Accreditation
COMP & COMP-Northwest Accreditation Information
The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) was established in 1977 as a direct and important response to a critical shortage of primary care physicians in the western United States. In January 1978, COMP received pre-accreditation status from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Provisional accreditation status was achieved in July of 1978 and full accreditation in February 1982. In August of 1996, in order to better reflect its stature, COMP was restructured into a university with a new name: Western University of Health Sciences.
The American Osteopathic Association, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOA COCA) is the only accrediting agency for pre-doctoral osteopathic medical educational institutions, including the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, and is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). Accreditation indicates that the college of osteopathic medicine (COM) has met or exceeded the AOA standards for educational quality.
WesternU/COMP and COMP-Northwest achieved maximum accreditation by the American Osteopathic Association Council on Osteopathic College Accreditation in 2022. The next full accreditation visit by the COCA will be in the spring of 2032.
Western University of Health Sciences is fully accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
COCA Executive Summary Report
COMP & COMP-Northwest 360 Tour
COCA ACCREDITATION POLICIES
Learn about COCA accreditation policies and standards by clicking on the items below:
COMP & COMP-Northwest – Complaints Regarding Accreditation Standards
COMP & COMP-Northwest (the College) are committed to meeting and exceeding the standards of accreditation for colleges of osteopathic medicine as described by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (www.osteopathic.org). It is the policy of the College that an individual who believes the College may not be in compliance with a standard of accreditation has the right to file a complaint through the following procedure:
- A written, dated, and signed complaint can be filed with the College Office of Student Affairs. For email delivery, the complaint can be sent to OSAPomona@westernu.edu for the COMP Pomona campus or StudentAffairsOR@westernu.edu for the COMP-Northwest campus.
- A student affairs professional will consult with the Dean of COMP & COMP-Northwest (the Dean) and form an appointed committee of faculty and students to investigate the complaint.
- The results of the investigation shall include findings of fact, a determination of compliance or non-compliance, and recommended corrective actions if non-compliance is determined. The results will be communicated in writing to the Dean, the College Office(s) of Student Affairs and to the complainant.
- If corrective action is indicated, the Dean will respond to the appointed committee with a plan for such action within 30 days of receipt of the committee’s findings and recommendations.
- Records of all proceedings regarding complaints will be maintained by the College Office(s) of Student Affairs.
In the event that the complainant is not satisfied with the appointed committee’s determination and/or the resulting corrective action plan, the complainant may communicate their complaint directly to the COCA website. If the complainant desires, the complaint may be filed directly with the COCA without filing a complaint with the College Office(s) of Student Affairs.
Any complaints filed with the COCA must follow the complaint procedure noted on the COCA Website. The College is committed to protecting the confidentiality of the complainant and assuring an environment of non-retaliation.
The address and phone number of the accrediting agency are:
Secretary, COCA
American Osteopathic Association
142 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Telephone 312/202-8124
FAX 312/202-8424
COMP Student Health Support Resources – COCA Standards 5.3-1, 9.8 and 9.9 (PDF)
COMP-Northwest Student Health Support Resources – COCA Standards 5.3-1, 9.8 and 9.9 (PDF)
Student Behavioral Health Assistance Program Policy – COCA Standard 9.8-1 (PDF)
Student Access to Physical Health Services Policy – COCA Standard 9.9-1