Today’s students will hopefully be future advocates for University of Alabama Museums — at least that’s the premise behind a new student membership program launched this year.
“We want to build a group of supporters for the museums,” said Kelli Harris, development director for UA Museums. “We realize all of the students who say they love the museums will be us in 10 to 15 years. We want them to get to know their museums.”
The student membership is free to students, but they must opt in the program. The student membership includes invitations to all museum activities and lectures at the Alabama Museum of Natural History, Gorgas House Museum, Moundville Archaeological Park and the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum, as well as student-specific events. To date, student members have enjoyed tailgating on the Gorgas House lawn, a movie night in the Grand Gallery of the Alabama Museum of Natural History and a pizza social.
The group will evolve as it grows and as students express interest in certain activities, Harris said. The student membership has already surpassed the museums’ general membership base, and Harris expects it will continue to increase.
Museum directors envision the membership program as a way to bring in more student volunteers, as well as offer some educational opportunities.
“I have learned that our student members are very diverse in their interests, and I think we are still learning about the range of their interests,” said Dr. John Friel, director of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. “One thing that is already apparent to me is that we need to provide more programs for students while they are on campus.”
The museum offers numerous day trips and the annual museum expedition during the summer months, but most students are not on campus at the time and cannot participate, he added. Based on this information, museum staff will start planning some day trip programs for UA students in the spring, while they still have classes.
“These student members may be enrolling their kids in our summer expedition program eventually,” said Dr. William Bomar, director of UA Museums. “Maybe they’ll be donors, but at the very least, we want them to be advocates for our museums.”
For more information on the student membership program, students can call 348-7550 or visit Smith Hall, which is home to the Alabama Museum of Natural History.