Position Available in Arts Education

January 7, 2003

Job Title:Director of Digital Media
School:Columbia University, School of the Arts,
Reports To:The Dean

l. Basic Function:

As Director of Digital Media, and reporting to the Dean, the incumbent will define and implement the digital media vision of the School of the Arts. Responsibilities include strategic planning to incorporate digital media use across disciplines of the School of the Arts, developing curriculum and budgets, teaching for-credit classes in digital media, and day-to-day supervision of the School's Digital Media Center. The Director will also develop a close working relationship with the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning to develop interdisciplinary projects and to seek opportunities for special funding for innovative efforts.


ll. Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership (75\%)

Directs the Digital Media Center's current computer and production facilities and training programs, which serve over 500 graduate and undergraduate students and which include five labs and a significant amount of production equipment and installation systems; supervises professional staff, currently two Digital Coordinators and extensive student staff.

Develops long-term strategic plans for integration of digital technologies into the School's programs of study: with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, develops and implements the School of the Arts digital curriculum including development of the new inter-arts curriculum; recruits adjunct faculty to teach digital media classes; advises division chairs and faculty on the use of new digital technologies in teaching their classes; plans for the possibility of a new Division of Digital Media; assists architects who are planning the program for future digital media facilities in a new building on 125th Street .

Works closely with the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning to develop interdisciplinary projects and partnerships and to coordinate mutual facility development for ease of collaboration

Acts as a resource and sounding board to the Dean and faculty in digital technology discussions at the School; helps individuals to anticipate, identify and frame issues so that intelligent and timely decisions may be made; is available on short notice to brief Dean and Chairs, to meet visitors, and to attend meetings.

Instruction (25\%)

Develops programs of instruction, writes course guides and training materials, and trains teachers; teaches for-credit workshops and lectures in critical skills and techniques for digital media production and in media theory and production
(total of no more than one for-credit course per semester).

lll. Supervision Received or Exercised: Supervision by the Dean. Supervises two professional staff and several student Departmental Research Assistants, Fellows, Teaching Assistants, and work-study staff.

lV. Responsibility for Budget: Management of annual operating budget of approximately $300,000.

V. Minimum Qualifications: BA or equivalent experience required; related graduate course work preferred. Minimum of five years related experience required. Instructional experience required; background in media theory preferred. Extensive background in professional computer-media production, and a comprehensive related knowledge of computer media systems, required. Previous related strategic planning and management experience required, preferably in an academic environment. Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and written and oral communication skills required. Demonstrated ability to work independently on multiple concurrent projects required.