State Museum earns reaccreditation

The University of Nebraska State Museum was awarded reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums in recognition of its innovative programming and comprehensive exhibits that engage the public in research and discovery. The museum has been continuously reaccredited since the program began in the 1970s.

Only 8% of the nation’s natural history museums are accredited. Alliance accreditation recognizes a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. It is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations and requires a year of self-assessment and a site visit by a team of peer reviewers.

The State Museum’s research collections include anthropology, botany, entomology, geology, invertebrate paleontology, parasitology, vertebrate paleontology and zoology. UNL students have research internships with curators and collections staff.

The State Museum translates Nebraska research into interactive exhibits and learner-centered educational programs and events, like Sunday with a Scientist, that facilitate interaction between Husker scientists and the public. The alliance’s peer reviewers commended the museum for its community access programs.

The State Museum serves K-12 schools with virtual and in-person educational programs for students statewide. Aligned with Nebraska’s career- and college-ready standards, educational programs augment and support science and social studies curricula. The museum partners with Lincoln Public Schools to deliver programs to third and fifth grade students. The virtual learning programs were highlighted as “exemplary” in the accreditation review.

“I am especially proud that the museum was commended for its community partnerships and accessibility of educational programs to communities throughout the state,” said Susan Weller, museum director. Accreditation includes all four museum sites across Nebraska: research collections and Morrill Hall in Lincoln, Ashfall Fossil Beds in Royal and the Trailside Museum near Crawford.

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Curator Scott Gardner looks at a sample from the museum’s collection.