The official call by President Tisa Mason has been made...

Here is an update that none of us really wanted... but there has been an official decision that was made public earlier today by President Tisa Mason. It's said that there was a meeting involving her, Sternberg staff, and others to go over the news. Tisa shared an email to staff and faculty, and then, just recently, the announcement was posted to the Fort Hays State University website.

The official post to the FHSU website: A message from President Mason regarding the Sternberg Museum of Natural History

"After careful deliberation, I have decided to close the public-facing operations of the Sternberg Museum as part of our Strategic Budget Alignment process. The closure of public operations will take effect on December 18, 2026. Museum faculty and staff will remain on appointment for this year, and we will reassess our staffing needs for the future. During this time, the faculty and staff will focus their work on helping us review our collections, determine what must be retained for active research and teaching, and work with appropriate organizations to ensure every specimen is handled responsibly and legally." (Quoted from the FHSU site).

Now, this is very hard news for so many in the community, and in Kansas as a whole. But the fight isn't over yet. There are still many things that can be done to help try and save the Sternberg Museum. Tisa mentions at the end of her announcement about things the public can do. Of course she includes the university in her call for help, but this change we're calling for isn't about the university. This is about the Sternberg Museum. Many people of the public are mad at the university for even letting this problem get this bad, and for making the museum pay the final price. Others call for the city of Hays to oversee the operations of the museum, or even the state of Kansas. This final call, due to budget cuts, seems to show where the university's priorities lie. The post from Tisa states that the building itself is facing millions in deferred maintenance, yet who has been in charge of the museum's finances and budget for repairs over the last 25+ years? Anything "wrong" with the museum and/or building is due to the improper care and support from FHSU. 

But again, this fight isn't over. The community of Hays, people of Kansas, and others across the US/world can still help restore the damage this decision will cause. Continue to reach out to any and all legislators you can. Contact donors, foundations, and other investors about creating a 'Save the Sternberg' funding campaign. Any news coverage would help with visibility during this hard time and get the stories of Sternberg out there. Fundraisers can be created all over to help make money so that the Sternberg can see its future once again.

Thank you all for so much support and outreach! So many have spoken up and shared their stories about how much this museum means to them. Many have given serious thought to possible solutions for helping the Sternberg. Your voices are being heard. Continue to raise our voices, give thought to ways to change this outcome, reach out to those in the community for support, and continue showing how much everyone loves The Sternberg Museum of Natural History. We are not done.