Communications Officer

The University of Mississippi — fondly referred to as Ole Miss —stands as a premier public research institution with a proud legacy of academic distinction. We are devoted to nurturing a vibrant, inclusive community where every member — student, faculty, and staff — can achieve their fullest potential.

Join the Ole Miss Family — Build Your Legacy Here!

Receives and transmits emergency and non-emergency calls for service, monitors security and emergency systems, and coordinates emergency response.

We are the “Flagship” University for the state of Mississippi with enrollment of over 27,000 for 2024 and climbing annually. The University employs over 15,000 faculty and staff across its campuses. We have earned a spot on The Chronicle of Higher Education’s national “Great Colleges to Work For” list for 15 years! The factors considered include among others: employee well-being, competitiveness of policies and benefits, confidence in leadership, diversity and inclusion, professional development, and job satisfaction.

• Responds to emergency and non-emergency calls for service and dispatches personnel, including campus security officers, police officers, and emergency responders, as needed.
• Monitors security and emergency systems, including cameras and alarm systems, to ensure the safety and security of campus.
• Provides guidance and assistance to callers, including information about campus policies, procedures, and resources.
• Monitors multiple calls and incidents simultaneously, maintaining awareness of status and prioritizing responses based on the nature and severity of the situation.
• Provides accurate and timely information to responding personnel, including location, nature of the incident, and any special circumstances.
• Maintains accurate records of all calls and incidents, including actions taken and outcomes.

The University of Mississippi Police Department is a state-accredited law enforcement agency operating on the Oxford campus. We continue to create additional positions to accommodate university growth.

Communications Officers are not Police Officers but are known by many other names:
Dispatcher, Call-taker, Telecommunicator, or First Responder.

The position is open 24 hours a day year-round and works 8-hour shifts five days a week with set off days. The currently available shift is 3PM - 11PM Thursday through Monday; days off will be Tuesday and Wednesday. Weekends/Holidays may be required based on seniority and staffing. Occasional overtime may be offered or required based on department needs. We work alongside others in an office-type environment.

Everything we do revolves around technology. It is essential to possess intermediate computer skills at minimum.

• Answer, direct, and make both emergency and non-emergency phone calls.
• Operate multi-channel handheld and console radios.
• Dispatch University Police Officers to calls for service.
• Become familiar with department policies and procedures.
• Maintain the highest level of personal and professional ethics.
• Maintain strict confidentiality.
• Follow after-hours notification procedures.
• Coordinate multi-agency incident response:
  Oxford Police, Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford Fire, Baptist EMS, etc.
• Complete initial training as well as continuing education.
• Act as an answering point and delegate tasks to other departments such as Parking and Transportation, Facilities, Housing, Counseling, etc.
• Determine appropriate priority and complete multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Code calls and record details appropriately for proper response and reporting purposes.
• Utilize numerous databases.
• Operate advanced equipment and conduct minor troubleshooting as needed.
• Monitor campus-wide camera systems.
• Monitor campus-wide alarm systems.
• Facilitate a positive relationship between UPD and the community.
• Maintain composure during times of crisis.
• Assign responding units as necessary.
• Facilitate emergency translation services.
• Monitor weather conditions and relay information for campus safety.
• Provide communications for special events such as athletic, Greek, Commencement, entertainment, and…