Effective: 05/29/2018
Senate Proposal: No
Responsible University Officer: Senior Associate Vice President for Administration
Responsible Office: A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum
Policy Statement
The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum (Museum) will manage Michigan Tech's mineral collection (Collection) to actively and conscientiously enhance its quality, depth, breadth, and usefulness by accessioning objects into the collection, deaccessioning inferior or redundant objects out of the collection, and by properly conserving collection objects with their associated documentation. The Museum will have Collection Management Procedures to implement this policy that are consistent with protection of the Collection.
Policy Requirement
The Museum shall have a Collection Management Committee of three to five members to advise the museum in decisions involving accessioning, categorization, deaccessioning, acquisition, and use of collection objects; however, the committee will not have decision making authority on behalf of the University. At least a majority of the members will have demonstrated knowledge of minerals and mineral specimens, and all of the members should be committed to the protection of the Collection.
The Collection consists of all accessioned objects that will remain part of the Collection unless the object is formally deaccessioned. Objects for possible accessioning into the Collection may be obtained through donation, purchase, and field collecting. Accessioning of objects into the Collection shall improve the quality, depth, breadth, and usefulness of the Collection with the goal of enhancing the Museum's national and international reputation as derived through its Collection and its uses.
Each object in the Collection is assigned to a category to provide a clear framework for its protection and management. The categories shall define an object's significance and any legal (i.e. donor imposed) or other obligations controlling its use or disposition. Objects will be placed into categories based on objective and subjective criteria, legal agreements, and legacy of donors. Criteria for deaccessioning objects out of the Collection shall be defined consistent with object categories.
All objects in the Collection are regarded as significant and are thereby deemed the responsibility of the Museum for curation and conservation following generally accepted practices appropriate for geological collections. The Museum shall maintain auditable hard-copy and digital catalogs with essential information for each Collection object.
The Museum shall provide an annual report on management of Michigan Tech's mineral collection to Michigan Tech's Internal Audit department and to the Vice President of Administration. The report will include the most recent Collection Management Procedures, a catalog of the Collection, and review of the Collection and its management, including acquisitions and dispositions and the terms of each.
Purpose
This policy provides a general framework for managing Michigan Tech's mineral collection. The policy requires the Museum to use collection management procedures consistent with the policy and with generally acceptable museum practices.
Scope
All employees and volunteers of the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Internal Audit Department, Office of Risk Management and Compliance, and Office of Vice President for Administration.
Contacts
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The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum |
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906-487-2572 |
Definitions
Michigan Tech's mineral collection (Collection) — consists of all objects accessioned into the Collection and will remain part of the Collection unless the object is formally deaccessioned.
Responsibilities
The Director of the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum — will manage Michigan Tech's mineral collection to actively and conscientiously enhance its quality, depth, breadth, and usefulness by accessioning objects into the collection, deaccessioning inferior or redundant objects out of the collection, and by properly conserving collection objects with their associated documentation, in accordance with this policy.
Procedures
Collection Management Procedures
History
Adopted:
05/29/2018—Approved by the Office of the President.
Revisions
Revised:
06/11/2018—Upon standard review: typographical error fixed.