Pre-College Counselors on the job

Employment and Volunteer Opportunities

Join the Office of Pre-College Programs!

The Office of Pre-College Programs offers many opportunities for educators and Ole Miss students to get involved through our K-12 summer programs, events, and competitions. We offer an array of academic enrichment programs emphasizing informal, student-centered learning environments.

We are seeking professional educators and Ole Miss undergraduate and graduate students for both summer and academic-year programs.

Application Deadlines:

  • All Summer Staff: February 29, 2024 at 5 p.m. 
  • Competition Corp Student Member: August 30, 2024

Why Join Us?

  • Make a positive impact on young learners.
    Our mission is to empower K-12 students to explore, learn, and grow through enriching summer and academic programs.
  • Gain valuable skills and training.
    We set our team members up to be well-prepared for future careers. All positions come with required training and skill development that can be used across various careers. 
  • Represent the Ole Miss community.
    Our Pre-College staff act as role models committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of young people visiting our campus. We are proud of our highly motivated staff and their impact.
  • Earn and learn.
    For Ole Miss students looking for summer jobs, all summer positions provide a stipend, a scholarship for 6 credit hours during the summer, and some positions provide on-campus housing. Learn more about each program’s compensation below.

Start Application

Participants Lott Institute building

Summer Employment Opportunities

Hear 2023 Summer Staff members share about their experiences and what it takes to be a strong staff member with Pre-College.

Summer Employment Opportunities

Openings for Professional Educators and Teachers

Job Description: Rebel Quest is an educational day camp where elementary students learn new ideas, deepen existing skills, and enjoy periods of both structured and unstructured activities each day. Rebel Quest teachers plan and implement lessons based on weekly themes and then lead a group of students through engaging learning experiences. 

Eligibility:

  • Certified educator with Elementary Ed or Special Ed endorsement(s).
  • A minimum of 2 years of experience in front of a class

Skill set desirable: Excellent classroom management skills, willingness to be creative in designing learning experiences, and a strong commitment to responsibly monitoring students in open, public campus environments.

How to Apply: Certified educators wishing to work part-time with the Office of Pre-College Programs should inquire with us directly at precollege@olemiss.edu.

Openings for UM Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Pre-College Programs offer many summer employment opportunities for Ole Miss graduate and undergraduate students seeking to work with students across K-12.

After submitting a summer staff application, we will better understand your grade level and program preferences through your interview and match you with a best-fit program.

All graduate and undergraduate summer positions have these minimum requirements for eligibility:

  • Be a University of Mississippi student in good standing
  • Have a clear background check
  • Have a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Must attend scheduled training sessions

Elementary

Job Description: Function as a teacher assistant for K-6 programs offered by the Office of Pre-College Programs. Supervise students inside and outside the classroom. Support logistical plans and transport students. Help in classroom set-up and cleanup. Students are required to work a daily, 5-hour work shift (morning or afternoon) from Monday through Friday during the weeks the programs are offered. Summer programs typically run for 7 weeks beginning in May and ending in August.

Note: Ecology Day Camp is located off campus at the UM Field Station in Abbeville, MS. Students who serve as counselors for this program must provide their own transportation.

Eligibility:

  • Be of full-time status at the University of Mississippi
  • Have a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Have a proven record of good stewardship, personal initiative, dependability, and positive attitude as demonstrated in resume, application, and references
  • Have the respect of peers, teachers/faculty, and employers as demonstrated by references

Desirable skill set:

  • Enjoys working with children
  • Enjoys being outside in summer
  • Situational awareness
  • Strong work ethic

Compensation: Students will receive a stipend plus a scholarship that covers three (3) hours of credit during both the June and July sessions worked, for a total of 6 credit hours in scholarships.

Middle and High School

Job Description: This position is open to our credit programs. Team Managers will lead and support Student Life Coordinators, Student Community Leaders, and program participants, including assisting in the design and delivery of some training sessions for summer staff. They will schedule summer staff, monitor job performance, and assist instructors and staff as needed. They will also provide supervision and address disciplinary issues with summer staff and participants when necessary. Other additional duties may also be assigned as needed.

Team Managers must live on campus and sleep in the residence hall when on duty. Summer programs typically run for 9 weeks beginning in May and ending July.

Eligibility:

  • Be a graduate student in the Graduate School or other post-graduate professional program at the University of Mississippi
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Clear a background check

Desirable skill set:

  • Strong organizational skills
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience leading a team, motivating others, and resolving conflicts
  • Strong ethical principles and a commitment to compliance with institutional policy

Compensation:

  • A scholarship that covers three (3) hours of credit during both the June and July sessions worked, for a total of 6 credit hours of scholarships.
  • Stipend
  • Housing in on-campus residences, shared with program participants
  • Campus meal plan

Job Description: This position will help design, plan, and implement academic, social, and cultural events in collaboration with Pre-College Programs staff and other departments on campus. They will also coordinate with Community Leaders to execute summer events for program participants and Office Logistics Support staff regarding program needs. This position will require making purchases with university purchasing cards and driving institutional vehicles, both 12-passenger vans and golf carts.

Student Life Coordinators must live on campus and sleep in the residence hall when on duty. Summer programs typically run for 9 weeks beginning in May and ending July.

Eligibility:

  • Have a valid driver’s license

Desirable skill set:

  • Experience in event planning
  • Some experience in managing a budget
  • Highly reliable
  • Strong people skills
  • Self-awareness and emotional savvy

Compensation

  • A scholarship that covers three (3) hours of credit during both the June and July sessions worked, for a total of 6 credit hours of scholarships
  • Stipend
  • Housing in on-campus residences, shared with program participants (for residential programs only)
  • Campus meal plan

Job Description: This position supports weekly and monthly programs’ pre-arrival, check-in, check-out, and post-departure logistics. Community Leaders will supervise high school students’ well-being while living in on-campus residences during the day and overnight. They will also serve as mentors and academic coaches for program participants and occasionally transport students to off-campus activities when necessary. Community Leaders work closely with Student Life Coordinators to plan and implement week and weekend recreational, cultural, academic, and sports activities and enforce program rules and regulations. All student employees serve as ambassadors for the University of Mississippi. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Community Leaders must live on campus and sleep in the residence hall when on duty. Summer programs typically run for 9 weeks beginning in May and ending July.

Eligibility:

  • No prior employment with UM is required, but our office will check for any prior employment history with the university. Supervisors from all previous employment will be contacted for references before interviews.

Desirable skill set:

  • Some mentoring, housing, or other leadership experience
  • Great communication skills
  • Strong people skills
  • Self-awareness and emotional savvy

Compensation:

  • A scholarship that covers three (3) hours of credit during both the June and July sessions worked, for a total of 6 credit hours of scholarships
  • Stipend
  • Housing in on-campus residences, shared with program participants (for residential programs only)
  • Campus meal plan

Incoming Freshman Programs

Job Description: Plan weekly academic and social activities for recently admitted undergraduate students. Serve as support and guidance for incoming freshmen. Provide support to weekend activities and some planned and/or special events for other high school programs. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Eligibility:

  • Be a graduate student in the Graduate School or other postgraduate professional program at the University of Mississippi
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Clear a background check

Desirable skill set:

  • Some mentoring, housing, or other leadership experience
  • Great communication skills
  • Strong people skills
  • Commitment to creating inclusive social spaces for entering freshmen

Compensation:

  • A scholarship that covers three (3) hours of credit during both the June and July sessions worked, for a total of 6 credit hours of scholarships.
  • Stipend
  • Campus meal plan

Job Description: Some JumpStart Peer Leaders live with high school students participating in our K-12 programs, providing evening and weekend supervision for that program. Other Peer Leaders will focus exclusively on JumpStart activities and students. Please review both options below.

Residential JumpStart Peer Leaders: This position supports JumpStart incoming freshmen through attendance at group workshops, facilitating of group discussions, planning social events, and conducting individual check-in meetings with their assigned students. This position also supports weekly and monthly high school programs’ pre-arrival, check-in, check-out, and post-departure logistics; supervises high school students’ well-being while living in on-campus residences overnight and on weekends. These leaders occasionally transport students to off-campus activities when necessary and enforce program rules and regulations. All student employees serve as ambassadors for the University of Mississippi. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.

Peer Leaders must live on campus and sleep in the residence hall when on duty. Summer programs typically run for 9 weeks beginning in May and ending in July.

Compensation:

  • A scholarship that covers three (3) hours of credit during both the June and July sessions worked, for a total of 6 credit hours of scholarships
  • Stipend
  • Housing in on-campus residences shared with program participants (for residential programs only)
  • Campus meal plan

Non-Residential Peer Leader: This position supports JumpStart incoming freshmen through attendance at group workshops, facilitating of group discussions, planning social events, and conducting individual check-in meetings with their assigned students. This position typically works about 10 hours/week, compared to the residential position which is 25 hours/week.

Eligibility

  • No prior employment with UM is required, but our office will check for any prior employment history with the university. Supervisors from all previous employment will be contacted for references before interviews.

Desirable skill set:

  • Great communication skills
  • Strong people skills
  • Commitment to creating inclusive social spaces for entering freshmen

Compensation:

  • A scholarship that covers three (3) hours of credit during both the June and July sessions worked, for a total of 6 credit hours of scholarships
  • Hourly wage

General

Job Description: Assists with and supports the logistics of all summer programs. Coordinates with the lead teacher (elementary), student life coordinators (middle/high school), and Pre-College Programs staff to ensure program needs are met. Example of duties may include driving 12-passenger university vans for field trips, purchasing supplies from local vendors, setting up catering and/or equipment for special events, maintaining inventory of equipment and supplies, etc. Position also requires occasional supervision of minors to substitute for other summer part-time staff in case of an emergency.

Eligibility:

  • Have a valid US driver’s license
  • Be willing to drive university vehicles (from golf carts to 12-passenger vans)

Desirable skill set: 

  • Organizational and communication skills
  • Detail-oriented
  • Ability to problem-solve
  • Team player

Compensation:

  • Hourly wage, up to 25 hours per week (20 hours for international students)
  • Scholarships for up to 6 credit hours of summer tuition (including non-resident fees)

Academic Year Employment Opportunities

Openings for Professional Educators and Teachers

The Office of Pre-College Programs houses an online high school which provides year-round asynchronous instruction.

Certified educators wishing to work part-time with the Office of Pre-College Programs should inquire about open positions by contacting us at precollege@olemiss.edu.

Openings for Ole Miss Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Job Description: This position intended for a graduate assistant coordinates and leads the Competition Corps volunteer team and assists the Competition and Conferences Coordinator with duties and responsibilities related to the planning and execution of various K-12 academic competitions, conferences, and events. This position is expected to work in the Office of Pre-College Programs and assist with daily administrative tasks (answering emails and phones, running errands, etc.).

Eligibility:

  • Be a graduate student in the Graduate School or other post-graduate professional school at the University of Mississippi
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Preference given to candidates in 2+ year graduate programs

Desirable skill set: An ideal candidate would possess high-level leadership, communication (written and verbal), and organization skills. A top candidate should be detail-oriented, have experience managing a team, and be a strong problem-solver.

Employment dates: Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters.

Skills acquired in this position: The candidate should expect to build upon the desired skills listed above plus learn and gain professional knowledge and skills in office and event settings. Employees are given opportunities for professional development in building administrative and technical skill sets.

Compensation: The selected student will receive a tuition waiver for each semester worked as well as a stipend. Hourly wages will also be paid for work done in addition to the required 20 hours per week each semester.

Job Description: Assist in the preparation, setup, takedown, and event logistics of competitions and conferences hosted by the Office of Pre-College Programs throughout the academic year. Students are required to assist in a minimum of ten (10) events per academic year. Time requirements will vary by event and will include some weekend and evening requests. Duties may include pre-event and post-event preparation as well as training.

Eligibility:

  • Be a University of Mississippi student in good standing

Desirable skill set:

  • Friendly, customer-oriented demeanor
  • Consistent situational awareness
  • Punctuality and professional self-presentation
  • Experience as a participant or volunteer with competitions

Compensation:

  • 3-credit-hour tuition scholarship. Redeemable during the academic year of service and applied toward one of the following sessions: Winter Intersession, Spring Semester, May Intersession, First Summer, Second Summer, or August Intersession. Must be redeemed within the academic year of service.
  • Promotional items and meals provided during assigned events.

How to Apply:

The Process (For Ole Miss Students)

Camp counselor with students during rebel quest

Application

The online application will require the following documents, so we recommend you have them ready when you start your application:

  • Resume 
  • Unofficial transcript 
  • Letter of intent 
  • Three References (name, email address, and phone number).

References

Following your application submission, your recommenders will receive an automatic email requesting information about you. We encourage you to communicate in advance with them and to have this information ready.

Interview

Schedule your interview using the link provided in the automatic email you receive after submitting your application. Through this process we’ll learn more about you, your interests, and program preferences. We will match you with a program that is a best-fit and aligns with your interests.

Training Calendar

Training will occur during spring semester and include an intensive session in May prior to the start of summer session. All training sessions are mandatory in order to maintain your position. 

2024 Summer Program Training Schedule

Mandatory Spring training for all programs: 

  • March 19
  • April 3
  • April 19 (all day)
  • April 21

Mandatory intensive training:

Starts May 20 (dates vary depending on program. Applicants will receive a calendar of training once they are offered a position). 

Employment Calendar

Expected work commitment:

Summer program dates vary by program, but will fall within May 27-July 26. 

Be part of a team that makes a difference. Apply now:

Start Application