The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology has again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Kelsey Museum was last reviewed in 2007 and was accredited for ten years.  All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status, and the Kelsey Museum was reviewed again last year, 2016, and received another 10 year accreditation.

Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over 45 years, the Alliance’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 in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

“We are honored that the AAM has recognized the Museum’s talented and hard-working staff.  The AAM’s reaccreditation of the Kelsey for ten years (its maximum) is an affirmation of the Kelsey ‘s ongoing commitment to its mission”, T.G. Wilfong, Acting Director, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, over 1000 are currently accredited. The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology of museum is one of only thirteen museums accredited in Michigan. 

Accreditation is a very 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 visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” said Laura L. Lott, Alliance president and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”

About the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance 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. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance is the only organization representing the entire scope of the broad museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.