POSITION DESCRIPTION: Full-Time Law Faculty and Director of the Academic Success Program
School of Law [Boise, Idaho Campus]
University Mission: Concordia University is a Christian university preparing leaders for the transformation of society.
University Core Values:
• Servant Leadership
• Rigor
• Lutheran
Unit or Department: School of Law [Boise, Idaho Campus]
Unit/Department Mission: The Concordia University School of Law integrates civic engagement, faith, and learning in the search for truth, social justice and an informed voice of reason.
Position title: Full-Time Law Faculty and Director of the Academic Success Program
Mission of the position (overall goal): Under the direction of the Associate Dean for Academics, the Director of the Academic Success Program will maximize student learning and performance in law school courses and on the bar exam by instructing students on learning techniques, identifying external resources for student academic success, collaborating with other faculty on instruction, and assessing the success of educational programs.
Summary of the position (how the overall goal is reached): The Director of the Academic Success Program will have lead responsibility in instructing students in learning skills and academic success during orientation and in a non-credit course aimed at all first-semester students; teach a course targeted at students who would benefit from support in legal analysis; identify and evaluate external resources to assist students; support students seeking assistance in learning and the faculty in teaching and program assessment. Responsible for developing and implementing a strategy for bar exam passage.
Concordia University School of Law: The School of Law is a branch campus of Concordia University Portland, which is part of the Concordia University System affiliated with the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod. Concordia is a Christian University preparing leaders for the transformation of society. Based in Boise, Idaho Concordia University School of Law is only the second law school in the state of Idaho and is located in close proximity to the largest concentration of the state’s law firms, attorneys and legal institutions. We offer students a range of internship, externship, mentorship and community outreach opportunities for an urban real-world experience to back up a curriculum of foundational and core concepts.
Concordia provides a challenging, yet supportive learning environment where spirited intellectual inquiry strengthens our commitment to justice, compassion and moral integrity. Concordia University School of Law emphasizes academic rigor, community engagement and ethical decision-making in a Christian context to prepare our graduates for legal, professional and leadership roles of the local, national and global frontier.
Staff relationships:
Reports to: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Supervises: None
Hired/appointed by: The Dean of the School of Law
Exempt/non-exempt? Exempt
Salary Level:
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Academic Support
• Teach a non-credit course for first-semester students on learning skills.
• Teach a for-credit course for students, primarily in their second-semester, who would benefit from a further chance to develop legal analysis skills.
• Provide at orientation initial instruction and appropriate information on academic support, in coordination with other faculty and Student Affairs.
• Provide advising on academic success to all students.
• Identify and evaluate external resources for academic support.
• Coordinate and collaborate in the development of a program for training faculty advisor based on our curriculum and academic success model. Work with Student Affairs in the assignment of students to a faculty advisor.
• Assist faculty to develop strategies for student academic success, particularly for students in academic difficulty and those for whom English is a second language.
• Coordinate and collaborate in the development of institutional strategies for promoting student learning.
• Assist in assessing the success of academic support activities and serve as a resource for faculty institutional research in courses.
• In collaboration with the faculty and administration, create reports on statistical data regarding students’ academic performance, using entrance data and bar passage results.
2. Bar Exam Support
• Develop and implement strategy for successful first-time and ultimate bar exam passage
• Direct the instruction and curriculum of the bar exam planning course(s)
• Coordinate any bar review course contract(s), establishing/maintaining the relationship, evaluating the product, and tracking/reviewing student performance within the product
• Work with Student Affairs to ensure students interested in sitting for the bar understand the application process, apply, and invest in a bar review course
3. Other Duties
• Work with students with learning or physical disabilities and direct any students that may qualify for reasonable accommodations, according to the ADA, to Student Affairs.
• Engage in other duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Academics.
SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Three to five years of experience working in academic support positions with law students preferred.
MA in Education or related field or teaching experience preferred.
JD and bar passage and admission required.
Excellent communication skills and ability to effectively teach in workshop and individual settings.
Flexibility to work irregular hours and weekends.
Excellent computer and technology skills. Prefer experience with data management, Microsoft Excel, and report development.
Consistently support the University and Law School mission statements.
Critical skills and qualities for this position:
• Training and expertise in student success programming and implementation.
• Strong communication skills.
• Familiarity with bar exam preparation.
• Self-directed, creative, and self-motivated problem solver. Able to take initiative and conceive new ideas that will streamline and make processes more effective for students.
• The ability to work with students in crisis and make well-reasoned determinations of next steps.
• Congenial and supportive work style. Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to quickly adapt and gain expertise in university computer systems.
• Effective task and time management abilities. Ability to manage multiple projects while also attending to daily/weekly/monthly and annual tasks.
• Must possess integrity, judgment and positive outlook. Must present with maturity and professionalism.
Physical demands of the position:
____ Repetitive motions sitting at keyboard
_X__ Rising and sitting repeatedly
_X__ Ability to lift, pull, grasp, stoop and reach within an office environment
_X__ Ability to sit for extended periods of time
_X__ Ability to speak and hear
Assessment schedule: Position assessed after the initial 90 days, and then annually.
Attitude and demeanor of all Concordia University employees:
As part of a work environment that highly values Christian education, educational excellence and service to students, all members of the community will:
1. Support the mission of Concordia University.
2. Communicate effectively with warmth, sensitivity, and understanding as s/he deals with administrative colleagues, teachers, students, parents, faculty, college personnel and program associates.
3. Work as a team member in a professional environment.
4. Possess a “service attitude“ (willingness to be flexible to meet the needs of the department).
5. Have a professional physical appearance (appropriate clothing, personal hygiene, etc.).
To Apply: POSITION OPEN UNTIL FILLED. The preferred start date is January 15, 2016. If the position does not fill at that time, the preferred start date is July, 2016. Please submit a resume, letter of interest, teaching philosophy, contact information for three professional references and a Concordia Employment Application Form http://www.cu-portland.edu/aboutcu/documents/cu_faculty_employment_application.pdf to: Penny Wilcox, Assistant to the Faculty, lawfacultyapplication@cu-portland.edu.
