Date: May 01, 2009

Hofstra University Museum Receives Highest National Recognition

Awarded Accreditation from American Association of Museums

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra University Museum has again received accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.

"We are honored by this significant accomplishment. Currently only between 3-4 percent of the 17,500 American museums have received this prestigious level of recognition,” said Hofstra University Museum Director Beth Levinthal. “We are most pleased that Hofstra University and the residents of Long Island have a fine museum that continues to serve its public at this highest level of performance.”

“This reaccredidation is a well deserved acknowledgement of the efforts of the Hofstra University Museum’s presentation of fine exhibits and programs that educate and inform the Hofstra community and the larger public. The museum is an excellent resource and I congratulate all of those involved with its success,” said Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz.
 
The Hofstra University Museum was initially accredited in 1985, followed by reaccreditation in 1996. All museums must undergo a reaccredidation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.

AAM Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained my museum professionals for 25 years, AAM’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self regulation and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable – all in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

Accreditation is a rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visit committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation. While the time to complete the process varies by museum, it generally takes as long as three years. 

“Accreditation is emblematic of an institution’s commitment to public service and to overall excellence,” said AAM President Ford W. Bell. “Attaining accreditation involves taking a hard look at yourself, allowing your peers in the field to do the same, and being judged to be superior in all areas. The people of Long Island can take pride in the fact that their local institution is one of American’s premier museums.”

For more information on The Hofstra University Museum, visit www.hofstra.edu/museum .

The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit http://www.aam-us.org/

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 145 undergraduate and more than 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services;  and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future