New Models for Museums: establishing an online, distance learning, museum studies program with the assistance of staff from the museums and collections at the University of Oklahoma.

Peter B. Tirrell, Associate Director, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, pbtirrell@ou.edu

Abstract: This paper discusses the need for new models of museum organization and how online, distance learning, museums studies programs can act as agents of change when they are developed by staff from university museums and collections. They can help create new models of professional practice that will be fluid, dynamic, flexible, responsive and driven by vision, intention, context and theory. Online programs also can prepare a new generation of creative and thoughtful leaders. The Museum Studies Program Online, the University of Oklahoma, is described as a case study. In Oklahoma, solutions are being researched and put into practice by a new crop of professionals who are better trained and equipped to enhance the future of museums. Online museum studies programs are one of the best places to encourage research that challenges existing models, rather than replicating them. A rich learning environment can be created that gives maximum flexibility to the faculty and students and provides multiple modalities and opportunities. The tangible advantages, disadvantages, and best practices of an online program also are discussed. A key to the success of the program is an Program Oversight Committee fo highly trained and experience professonal from university museums and collections.

Introduction

What have museums become? What will they become? Where's the leadership? While museums are still part of our social fabric, the concept of a museum is changing rapidly. In addition, many are threatened, some have closed (Gropp 2003, Tirrell 2000). Judging by the financial floundering and miscued management of several top museums, it is clear that many directors and governing bodies are ill equipped to lead their museums into the future (Reist 2003, Williams 2003). As a group, our university museums have had serious problems because the leaders, the staff, and their trustees were unwilling or unable to meet, change, and adapt to a new set of challenges. However, the problems are not limited to university museums as illustrated by the severe cutbacks that have taken place at the Milwaukee Public Museum (Lank & Umhoefer 2005). At the MPM, the director has resigned and over 60 staff has been terminated. Without the ability and desire to create new models, we are in trouble and on the way to becoming more like the relics in our collections. The old models that made museums beloved and important to our society aren't working very well anymore.

Our students recognize the problem as indicated by W. Parker Hathcock III (in litt. 06.07.2005), one of my students in the Museum Studies Program Online (MSPO) at the University of Oklahoma:

"...is there any attempt by people in the museum (or other) field(s) to create entirely new models for museums (and other kinds of non-profits) that create better systems of accountability and/or attract people who will be more dynamic and effective? ...I continue to wrestle with the current model of the museum and the trends I see in the people around them. I have some ideas myself about how we should approach this, and, to be honest, I find this current crisis to be something very exciting. I think we have an opportunity to rethink how we go about setting up and running these institutions."

I am concerned about creating new and better models for museums. I think the new models will be the result of creating new leaders. This paper discusses the need for new models of museum organizations and how online, distance learning, museums studies programs can act as an agents of change. The MSPO, the University of Oklahoma, is described as a case study. The study proposes that museum training programs must prepare a new generation of creative and thoughtful leaders. In Oklahoma, solutions are being researched and put into practice by a new crop of professionals who are better trained and equipped to enhance the future of museums. Museum studies programs are one of the best places to encourage research that challenges existing models, rather than replicating them. I also discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and best practices of an online program. I used student evaluations and interviews with faculty in forming my discussion in this paper. I also add my own comments as an MSPO professor for the course "Museum Leadership and Management".