STEPS Enrollment

Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS)

Enrollment in STEPS is open to Institutional and Academic Program members only. Nonmember organizations are required to first purchase an AASLH Institutional or Academic Program membership.  

The STEPS program helps small- and mid-sized organizations take a leap forward by educating board, staff, and volunteers about museum operations, and providing a structure for meaningful planning.   

After several years of work by AASLH staff and volunteers, an updated version of the STEPS workbook is now available. The spiral bound publication offers self-assessment questions and performance indicators (Basic, Good, and Better) to help your organization assess its policies and practices and identify opportunities for improvement. The workbook is divided into six sections: Mission, Vision, and Governance; Audience and Community Engagement; Interpretation; Stewardship of Collections; Stewardship of Historic Structures and Landscapes, and Management. The companion online STEPS Community offers sample forms, policies, and other valuable resources, discussion forum, and access to workbook section pdfs.  

New STEPS enrollees receive one copy of the spiral bound workbook, access to the STEPS Community and other benefits. Additional hard copies of the workbook may be purchased here.

Details

COST: $195 AASLH Institutional/Academic Program Members

NOTE: The STEPS workbook is a physical workbook that will be shipped to you shortly after your purchase. Please be sure to provide a complete shipping address during checkout. You will receive access information to join the online STEPS Community upon enrollment. 

Workbook

After several years of work by AASLH staff and STEPS Enhancement volunteers, an updated version of the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS) workbook is now available! 

The STEPS workbook is a spiral bound publication that offers self-assessment questions, performance indicators (Basic, Good, and Better), project lists, and more related to national museum standards. The workbook is divided into six sections: Mission, Vision, and Governance; Audience; Interpretation; Stewardship of Collections; Stewardship of Historic Structures and Landscapes, and Management.  

You MUST be enrolled in STEPS and an active AASLH member to purchase the work book. Purchase of the workbook alone does not automatically enroll you in STEPS. 

Important Note for Current STEPS Participants: With the release of the updated workbook, you may continue to earn Bronze, Silver, and Gold certificates based on the previous version of the workbook through June 2022. If, however, you would like to begin using the new workbook version, you have access to the workbook section pdfs via the new online STEPS Community.

If your organization would like to purchase a replacement hard copy of the updated STEPS workbook, AASLH is offering the special price of $32 for one book for institutional members previously enrolled in the program. Please visit the STEPS Community for a discount code. Note the special price is only available to organizations currently enrolled in STEPS and applies to one replacement workbook. Additional books are available for purchase at $65 each.

Bulk Pricing for 10+ Books: If you would like to purchase 10 or more workbooks, please reach out to learn@aaslh.org for 20% off bulk pricing.

TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL WORKBOOKS: One copy is provided with your enrollment. Please contact learn@aaslh.org to purchase additional copies.