CU Museum Of Natural History Accredited By American Association Of Museums

For the first time in its 100-year existence, the University of Colorado at Boulder Museum of Natural History has been granted the highest recognition for a museum, accreditation by the American Association of Museums, according to museum officials.

The CU Museum becomes the only accredited university museum in Colorado and joins 19 other facilities in the state that have the designation including the Denver Art Museum, Colorado History Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Fewer than 5 percent of the nation's nearly 16,000 museums are currently accredited by the American Association of Museums, which uses a rigorous process examining all aspects of a museum's operations.

"Without a doubt, AAM accreditation is a major achievement for the CU Museum," said CU Museum Director Linda Cordell. "This process is arduous for all museums and a particular challenge for university museums that are fortunate to be part of larger institutions, yet for that reason face different challenges than those of free-standing museums.

"The accreditation process took approximately three years and required the hard work of all museum faculty, staff and students," Cordell said.

With more than 3 million artifacts and specimens representing the disciplines of anthropology, botany, entomology, paleontology and zoology, the CU Museum houses one of the most extensive natural history collections in the Rocky Mountain and Plains regions, making it one of the top university natural history museums in the country.

Founded in 1906 and located in Washington, D.C., the American Association of Museums is a national leader in the museum field that works to develop and promote the highest professional standards in all phases of museum operations.

For more information about the CU Museum call (303) 492-3396, or visit the Web site at http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/ .