Faculty Director of Academic Excellence

The Ohio State University; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law seeks a Faculty Director of Academic Excellence. The Director will oversee bar exam success, design systems for student academic excellence, and provide academic support.

A 12‑month Lecturer appointment includes teaching Legal Analysis and Writing and other courses as needed. Responsibilities include running the bar support program, developing a NextGen bar skills course, coordinating with Themis resources, advising on licensure and MPRE, tracking

Qualifications

• JD required and bar admission in good standing.
• Experience in higher education settings, particularly in legal writing and bar preparation.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead bar exam success initiatives and supervise the bar support program.
• Design and refine systems for student academic excellence and provide academic support.
• Teach Legal Analysis and Writing and other courses as needed.
• Oversee collaboration with Themis resources and advise on licensure processes.

Skills

Legal writing

Bar preparation

Curriculum design

Academic administration

Student counseling

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Job Title:Faculty Director of Academic ExcellenceDepartment:Law | Law Reserve

Position Overview

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law seeks a Faculty Director of Academic Excellence. The Director has primary responsibility for teaching and providing support for bar exam success designing and perpetually refining the College’s systems for student academic excellence, and for providing academic support to our students. The Director will also teach additional courses in the College of Law, including Legal Analysis and Writing, as needed. This will be a 12 month appointment at the rank of Lecturer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

The Director is responsible for running the comprehensive bar support program for students during their enrollment and after graduation during the bar study period. As part of the bar support program, the Director teaches a credit-bearing course for a segment of students during the second semester of the third year. The Director will also be asked to develop an additional credit-bearing course for a segment of students related to NextGen bar skills.

Ohio State also has an institutional arrangement with Themis, through which all students have access to the full suite of bar preparation materials and support provided by Themis. The Director oversees and ensures student use of the Themis resources and provides additional support for bar study as needed; maintains frequent communications with students about bar exam requirements, beginning in the spring of 1L year; advises students on completing the character and fitness and bar licensure process in students’ chosen jurisdictions; advises students on the MPRE; assists students in navigating requests for testing accommodations; and tracks bar exam results for graduates, continually analyzing results to strategically improve student and institutional performance. As well, the Director provides support to graduates retaking the bar exam as needed. The Director has responsibility for maintaining familiarity with bar admissions requirements and issues and trends in bar exam administration.

During the academic year, the Director oversees the College’s support program for academic excellence. This includes assessing the programs to ensure they are adapted over time to student needs, licensure demands, and the contours of the changing profession.

Throughout the year, the Director provides formal instruction (such as at orientation, lunchtime presentations, and recorded webinars), shares resources, and provides individual academic counseling.

Performance Objectives:

The goal of this position is to provide student instruction that will improve student bar passage rates.

Education and Experience Requirements

Required: Juris Doctor (JD) degree or equivalent; member of a state bar; at least 2 years of experience working in a higher education setting in areas including legal writing and bar preparation; at least 5 years of legal experience outside of higher education.

Desired: Experience in program planning and administration, detail oriented with good organizational, communication, and time management skills; ability to work effectively with others; familiarity and experience with current issues and trends in bar exam and attorney licensure.

Additional Information

This is a full-time in-person position located on our Columbus, Ohio campus.

The salary offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate's qualifications.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

Additional Information:

Responsibilities

50%

Provides support for bar exam success by teaching bar preparatory courses and developing new courses as needed. This includes designing and perpetually refining the College’s systems for student academic excellence, and for providing academic support to students; running the comprehensive bar support program for students during their enrollment and after graduation during the bar study period; overseeing and ensuring student use of the Themis resources and providing additional support for bar study as needed; maintains frequent communications with students about bar exam requirements, beginning in the spring of 1L year; advises students on completing the character and fitness and bar licensure process in students’ chosen jurisdictions; advises students on the MPRE; assists students in navigating requests for testing accommodations; and tracks bar exam results for graduates, continually analyzing results to strategically improve student and institutional performance; provides support to graduates retaking the bar exam as needed; maintains familiarity with bar admissions requirements and issues and trends in bar exam administration.

20%

Provides formal instruction (such as at orientations, lunchtime presentations, and recorded webinars). Oversees the College’s support program for academic excellence. This includes assessing the programs to ensure they are adapted over time to student needs, licensure demands, and the contours of the changing profession, shares resources, and provides individual academic counseling; prepares and ensures adherence to the annual college budget for bar preparation and academic support related activities.

20%

Teaches other courses as required

10%

Works closely and collaboratively with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Assistant Dean for Students to identify students in need of academic support and other resources; designs additional academic support programming to occur throughout the academic year, including the possibility of credit-bearing courses; may teach additional courses.

Location:Drinko Hall (0049)Position Type:RegularScheduled Hours:40Shift:First Shift

The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.