BCLS Ranked Third "Most Wired" by National Jurist
3/27/01--Boston College Law School was ranked third on the recent survey of "Most Wired" law schools, released by National Jurist Magazine last week.
The survey, which takes into account full wireless networking, available data ports for students, usage of technology in the classroom, computer hardware and access, career placement resources, and other elements, attempts to rank the leaders of the most innovative technology programs across the country. Only the law schools at Nova Southeastern University and Duke University were ranked higher than Boston College.
"The use of technology to improve the educational process is one of our top priorities," said BCLS Dean John H. Garvey. "Law schools need to continually improve their legal research facilities and classroom teaching, and new technology is an important part of that process. Our new buildings are pretty sophisticated in that regard. We have tried very hard to consider both the current and future needs of our faculty and students in their design."
Law schools across the country are trying to stay up to date in the swiftly advancing world of technology. In the competitive world of legal education, technological advances can make or break the reputation of any school. In the National JuristÂ’s latest survey, over 100 law schools responded, showing the wide range of how technically equipped some schools can be and are. The most wired schools have full wireless networking, the latest technology available.
New technology goes hand in hand with a schoolÂ’s expansion. And Boston College is no exception. The BCLS building program began in 1996 with the $16.4 million law library and its state-of-the art completely wireless computer center. When the law school opened its new $12.5 million academic building two years ago, it came equipped with seats in its five classrooms completely wired for data transmission and electrical power. The wiring also allows students to plug in their laptops at their seats and gain access to web-based legal tools on demand. In addition, professors are able to project images from their computers on screens at the front of each classroom.
BCLS has moved up 2 spots from the National Jurist's 1998 survey, again showing the school's commitment to technological superiority. BCLS received an overall 3.47 "GPA" in the current survey. Student use and wireless network access placed Boston College ahead of its competitors and into the top three. Boston College Law School received a 4.0 from the magazine's editors on network access, a 4.0 on student use, a 3.5 on computers in class and a 3.5 on career placement resources.
Click below to see the National Jurist's chart for a breakdown of the rankings and criteria: http://www.nationaljurist.com/0103/wired_chart.html For the full article from National Jurist, click below: http://www.nationaljurist.com/0103/hot.html