In fall 2006 and then again in fall 2007, AACOM surveyed its members on COM plans for growth in the next 5 years. Each year, participants were asked to report on their home institutions' plans for coming years, including estimated first-year class sizes through 2011 and 2012, respectively.
The 2006 AACOM Survey of Osteopathic College Growth Plans and Issues was administered electronically using Remark Web Survey Software (3.0; Principia Products, Paoli, Pa). It contained 26 items, which appeared as yes-no, multiple choice, and fill-in-the-blank questions or statements. The 2006 survey took approximately 50 minutes to complete.
Responses to the 2006 survey were received from all 23 COMs for a response rate of 100%. Data for each branch campus were included on its parent COM's forms. Survey results were shared with participants via electronic mail in May 2007.
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For the 2007 AACOM Survey of Osteopathic College Growth Plans and Issues, participants were asked to confirm or correct their responses from the previous year. The 2007 instrument was a personalized follow-up survey sent to COM deans via electronic mail as an attached electronic document. In addition, AACOM requested that all information on COM branch campuses be submitted separately from their parent institutions. This condensed, self-administered survey was available in two formats: Microsoft Word (Microsoft Office 2003 with Service Pack 3; Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash) and Adobe Acrobat (7.0 Standard; Adobe Systems Inc, San Jose, Calif).
To reduce the administrative burden for survey respondents, the format and length of several questions were revised. In particular, previous responses to questions from the 2006 survey were consolidated. The 2007 AACOM Survey of Osteopathic College Growth Plans and Issues contained a total 14 items, which appeared as yes-no, multiple-choice, and fill-in-the-blank questions or statements. One item was a two-part multiple-choice and yes-no question. Only one new multiple-choice question was added to the 2007 survey: “Have you engaged in any of the following activities related to an expansion or possible expansion in medical school class size?” Participants were instructed to mark all answers that apply and were given the following eight choices:
The last option, “Other,” included a blank in which participants were encouraged to describe any recent unlisted activities related to expansion or possible expansion at their home institution.
The 2007 follow-up survey took approximately 30 minutes to complete. Participants were asked to return completed surveys by electronic mail, facsimile transmission, or by the US Postal Service.
Two institutions, PNWU-COM and RVUCOM, which received provisional accreditation status from AOA COCA in early fall 2007, were added to the list of COMs surveyed. With exceptions for these two COMs, which are enrolling their first classes in the upcoming 2008-2009 academic cycle, all planned enrollment increases are subject to approval by AOA COCA.
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