Career Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities with Penn State University Police and Public Safety (UPPS).

UPPS operates under a centralized model which includes 22 campus locations across the Commonwealth. Please visit the Penn State Jobs website for all vacancies, including those for sworn police officers. UPPS is comprised of an outstanding team of sworn and un-sworn professionals who provide excellent service to the faculty, staff, students, and visitors at our campuses.

Learn more about UPPS here: University Police and Public Safety Brochure (PDF)

Non-Sworn Opportunities

Non-sworn opportunities for positions such as armed public safety officers, physical security specialists, emergency management specialists, compliance and records staff, police dispatch, and other civilian positions, when available, are posted on the Penn State Jobs website. Hiring processes typically consist of phone screens and interviews. 

Police Academy Cadet Sponsorships

UPPS often provides police academy sponsorship opportunities for individuals interested in a career in law enforcement. The department sponsors individuals to attend a Municipal Police Academy/Act 120 training. While attending, the cadet is a Penn State employee receiving a housing stipend, full-time salary, and benefits. After graduation, individuals are placed as full-time sworn police officers at the University Park Campus, where they will partner with Field Training Officers during a training period to learn campus and department protocols.

Policing on university campuses provides for a rewarding career supporting students and the university through a community-policing model. Watch the Penn State Jobs website and University Police's social media accounts for this exciting opportunity.

Police Officer Hiring Process

Note: All sworn police officer positions can be found under the keywords: “police officer.” We use one posting for all of UPPS's 22 campuses.

The police officer hiring process consists of a B-PAD scenario-based computerized evaluation, interview, background investigation, physical examination and psychological evaluation at the University Park Campus, and an interview at the campus where you would be stationed. Full details of requirements are outlined in the job posting.

The hiring process can take approximately six months or longer to complete. Please include an up-to-date resume and cover letter as part of your application. Candidates must be currently Act 120 certified, currently enrolled in a Pennsylvania MPOETC Act 120 police academy, or have the ability to obtain Pennsylvania MPOETC Act 120 certification during the hiring process (this applies to out-of-state waiter and reinstatement applicants). Please indicate on your application materials your status regarding Act 120 certification.

Police Officer Hiring Reference Guide

****NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!****

Start your application at: Penn State Jobs

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

FINANCE AND BUSINESS DIVERSITY STATEMENT

University Police and Public Safety is a unit within the University's Finance and Business division.

"We affirm our personal commitment to the University’s values of dignity and respect for all individuals. We believe that the diverse backgrounds and personal characteristics of employees bring varied perspectives and experiences that enrich the environment of the Finance & Business workplaces. Since a diverse workplace is critical to this organization’s ongoing success, we have emphasized diversity and inclusion in our strategic plan and we are committed to ensuring that it will be a part of our everyday business.

We expect the work culture within Finance & Business to be free of negativity and prejudice and we expect everyone to be able to come to work and not worry about being harassed or demeaned. We also expect that all employees will interact with all members of the University community in a professional and respectful manner regardless of their own personal beliefs or backgrounds. We will strive to have a workplace and community that are comfortable, safe and welcoming for everyone.

We encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses intolerance to come forward without fear of retaliation. We recognize that building a diverse and inclusive organization is a continuing process that requires commitment, focused effort and the attention of us all. We will achieve this if we all do our part to ensure that we treat the people around us with kindness, respect and dignity."