Volunteer Questions

All full- and part-time University of Mississippi students, postdoctoral appointees, faculty and staff who will be on campus for the fall 2008 semester are eligible to apply.

Volunteers will be selected based on the quality of their volunteer application and interest level. All volunteers may be required to pass a background check. Also, please be advised that volunteering will not be a means to obtain a ticket to the live debate.

Note: Debate-related activities and events are being coordinated during the week of the debate for UM Alumni, UM retired faculty and staff, and members of the Oxford/Lafayette Community. Check the Web site for more information as it becomes available.

At the moment, we anticipate the need for 250-350 volunteers on campus. Additional opportunities may exist off campus, specifically with alumni and other outreach type events.

Due to the significant number of applications that we have received and the limited number of volunteer opportunities available, we will no longer be accepting volunteer applications.

Individuals that submitted a volunteer application will be notified if they are chosen to serve as a volunteer by September 5. Applicants may be notified before September 5 based on when their applications were received.
 

Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas to provide administrative and technical support during the fall semester as well as the week of the debate.

• Pre-Debate Activities
  Various debate-related activities will occur on the Oxford campus leading up to the debate. We will need volunteers to serve in a range of roles at each of these events. In addition, we will need volunteers to serve on various planning committees to prepare for these activities.
• Hospitality/Outreach
  Volunteers with a background or interest in hospitality, event planning, and community outreach will be needed as the university prepares to welcome debate guests from around the world.
• Debate Week/Debate Festival Activities
  Volunteer opportunities will be available during the week of the debate to support campus events, including the Debate Festival and various academic, student, and alumni activities. In addition, there will be a limited number of volunteer opportunities within the debate site area, including (but not limited to) opportunities to support media activities, event setup, deliveries, and field work.
• Media/Public Relations
  A limited number of volunteer opportunities will be available to support the media file center and to serve as production assistants. A limited number of student media interns will be needed to assist several of the major media outlets that will be on campus during the week of the debate.
• Voter Registration
  Volunteer opportunities will exist throughout the month of August and September to support the university in its voter registration drive.
• Volunteer Pool (As Needed)
  We will create a volunteer pool of individuals who are flexible and interested in providing support for debate-related activities on an as-needed basis during August and September.
• IT/Technical Support
  A limited number of volunteers with previous work experience in information technology and technical support will be needed to provide support within the debate site area during the week of the debate.
• Volunteer Team Leader
  Applicants with previous experience coordinating volunteers or managing large projects are encouraged to apply as a volunteer team leader. Team leaders will help lead groups of volunteers on a variety of projects across campus.

A limited number of volunteer activities will be available within the debate site (credentialed area). Volunteer applicants should not anticipate working within the debate site area. Again, please be advised that volunteering will not be a means to obtain a ticket to the live debate.

Student volunteers can still be a part of the ticket lottery. If a student volunteer is chosen to receive a ticket to the debate, he/she should notify his/her volunteer team leader immediately.

Regardless of whether or not you're chosen to be a volunteer, we hope that you will be part of this momentous event by participating in the various debate-related activities that will be available on campus throughout the summer and fall leading up to the day of the debate. Debate activities and events will be updated on the Calendar of Events, so please be sure to check the Web site frequently.

Please contact your volunteer team leader immediately.

If you still have questions, please e-mail debate-volunteer@olemiss.edu. We will do our best to respond to you in a timely manner.