Position: Director of Academic Technology

[Jim Barrett]

Suffolk University  
Position Description
Position: Director of Academic Technology 
Department: Law School
Date: March 2001

Suffolk University Law School, a private educational institution founded
in 1906 and fully accredited by the American Bar Association and the
Association of American Law Schools, is a growing and dynamic urban
dual-division (day and evening programs) institution comprising 1650
students, 60 resident faculty, 23 clinical and legal writing instructors
and 120 adjunct faculty. 

Sargent Hall is the most technologically advanced facility of its kind in
the nation. All classrooms are fully served by audio visual technology,
including projection video, computer projection, video and audio taping
equipment and voice enhancement for the hearing impaired. A gigabit
fiberoptic backbone serves the seven floors of Sargent Hall providing
network access to over 2,750 100 baseT Cat5 data ports with power and
gigabit Ethernet capability serving every seat in all classrooms, the
library and faculty offices. Sargent Hall is also equipped with voice-over
IP, digitized video, packetized data, a digital television studio,
satellite downlink and direct satellite service. The building houses 7
labs with 300 installed computers.

Sargent Hall will serve as the site of the 2001 Annual Meeting of the
Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI), the first time ever
on the east coast. The Suffolk University Law School web site
(www.law.suffolk.edu) provides additional information concerning the
institution, students, faculty and academic life.

Summary of Position:									

This position is responsible for managing the academic technology used in
the Law School, for understanding related trends in legal education and
academic technology, and for developing strategies to assure effective use
of technologies most suited for legal study. The Director will have
overall responsibility for integrating educational technology into the law
schools academic programs.  This role includes assisting faculty by
facilitating the use of innovative technology in relation to teaching,
research and service.

Principal Accountabilities:

Reporting to the Director of Academic Technology are:

 Director of Computer Services  This position oversees the computing
services for faculty, students, administration and staff.  Computer
services include administration of student computer labs; assistance to
faculty, staff and administration in the use of personal computers
including installation of hardware and software; diagnosing and
troubleshooting computer or software problems, as well as serving as
liaison to the universitys Management Information Services (MIS) on
networking, e-mail systems and other infrastructure issues. Four employees
report to the Director of Computer Services including a Systems and
Training Manager, a PC Network Support Specialist, an Academic Computing
Specialist and a Computing Assistant.    

Webmaster - This position reports directly to the Law Library Director.
In addition, this position receives direction from and works closely (on a
dotted line basis) with the Director of Academic Technology. This position
is responsible for maintaining the law schools  web site which is used for
promotional, educational and administrative purposes.

Associate Director of University Media Services - This position reports
directly to the University-wide Director of Media Services.  In addition,
this position receives direction from and works closely (on a dotted line
basis) with the Director of Academic Technology. The Associate Director of
UMS manages the instructional media equipment in the law schools
classrooms and conference rooms.  An Assistant Director and a Media
Technician report to the Associate Director.

Key responsibilities of the Director of Academic Technology:

1. Manage and/or coordinate an array of academic technology and computing
services designed to assure that the Law School makes the best educational
use of technology.  Develop collaborative strategies which will result in
productive working relationships with interdependent departments including
the University-wide Media Services and Management Information Services.

2. Participate in reviewing the law schools existing administrative
structure related to technology with the objective of administering the
institutions technological resources in the most optimal manner. 

3. Develop and implement strategies to promote, enhance and enrich the
teaching of law through present and emerging technologies. Provide
leadership by keeping abreast of new technologies, understanding how they
affect law teaching and learning and advocating effectively for their use.
Assure assistance to faculty in Internet research techniques and in
preparing web materials for class use. Coordinate the development of a
Faculty instructional lab and oversee faculty training. (In addition, the
position of Director of Academic Technology offers the potential
opportunity to teach a technology-related course at the law school.)

4. Develop and implement strategies which use the web effectively for
educational, informational and promotional purposes. Develop collaborative
working relationships with administrative departments to assure that web
services are delivered in an effective and timely manner.

 5. Coordinate with reporting staff, administrative departments and
faculty to promote the understanding and effective use of existing and
future computing facilities.

6. Shape and implement effectively the academic technology and computing
budget by working with reporting staff, administrators and faculty to
assess needs and prioritize expenditures. Assist in development efforts to
expand the technological resources of the institution.

7. Plan meetings, conferences, etc involved with academic technology
issues.

8. Evaluate and recommend emerging educational and related technologies. 

Requirements:

The Director of Academic Technology should possess:

* A strong strategic and business understanding of how technology 
will enable Suffolk University Law School to meet its overall 
education objectives.

* Significant experience with computer systems in an educational
institution or a law-related environment.

* An understanding of industry trends, as well as current computer
hardware, broadband and wireless communication technologies.

* Excellent organizational, analytical and communication skills, 
including demonstrated ability to assess, evaluate and implement
organizational initiatives. The Director must also possess the 
ability to communicate effectively with a demanding and diverse 
clientele.

* Demonstrated leadership and management skills.

* Excellent administrative and interpersonal skills, especially
demonstrated in  working with faculty, students and
staff. 

* A demonstrated high-energy level and strong service orientation, 
along with the ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule
(represented by varied hours and competing time demands)
occasioned by the nature of a large dual-division institution, 
which holds classes every weekday evening in the fall and spring
semesters, and four evenings in the summer school session.

* An understanding of networking infrastructure, current computer
applications (specifically Novell NetWare, Windows NT and Unix), 
software packages, desktop software and tools.

* Knowledge of information resources management principles and
methodologies. Educational Qualifications: Bachelors degree 
required. Graduate or professional degree (including J.D.) helpful.

Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately. The
position will remain open until filled. Please submit a letter of
application, resume and the names/telephone numbers of three references.
Letters of application must relate the applicants employment experience to
the various requirements for the position of Director of Academic
Technology. 

Application materials should be forwarded to: 

	Human Resources
	Suffolk University
	8 Ashburton Place
	Boston, MA 02108-2770
e-mail: jminardi at admin.suffolk.edu
an equal opportunity employer



// Jim
______________________________________________________
Jim Barrett <jbarrett at acad.suffolk.edu> (617) 573-8592
Suffolk Univ. Law School  <http://www.law.suffolk.edu>