The Museum of Texas Tech reaffirmed its status among some of the most elite museums in the United States after its national accreditation was renewed last month.
Tech's museum received accreditation from the American Association of Museums, a designation currently awarded to less than 5 percent or 774 of the nation's estimated 17,500 museums, according to the association's Web site.
"The accreditation is an affirmation for the way the museum does business," said David Dean, director of the museum's information services. "It says the museum practices and upholds the standards set by the AAM."
A museum must go through a rigorous application process in order to receive accreditation from the association, he said. The process can take up to a year and a half to complete.
"It's really a comprehensive look at the institution," Dean said.
The American Association of Museums analyzes all aspects of a museum when it awards accreditation, he said. The organization looks at a museum's professional practices, how it acquires and handles collections and how well its educational programs are run.
Also, a visiting committee consisting of museum experts appointed by the association travels to the museum to verify that the application information has been reported accurately, Dean said. The visiting committee will send a report of their findings back to the American Association of Museums.
The accreditation that Tech's museum received applies to the entire museum system, he said. The museum system is comprised of the Moody Planetarium, the Natural Science Research Laboratory, the Lubbock Lake Landmark and the main museum on Tech's campus.
This is the third time the museum has earned accreditation from the association, Dean said. Tech's museum first received national accreditation in 1990, then again in 1998. The most recent accreditation will last for 10 years.
Out of the 774 nationally accredited museums, only 108 are university-based institutions, according to the American Association of Museums Web site.
National accreditation is awarded only to institutions that uphold the highest standards and practices, said Gary Edson, executive director of the museum. This designation is important because it helps the museum receive funding such as grants.
The accreditation also is important for Tech, he said, because it demonstrates to potential students that the university has some of the top institutions in the nation.
The accreditation is the second time this year Tech's museum has been distinguished for its excellence, Edson said. In May, the Texas Historical Commission awarded the museum with an exemplary certification.
Tech's museum is located at the intersection of Fourth Street and Indiana Avenue. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the museum is free to the public.
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