The Jule Museum affirmed as a teaching and research resource

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art is among the first in the country to complete requirements for certification through the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries. In addition to its accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, this distinction recognizes The Jule's commitment to best practices in governance, collections care, teaching and learning, accessibility, strategic planning and community engagement.

The Association of Academic Museums and Galleries is the leading professional organization serving academic museums and galleries in the United States. Founded to address the unique opportunities and responsibilities of museums within higher education, the organization supports institutions whose missions extend beyond exhibitions and collections care to include teaching, research and student success.

As a member, The Jule is part of a growing group of academic museums that have demonstrated alignment with nationally recognized standards and best practices. AAMG member institutions include the Yale University Art Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Princeton University Art Museum, the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia, the LSU Museum of Art, the University of Mississippi Museum and the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami.

Faculty members are invited to partner with The Jule's educators and curators to incorporate object-based learning into their courses. Faculty from STEM and humanities disciplines can use the museum's collections and exhibitions to help students develop visual literacy, strengthen analytical skills and explore complex ideas through firsthand encounters with objects.

Those interested in collection research, class visits, customized learning experiences or object-based teaching opportunities may contact The Jule's education team. The museum's 2025-26 academic year is organized around the theme of color. New exhibitions open Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m., and a faculty networking event to learn more about instructional and research opportunities will begin at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit jcsm.auburn.edu.