[Nhcoll-l] ULM update - Administrator's response

[Melissa Islam]

A few people here mentioned sending letters in support of ULM's collections. The Society of Herbarium Curators (SHC) sent a letter yesterday. Below is the response from Dr. Pani, VP for Academic Affairs. I found the response enlightening, albeit not in the way that was intended. I agree with Barbara, Chris and Andy (and likely others!) that we should continue to work proactively to advocate for vulnerable collections. As a first step, SHC is offering workshops, which have been promoted on this list serve, to help curators create strategic plans that will, hopefully, strengthen their institutional relevance.

"Dr. Islam:

Postings on social media platforms recently have provided erroneous information about the decisions made regarding the Museum of Natural History at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) and its research collections.  I am the person who made those choices and want to provide you with a first-hand account that is accurate and true.

The research collections of plants, fish, amphibian, and reptiles have not been used by our students and faculty much in the last few years, except for instructional purposes.  Research use has largely been confined to people outside ULM from loans we have made to them and visits they have made here.  However, we have still had to maintain the collection.  I have concluded that the scientific integrity of the Museum's research collection will be better preserved at another institution that has the resources needed to house and care for it adequately.  While this decision in not my ideal, it makes the most sense for preserving this important resource.  The ULM administration will do everything in its power to find the right fit for the collection which we hope will be in Louisiana or at least in the southeastern United States.

Given that, I have asked that the Biology faculty pare the collection down to something that would meet their teaching needs and that would fit into a classroom-sized space. The rest of the collection needed to be moved, and they should begin to seek other institutions willing to accept our donation and transport the remaining holdings to their new home by mid-July.  Failing that, disposal of the collection seems to be the only alternative. The 48-hr period mentioned in an erroneous Facebook post was the amount of time requested to locate other space on our campus where the whole collection could be moved.  That search has not located anything suitable.
Please also understand that the Museum is not being closed.  It will remain on campus, but we are delaying its expansion for approximately two years because of space needs for another academic project that will be announced soon.

I hope that you will help dispel false information about ULM and this matter by sharing this email with others.
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Eric A. Pani
Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Louisiana at Monroe
700 University Ave., LIBR 640
Monroe, LA 71209

Phone; 318-342-1025
Fax: 318-342-1034
Mobile: 318-737-0437

Melissa Islam
Associate Director of Research & Head Curator of Gardens' Herbaria
Denver Botanic Gardens





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