Section 2: CORE REQUIREMENTS

The institution has a governing board of at least five members that is the legal body with specific authority over the institution. The board is an active policy-making body for the institution and is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the financial resources of the institution are adequate to provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from it. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the majority of other voting members of the board have contractual, employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the institution.

A military institution authorized and operated by the federal government to award degrees has a public board in which neither the presiding officer nor a majority of the other members are civilian employees of the military or active/retired military. The board has broad and significant influence upon the institution’s programs and operations, plays an active role in policy-making, and ensures that the financial resources of the institution are used to provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from the board except as specified by the authorizing legislation. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the majority of other voting board members have contractual, employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the institution.  (Governing Board)
 

The mission statement of the Museum is in accordance with the mission of the Museum and TTU. The Museum mission is located on http://www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/   (specifically, in the strategic plan, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/stratPlan022103.pdf, and the university mission is here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission.  A hard copy of the mission statement is located in the Museum Administration Office. The mission statement is contained in the strategic plan for the museum and is in accordance with that of the university. The accreditation report from the American Association of Museums (AAM, http://www.aam-us.org/) indicates that the mission statement of the museum is clear and appropriate for an institution with the scope of TTU, and conforms with the current and future basis for educational and artistic decisions. A copy of the visitor’s report is available in the location noted above. 

The Museum falls under the institution-wide research-based planning in an evaluation process initiated by TTU. The Museum participated in the recent extensive strategic planning process throughout the university. Established to be an evolutionary, ongoing process with annual assessment reports based on the written strategic plans, the Museum Strategic Plan can be found in the same locations as noted in #2.4 above. Assessment of Texas Tech is web-posted http://www.ttu.edu/stratplan/Assessment.php . Annual assessment reports for the Museum http://www.irs.ttu.edu/SACS/AssessmentReports/37_0_2003.pdf and a hard copy is located in the Museum Administration Office. The Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM), the only recognized accrediting agency for museums. A copy of the accreditation self-study and visitor’s report is available in the Museum Administration Office.

The Museum’s instructional role is described in the report on the Center for Advanced Study of Museum Science and Heritage Management. Information about this program is included in the Museum’s website http://www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/ .

The TTU main Library supports the mission, objectives, degree programs, and research needs of the Museum. Additional specialized holdings are housed in the Museum’s Research Library. The Museum hires a qualified librarian to oversee the Library; however, no regular funding is provided to acquire books or publications for the Museum Library.              

The institution has a sound financial base and demonstrated financial stability, and adequate physical resources to support the mission of the institution and the scope of its programs and services.

The member institution provides the following financial statements: (a) an institutional audit (or Standard Review Report issued in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services issued by the AICPA for those institutions audited as part of a systemwide or statewide audit) and written institutional management letter for the most recent fiscal year prepared by an independent certified public accountant and/or an appropriate governmental auditing agency employing the appropriate audit (or Standard Review Report) guide; (b) a statement of financial position of unrestricted net assets, exclusive of plant assets and plant-related debt, which represents the change in unrestricted net assets attributable to operations for the most recent year; and, (c) an annual budget that is preceded by sound planning, is subject to sound fiscal procedures, and is approved by the governing board.

Audit requirements for applicant institutions may be found in the Commission policy entitled "Accreditation Procedures for Applicant Institutions.  (Resources)

(Not applicable for the Compliance Certification submitted by institution).

Section 3:  COMPREHENSIVE STANDARDS

Institutional Mission, Governance, And Effectiveness

TTU publishes its mission statement here http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/Catalog.html#Mission and it is appropriate to an institution of higher education. The mission statement of the Museum is in accordance with the mission of the university. It is located on p.1 of the Museum Strategic Plan http://www.depts.ttu.edu/museumttu/stratPlan022103.pdf. A hard copy of the mission statement is located in the Museum Administration Office.  The mission statement in strategic plan for the Museum is in accordance with that of the university. The accreditation review report from the American Association of Museums indicates that the mission statement of the Museum is appropriate for an institution with the scope of TTU, that museum activities appear to be linked to the mission, goals and objectives, and that they appear to form the current and future basis for professional museums. The accreditation report is available in the Museum Administration Office.

The organizational structure of TTU is contained in OP 01.08, http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP01.08.html. The organizational structure of the Museum is included in the accreditation self-study document available in the Museum Administration Office. This documentation is in accordance with the university policy as described in OP 30.01.

The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience,
competence, and capacity to lead the institution.

The institution defines and publishes policies regarding appointment and employment of
faculty and staff.

Operating policies regarding appointment and employment of faculty and staff include: 32.02 (Certification of Faculty Qualifications), 32.07 (Other Employment, Faculty Consulting, and Public Offices), 32.16 (Faculty Recruitment), 32.17 (Faculty Appointments and Titles), 32.34 (Faculty in Non-Tenure Acquiring Ranks), 70.11 (Staff Employees), 70.27 (Student Employees), 70.36 (Temporary Workers with (H1-B) Immigration Status). The college and its units conform to all university policies.

TTU and the Museum have evaluation instruments for unit administrators in OP 30.15 http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP30.15.pdf. The Executive Director of the Museum reports to the provost and is evaluated annually. Division heads and directors report to and are evaluated by the Executive Director.                   

The chief executive officer has ultimate responsibility for administrative and fiscal control over the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/OP10.05.pdf.

The institution’s policies are clear concerning ownership of materials, compensation,
copyright issues, and the use of revenue derived from the creation and production of all
intellectual property. This applies to students, faculty and staff.

PROGRAMS

The Museum offers a full range of outreach and service activities including numerous public programs, visiting artists and lecturers, and exhibitions, educational outreach with regional public schools, festivals, workshops, summer youth programs.

The institution’s use of technology enhances student learning, is appropriate for meeting the
objectives of its programs, and ensures that students have access to and training in the use
of technology.