Work With Us
As a police officer at one of the nation's preeminent public universities, you will be working in a vibrant, micro-urban community with a great variety of culture, recreation, and entertainment opportunities — suitable both for families and young professionals.
Police officers
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a large campus community of more than 60,000 students, faculty and staff members. University of Illinois Police officers also work within the communities of Champaign and Urbana, which have a total population of about 125,000.
The University of Illinois Police Department maintains high expectations of its sworn and non-sworn staff and is recognized as one of the premier university police departments in the country. Its officers boast a unique law enforcement experience as well as unique challenges, working with a diverse student and staff population and members of the Champaign-Urbana community.
UIPD takes pride in being a leader in community-based, progressive approaches toward law enforcement. The department supports its officers and encourages them to introduce creative and innovative ways to promote public safety, engage the community and be a leader on campus. UIPD is committed to the administration of law and order based on the constitutional idea of justice where every person will be treated with dignity and fairness.
The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Salary & Benefits
- $57,969 base-rate for entry-level officers
- $63,000 with estimated overtime
- Seniority step increases
Health, dental, vision, and life plans
- Employee and dependent coverage
- Flexible spending accounts
Tuition Benefits
- Employees receive a 100% tuition waiver up to 11 hours per semester to attend any state university
- Children of current employees (with 7 years of service) receive 50% tuition waivers at any state university
Paid time off
- Holidays
- Vacation
- Sick Leave
- Parental Leave
- Bereavement Leave
- Compensatory Time Leave
Retirement
- State Universities Retirement System
- Optional tax-deferred retirement plans
10-hour work day
- 3-4 days off per week
How to Join Our Team
We are currently accepting applications for new police officers.
Apply now
Please sign up for our mailing list to be notified when we are testing for new officers.
Minimum qualifications for hire
- 21 years of age
- High school graduate or GED
- No record of felony convictions
Selection process
1) Submit application and exam request at jobs.illinois.edu
2) The testing will occur in four phases, which includes:
- Computerized exam
- Physical abilities test
- Oral board interview
3) Placement on Police Officer Eligibility Register
4) Hiring Interview
5) Background Investigation
6) Medical Evaluation
7) Psychological assessment
8) Pre-employment drug screening
9) Hire
- One year probation
- Fourteen weeks of basic police training at the Police Training Institute
- Seventeen weeks with a field training officer
- Continued training and professional development
Ask a Recruiter
Our recruiting team is available to answer questions about the hiring process and career opportunities. Please contact Lt. Joe McCullough.
If you are interested in being put on the notification list for the open application, please sign up here.
Security Officers
Division of Public Safety Security Officers are hired, trained and staffed through the University of Illinois Police Department. Security officers provide security details for a variety of departments on campus, including University Housing, Campus Recreation, Campus Parking, the Illini Union and the three largest libraries.
DPS Security Officers patrol the interior and exterior of various campus facilities in the late afternoon, evening or overnight hours. On average, security officers will walk between four to six miles during a single shift. These uniformed Security Officers are extra eyes and ears for first responders. They are equipped with a police radio, so swift communications can be transmitted to responding emergency personnel.
Pay and benefits
- Wages
- Starting: $14.82/hour
- After one year: $16.59/hour
- After two years: $18.23/hour
- Lead guards: $19.18/hour
- Security supervisors: $22/hour
- Full-time, 100% appointment with full civil service benefits
Schedule
All positions are on a fixed day-off schedule (40 hours/week, with two consecutive days off). Overtime averages between 10-40 hours annually.
Training
Professional training is a priority within our department. Security Officers receive initial and refresher course training in the following areas: Radio Communication and Role-Playing Scenarios, Self-Defense and Control Tactics, CPR/First Aid Certification, Mental Health Crisis Intervention, Verbal Judo: De-Escalation Tactics, and OC Spray Certification.
How to join our team
Visit the job listing on the Illinois Human Resources website to begin the process.
Prior to employment, all new-hire candidates must pass an extensive background investigation, psychological evaluation and drug test. Interviewing, background checks, psychological evaluations and drug screens could delay the start of employment by six to eight weeks.
For further information, please contact Campus Security Coordinator Ryan Johnson at 217-244-1934 or rsjohns@illinois.edu.
Student Patrol
Student patrol is hiring! View the job posting on the Virtual Job Board for more information.
The University of Illinois Police Student Patrol is made up of students who are employed and trained by University of Illinois Police. Student Patrol officers provide an additional patrol presence during the evening and early morning hours. They carry police radios and can notify the police should they see anything suspicious. Student Patrol officers have been instrumental in preventing numerous criminal acts and apprehending offenders in crimes such as armed robbery and burglary. Student Patrol wages range from $9.62 to $11.70 per hour.
In addition, Student Patrol officers provide valuable services to both the police and the university community. These services include:
- Courtesy warnings for loud party complaints in the Champaign campus area.
- SafeWalks escorts during their operating hours.
- Extra pedestrian controls during major events such as football and basketball games, or concerts.
- Extra security details that do not require a sworn officer. These are made upon departmental request.
On school nights during the fall and spring semesters, the normal hours of operation for Student Patrol are:
9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday
9 p.m. to 3 a.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Submit your application now, or contact coordinator Ryan Johnson with questions.