Tuesday, November 20, 2007
by: Shannon Rossman Allen, M.A. ’04

For Seton Hall, providing an academic environment that focuses on the ethical development of its students is paramount. Janet Marstine, Ph.D., acting director of Seton Hall’s M.A. in Museum Professions program, took this to heart when she applied for a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to establish the Institute of Museum Ethics.

As a result of her application and Seton Hall’s continued growth as an institution at the forefront of ethical training across all academic fields, the University is the proud recipient of a $209,487 grant for the creation of the institute, which will launch educational initiatives to help museum professionals create more transparent, accountable and socially responsible institutions. This grant is one of only ten 21st Century Museum Professionals awards made nationwide; Seton Hall is the only college/university recipient. 

Grant funding will allow the University to position itself as the singular resource on museum ethics widely recognized by the museum and museum studies communities. The funding will support a national conference (November 15, 2008), the introduction of two new courses on museum ethics in association with the University’s M.A. in Museum Professions, workshops that help faculty to infuse ethics across the museum studies curriculum, and the launch of a unique Web portal. The Web portal will feature an ethics listserv, media feed, bibliography and other tools to assist museum professionals inincorporating ethics into ongoing operations.

“Ethical dilemmas are some of the most critical challenges 21st-century museums face. Museum ethics is also defined by a larger discourse that considers how museums encourage social understanding and promote human rights,” Marstine says. This significant grant will enable the Institute of Museum Ethics to create programming that will guide museum professionals in both developing policy and engaging in day-to-day decision-making.

For more information please contact:
Kathy Coyle
(973) 378-2647
coylekat@shu.edu