Accreditation
Who We Are
The Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), which is authorized to accredit colleges of osteopathic medicine by the U.S. Department of Education. Ohio University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is one of six regional accreditors in the United States. It accredits degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions in 19 states in the central region.
The Heritage College’s Self-Study Accreditation Team was established in 2013. This team provides oversight into the self-study process; operates under the guiding principle of maintaining a state of accreditation readiness; and consists of faculty, staff and students who actively engage college stakeholders in the ongoing process of accreditation, which remains at the forefront of the college’s decision-making and continuous improvement efforts.
The Heritage College has been granted Accreditation status by the COCA for ten years, all standards and elements have been met. The college underwent its most recent comprehensive accreditation visit across all three campuses on September 27 – October 1, 2021. The college’s next comprehensive visit will occur in the academic year 2031-2032, with a mid-cycle report due in May 2027. The college continues annual reporting to the COCA and to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine as part of our ongoing accreditation.
- The COCA 2026 COM Continuing Accreditation Standards (effective 7/1/26) can be found at: https://osteopathic.org/accreditation/standards/
- Ohio University Institutional Accreditation
- Heritage College Office of Institutional Assessment & Accreditation (OIAA)
Complaints Regarding Non-Compliance with Accreditation Standards
Individuals may file a confidential complaint directly with the COCA or the Heritage College without fear of retaliation. The COCA contact information and the college policy and procedures are included below.
- The COCA Complaint Policy and Complaint Form can be found under the COCA’s Accreditation Guidelines and Policies on their website: https://osteopathic.org/accreditation/accreditation-guidelines-policies/
- COCA staff and contact information: https://osteopathic.org/accreditation/coca-staff/
The COCA's Department of Accreditation contact information:
Phone: (312) 202-8124
Email: predoc@osteopathic.org
The American Osteopathic Association’s contact information:
142 E. Ontario St.
Chicago, IL 60611-2864
Phone: (312) 202-8000
Additionally, complaints may also be filed with the Heritage College. See Policy 2.03 Complaints Regarding Non-Compliance with Accreditation Standards on the College Policies and Procedures webpage, https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/who-we-are/policies and the associated procedures. For questions regarding this policy and/or procedures, please contact:
Theresa Lester, M.A.
Assistant Director, Office of Institutional Assessment & Accreditation (OIAA)
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Email: lestert1@ohio.edu
Webpage Last Updated: 6/9/26