The University Police Department provides safety services for the Anchorage campus and residential halls. Made up of sworn officers, a chief, sergeants, dispatchers, non-sworn security, civilian records professionals, and student workers, we show up every day to help students accomplish their educational goals in peace and safety. Emergency dispatchers gather, correlate, prioritize and analyze all pertinent information regarding emergency and non-emergency situations, in order to establish proper UPD response/procedure and requirements. They solve complex problems daily using established guidelines and procedures in order to provide correct safety, security and services for the general public and police officers.
Dispatchers often make technical decisions without referral to higher supervision due to the immediacy of the situations at hand- for instance, when to make a call out (home phone) to supervisors, the Chief, Lieutenants, Dean of Students, Chancellors' personnel and the CRT group. Decide whether a Building Manager needs to be contacted, etc.
Due to the increasing domestic, terrorism and more volatile situations that have risen world-wide, dispatchers are continuously taught/updated on how to handle individual situations. For example: bomb threats, terroristic threats, sexual assaults, etc. Dispatch must be able to recognize any/all threats/situations (telephonically) involving the UAA community and surrounding areas and know the proper response, responders and contacts for each situation.
The UAA community has identified four core competencies at the heart of quality at UAA. These qualities are core to everything we do:
- Effective Communication - The knowledge and skills necessary to engage in effective communication in diverse contexts and formats, including public speaking.
- Creative and critical thinking - The knowledge and skills necessary for the critical exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events in order to creatively design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer complex questions or achieve a desired goal.
- Intercultural Fluency - The knowledge and skills necessary to promote effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts, particularly in terms of the diverse populations of Alaska.
- Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility - The knowledge and skills necessary to promote personal flourishing, professional excellence, and community engagement.
Work is performed under supervision while a trainee. Monitor and respond to phone lines and radio traffic for personnel (e.g. police, parking services, shuttle bus driver, facilities services personnel, and sports center personnel). Gather information and evaluate situations to determine course of action and to dispatch appropriate resources. Utilize state and federal specialized computer systems to access information on basic person information, vehicle information, criminal history and case involvement. Monitor, coordinate and dispatch or contact appropriate responders to incidents. Process police reports, maintain call logs, and enter data into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Dispatch after hours calls for facilities services. Issue Emergency notifications (RAVE) Requires appropriate security clearance and certifications or the ability to obtain security clearance within 30 days of hire and certifications after training period.
No experience necessary. Emergency services dispatching experiencing is preferred.
Ability to receive, interpret, respond to and process information and radio logs, completely and accurately. Ability to evaluate and prioritize all information data in regular and emergency situations and make well-informed analytical and rational decisions regarding the safety and security of: the general public, department personnel, UAA staff, faculty, students and UAA property. Ability to make independent decisions and perform more than one job task simultaneously. Work is performed under intermittent supervision.
Excellent problem solving, mental recall and written and oral communication skills. Ability to maintain accurate, legible and coherent dispatch logs. Ability to remain calm and properly dispatch and coordinate responses. Knowledge of dispatch regulations/manual and procedures. Ability to give directions and addresses telephonically to student, faculty, staff and other pertinent agencies. Ability to receive and process confidential information for dissemination.
Ability to use multi-line telephone systems using proper public and telephone etiquette related to handling police and emergency situations and UAA services. Knowledge of police radio procedures including knowledge of Alpha Codes and Ten Codes (officer response).
Ability to work with and learn UAA’s CCTV system.
Demonstrated ability to use a computer as well as Law Enforcement World Wide Communications Networks. Must be able to type accurately at 35 words per minute. General office skills.
Knowledge of APSIN, National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and The National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) regulations and policies. Data entry skills to enter data and maintain stolen/found property to APSIN, as well as update data on Basic Person records.
Knowledge of local, state and federal agency jurisdictions and responsibilities. Knowledge of local, state and University policies and procedures including Alaska State Statutes.
Ability to respond to work (depending on availability) when coverage is needed to replace the current on duty dispatcher should they call in ill, or they are on scheduled annual leave. UPD must have a dispatcher on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Must possess or train to receive:
- APSIN/NCIC/NLETS certification
- UA Banner system access
- Police/Emergency Dispatcher
- Knowledge of/training in Alaska State Statutes and UPD/UAA Policies, procedures
- Verbal communications using law enforcement terminology
Minimum Qualifications:
Must be at least 18 years of age and have no criminal history. High school graduation or GED, six months relevant dispatching or customer service experience preferred, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Requires appropriate security clearance and certifications or the ability to obtain security clearance within 30 days of hire and certifications after training period.
Six months of computer skills: to enter and extract data from various types of computer programs, such as the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN), law enforcement Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems, alarm systems and various data entry and spreadsheet programs.
Experience which demonstrates ability to communicate effectively in person and speak clearly and coherently on a public radio network. Experience with heavy public contact and communication. Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) experience.
Position Details:
This is a full-time, non-exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 77, based on education and experience.
We review applications on a rolling basis. Because we may close the posting once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is established, we encourage early submission. Please note that once a viable pool is identified, further applications may not be reviewed.
To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.
- ️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Chief Jeff Earle, University Police Department at [email protected].
All applicants must complete pre-employment testing with Public Safety Testing (https://www.publicsafetytesting.com/ ) and receive a passing score prior to being scheduled for an interview. All background materials need to be submitted as well.
- To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.
As a condition of employment, the final candidate must submit a UAA-UPD F3 Nonsworn Applicant Personal History Statement, successfully pass a criminal background check, and obtain a FBI & Alaska Department of Public Safety CJIS Security Clearance. You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National and provide this confirmation in your resume or cover letter.
The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at [email protected].
The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution. The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.
The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.
Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.
All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.
- Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.
Access to the reports is available at:
UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or [email protected] / 907-786-1214 or [email protected].
UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or [email protected].
UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing [email protected].
