(Dec. 7, 2018) — Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy announced today that consultants would begin a formal evaluation of the Institute of Texan Cultures later this month.
The assessment will be conducted by two experienced museum professionals, Charles Walter, director of the Mayborn Museum Complex of Baylor University, and Robert “Mac” West, president of consulting firm Informal Learning Experiences of Denver. Both have experience as museum managers, consultants to a variety of museums and related organizations, and reviewers for the American Alliance of Museums, the National Science Foundation, and numerous private and government organizations. College of Liberal and Fine Arts Dean Daniel Gelo is chair of the review.
The last full external assessment of the Institute of Texan Cultures was conducted in 2010, the same year the institute was accepted into the Smithsonian Affiliations program.
“As ITC celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year, this is a fitting time to explore how we can better align the institute with the university’s academic enterprise,” said Espy. “This assessment will help us determine the next steps for the institute to strengthen those connections.”
During their visit, the consultants will tour the ITC facility and collections, the Hemisfair Park historic district, and potential alternative locations for the institute. In addition to interviewing university and institute leadership and senior staff, they will meet with selected advisory board members, volunteers and community partners, and educators from local schools. The assessment will utilize American Alliance of Museums accreditation standards.
