarding assessment of students, was moved from Standard 5. Students to Standard 6. Curriculum

20 July 1, 2007 Standards Standard 6.9: added clarifying language at the end of the standard “or in the case where an institutional agreement is not applicable, [an affiliation agreement may be entered into] between the COM and individual preceptor.”

21 Future Standards? U.S. Department of Education: Standards for Outcomes Assessment of Student Learning / Competencies Review of Substantive Changes Review of New COM applications OPP / OMT curriculum Faculty

22 In the next months 2007: instruction begins at ATSU-SOMA; LMU-DCOM; TOUROCOM 2008: Two new COMs have pre- accreditation; in process for provisional accreditation

23 In the next months Approved entering class size in Fall of: 2005 = 3,639; 2006 = 3, = 4, could increase by 225, depending on progress of current applicants 2009 three COM applicants could… Class size increases?

24 Contact Information Konrad C. Miskowicz-Retz, Ph.D., CAE Director, Department of Accreditation American Osteopathic Association 142 E. Ontario St. Chicago, IL Phone: (800) , ext