Language Computing Consultant

Department:	Arts Multi-Media Language Laboratory	Effective Date:	June, 2008
Grade:	USG 9	Reports to:	Associate Dean of Arts

General Accountability

The Language Computing Consultant is accountable to the Associate Dean of Arts, Computing, for the technical management and day-to-day operation of the Multi-Media Language Laboratory facilities within the Faculty of Arts, and for the provision of technical computing services and support to faculty, staff and student users in the Modern Languages Building. The Language Computing Consultant must work closely with the Manager and staff of the Arts Computing Office (ACO) to provide the Faculty of Arts with effective computing services and support. The Language Computing Consultant is also responsible for interactions with vendors who provide computing hardware, software and services specific to language laboratory applications.

Nature and Scope

The Language Computing Consultant has general responsibility for the technical management and day-to-day operation of the Language Laboratory facilities of the Faculty of Arts. These facilities currently consist of three laboratories: two computer-based multi-media teaching and language laboratories (ML 109 and ML 113) and a smaller independent study lab with computers, tape recorders and other audio-visual equipment (ML 110). The workstations in ML 109 and ML 113 operate on the Nexus Domain using Windows XP. The Language Computing Consultant also has general responsibility for the Faculty of Arts’ multimedia classroom studio (ML 117)

The Language Computing Consultant has responsibility for the hiring, training, scheduling and monitoring of student Language Laboratory supervisors and assistants each academic term. The hiring of student lab supervisors and assistants is done in consultation with the language departments. The incumbent liaises with professors teaching the in-class portion of language courses to help ensure proper coordination between the lab and in-class portions of these courses.

The Language Computing Consultant must maintain a detailed knowledge of current and evolving computing technologies in language instruction. In addition, the incumbent must maintain a broad knowledge of current technology and practices in information systems and technology. Areas of technical responsibility will evolve to keep pace with changes in technology and the needs of the Faculty. He/she must be familiar with, comply with and promote the University and Faculty of Arts policies, practices and procedures related to information systems and technology.

Statistical Data

The staff of the Multi-Media Language Laboratory consists of the Language Computing Consultant and approximately seven student lab supervisors and 15 to 20 student lab assistants in the Fall and Winter terms; the numbers are considerably smaller during the Spring term. During the Fall and Winter terms the two Language labs (ML 109 and 113) are booked for courses for a total of more than 70 hours per week. During the Spring term the ML 113 lab is booked for the ACE (Arts Computing Experience) camp. The budget managed by the Language Computing Consultant to pay the lab supervisors and assistants, and for other expenses, currently exceeds $36,000.

Specific Accountabilities

Provide technical management and oversee day-to-day operation to assure the smooth functioning of the Multi-Media Language Laboratory facilities in the Faculty of Arts. Work with University staff and vendors to maintain operations for laboratory facilities and services to faculty, staff and student users within the Modern Languages Building.
Hire (in consultation with faculty members from the language departments), provide job training for, schedule working hours for, and monitor and evaluate the job performance of student lab supervisors (approximately seven in total) and student lab assistants (approximately 15 to 20 students) who provide user support within laboratory facilities during each of the three academic terms.
Work with an established budget for the Multi-Media Language Laboratory facilities, including the purchase of language teaching-related media, replacement and upgrading of lab equipment as required, and preparing casual earnings request forms for student lab supervisors and assistants.
Liaise with publishers to ensure that all copyright provisions are complied with for language instruction-related software installed on the workstations in the language labs.
Develop schedules for the booking and use of the language laboratory facilities.
Instruct and assist faculty, staff and students with the proper use of multi-media language laboratory computing equipment located in the Modern Languages Building.
Liaise with faculty teaching the in-class portion of language courses to help ensure proper coordination between the in-class and lab portions of these course
Support instructors using ML 117 as needed, including showing them how to operate the equipment and ensuring that they have a key card and access code, and carrying out an inventory at the end of courses. The booking of ML 117 for classes is handled elsewhere but the Language Computing Consultant needs to prioritize conflicts between courses that request to use the lab at the same times. The Language Computing Consultant also handles the booking of the lab for non-course uses.
Provide technical computing services and support to faculty and staff in academic departments in the Modern Languages Building, including Departments of Germanic and Slavic Languages, French Studies, Spanish and Latin American Studies, Classical Studies, and Drama and Speech Communication, in cooperation with the staff of the Arts Computing Office
Develop training programs, seminars, and documentation for operational procedures as required for language instruction software operating on the network.
Participate on relevant faculty- and university-level committees as representative of the Arts Multi-Media Language Laboratory. This would include membership on the Language Lab Advisory Committee within the Faculty of Arts.
Communicate with the manager and staff of the Arts Computing Office (ACO), computing staff from IST and other departments/faculties, and interact with vendors and other external organizations.
Work irregular hours as necessary to deploy new technology and maintain existing systems.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Arts, Computing.