{"id":56067,"date":"2016-02-06T14:21:50","date_gmt":"2016-02-06T20:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=56067"},"modified":"2016-02-06T14:22:38","modified_gmt":"2016-02-06T20:22:38","slug":"museum-receives-national-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/museum-receives-national-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"UM Museum Receives National Recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The University Museum was among\u00a0only 10 institutions to be chosen for\u00a0the American Alliance of Museums Small Museums Accreditation Academy.<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 The \u00a0American Alliance of Museums\u00a0<\/a>has chosen the\u00a0University of Mississippi Museum<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0participate in its new\u00a0Small Museums Accreditation Academy, an honor extended to only 10 institutions nationally.<\/p>\n

A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts funds the new accreditation academy. An advisory panel of leaders in the museum field assists the academy’s work. The staffs of the participating museums will undergo a yearlong readiness program with the goal of creating cultures of excellence inside those institutions to prepare them for accreditation.<\/p>\n

The selection brings national recognition to the museum staff from peers, said Robert Saarnio, director of the\u00a0University Museum and Historic Houses. The staff is exceptionally proud of this honor, he said.<\/p>\n

“Our yearlong participation will require intensive focus on core documents such as a strategic plan and a disaster preparedness and response plan, among others,” Saarnio said. “At the end of the 12-month period, we will be positioned to commence the formal accreditation process, which is the pinnacle of achievement and acknowledged stature for American museums.”<\/p>\n

The American Alliance of Museums, formed in 1906, is made up of\u00a030,000 museum professionals, volunteers, institutions and corporate partners. The group\u00a0brings those professionals together to develop standards and best practices, share knowledge and provide advocacy on issues that concern the museum community.<\/p>\n

The academy uses a guided online experience. It combines live sessions, mentoring and collaborative activities for staff and governing body members at small museums. It is designed for “high-performing” organizations\u00a0that are striving to achieve best practices to meet the accreditation demands.<\/p>\n

“The limited staff and resources of small museums do not preclude them from being operationally excellent and having tremendous impact on their communities,” said Laura L. Lott, the alliance’s president and chief executive officer. “I’m excited to welcome these 10 museums to our new program as they take a major step toward being recognized by the field for that excellence.”<\/p>\n

Other museums participating in the accreditation academy are:<\/p>\n