Fort Hays State’s Sternberg Museum Will Remain Open After Outpouring of Support
The reversal follows a community fundraising push that topped the $1 million target and buys time for a new long-term business plan.
- Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason announced on Monday that the Sternberg Museum of Natural History will remain open beyond the December 18, 2026, closure date after fundraising surpassed the $1 million target.
- Last month, the university decided to close the museum following a $2.4 million recurring reduction in state funding, compounding previous cuts that eliminated 55 faculty and staff positions over five years.
- Donations from individuals and small businesses, bolstered by a 1:1 match from the Schmidt Foundation, reached nearly $1.5 million. These funds allow continued operations while administrators develop a sustainable business plan.
- During Monday's hearing, legislators criticized the decision-making process and communication regarding the closure. Committee Vice Chair Rep. Troy Waymaster expressed frustration that lawmakers were not consulted beforehand.
- While the museum remains open, the reversal serves as a temporary reprieve rather than a permanent solution. Officials must now determine the facility's long-term structure, including staffing, subsidies, and collections care.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Inside Higher Ed
RocketNewsFort Hays State Rescinds Natural History Museum Closure
Word of the Kansas university’s decision to close the Sternberg Museum of Natural History sparked community outrage. The reversal offers hope to others fighting to keep the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel alive. One month after announcing its plan to close the Sternberg Museum of Natural History following a $2.4 million state funding cut, Fort Hays State University is backtracking.
Kansas Reflector
Fort Hays State’s Sternberg Museum will remain open after outpouring of support
TOPEKA — The Sternberg Museum of Natural History will remain open after fear of its closure pushed donors to gift $1.2 million toward its operating expenses, the president of Fort Hays State University told a legislative committee Monday. Despite the museum’s reprieve, legislators challenged the way Tisa Mason, who has led the university since 2017, […]
Sternberg closure reversed as fundraising surges and lawmakers scrutinize FHSU
The Sternberg Museum will remain open beyond Dec. 18 after gifts, commitments and matching funds pushed its rescue campaign past its initial $1 million goal, FHSU President Tisa Mason told lawmakers Monday. The reversal keeps the museum open leaving major questions unresolved about staffing, finances, collections care and authority over its future. It also prompted […]
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