Speaking Center
Helping students speak with confidence and clarity
Sharpening Voices, Shaping Leaders
The University of Mississippi Speaking Center offers free public speaking consultation services for UM students. Our highly trained peer consultants work alongside UM students on projects in all disciplines. We provide free access to one-on-one consultations, group workshops, and other speech communication-focused resources. Our services are delivered face-to-face and online. We cultivate individualized strategies with UM students to help them become independent, effective, and confident speakers.
Our Mission, Vision & Values
We exist to promote the practice of effective oral communication within the University of Mississippi community.
The Speaking Center is a University of Mississippi General Education Initiative to advance the oral communication competency of all students brought to you by the Department of Writing and Rhetoric.
We strive to inform, influence, and inspire.
Enabling communication confidence is central to our every endeavor. We strive to create increased awareness of communication principles, as well as develop capable communicators. We believe communication is integral to building connections with others, and through effective oral communication we flourish personally, professionally, and publicly.
History
Responding to a need at The University of Mississippi for more support of speech communication classes, a committee of instructors in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric began exploring the feasibility of a Speaking Center. One year later, the committee’s work was recognized as a goal in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric’s 2018-2022 strategic plan. The Speaking Center now works in tandem with the Writing Center to promote strong communication skills on our campus.
We're Here To Help You
Welcome to the University of Mississippi Speaking Center!
Here, we help speakers at every level, whether you're a student preparing for class, a future leader refining your message, or a scholar aiming to connect with broader audiences. Our mission is simple: to help you inform, influence and inspire (and maybe cut back on a few “ums” along the way).
We're glad you're here and look forward to helping you amplify your voice.
Elizabeth Marie Moore
Lecturer in Speech and Speaking Center Director
Join the Team
The University of Mississippi Speaking Center is now accepting applications for new Peer- Consultants to begin initial training in the Fall. Positions are available to students with or without work-study eligibility.
Peer Consultants are expected to communicate effectively in a public, interpersonal, and group communication environments, show leadership qualities, take an interest in ideas about teaching and learning, and demonstrate professionalism as members of the Speaking Center team.
Applicants:
- must enroll in SPCH 301 Responding to Communicators for Fall,
- must have strong communication skills and be interested in how people communicate,
- must have successfully completed a Public Speaking course (SPCH 102, SPCH 105 or equivalent),
- must have attended University of Mississippi for a year, and
- must be committed to working in the center for at least two semesters.
Overall and major GPAs will also be considered. Minimum 2.8 overall GPA is required. To apply, you must submit:
- a cover letter (explaining your interest in the position, describing any relevant experience, and including your student ID number so that the center director can access your records);
- a resume;
- the name of a faculty reference (indicate in your cover letter who will serve as your reference; no need for a formal letter from that person);
- and a preliminary idea of available work hours for fall.
After successful training, staff members will work in the center 2.5 -10 hours per week to meet with clients, host talks, give tours, participate in workshops and attend mandatory staff meetings. Students will also be required to attend staff development before each semester begins.
Contact Dr. Ellie Moore, Speaking Center Director, with any questions about the position: speakingcenter@olemiss.edu.
Meet the Consultants
Ray GoodwinPharmaceutical Sciences | Robert MisterElectrical Engineering | Emerson MorrisPublic Policy Leadership | Edward WilsonPublic Policy Leadership |
Policies & Consultations
Before your appointment with a speaking center consultant on any campus or online, please review the following information and policies regarding appointments
Appointments
- Collaboration: Speaking Center consultants’ will work alongside you to address important public speaking concerns, learn new skills and strategies, as well as access helpful resources, but they will not simply write your speech for you.
- Number of Reservations: Students may schedule up to 3 appointments per week and are limited to a maximum of 1 appointments per day.
- Public Speaking Tutoring Process: Consultants will assist students with any type of public speaking in any discipline and at any phase of the public speaking process, from brainstorming, to drafting, reviewing and polishing.
- File Types: Our consultants can only review files uploaded as
.doc or .docx (Microsoft Word) files. Please convert PDF’s or .pages files prior to uploading them to your reservation.
Speaking Center Values and Professional Environment
The UM Speaking Center has adopted and defined the following core values for the operation of its accreditation program.
- Accountability. We accept responsibility for our actions and decisions. We recognize that we are accountable to those whom we serve.
- We strive for high quality, efficiency and respect for all individuals working in the speaking center, students and the community.
Academic Integrity
The moral code or ethical policy of academia will be maintained at all times. Avoidance of cheating or plagiarism, maintenance of academic standards will be expected from all individuals with no exceptions.
Credit for using other people’s ideas/or contributions will be acknowledged appropriately and applied to all aspects of the teaching and learning within the speaking center.
Make An Appointment
- Click the “Schedule an Appointment” button below.
- Sign in with your UM WebID and password.
- Look for an open time slot that works for your schedule (represented by white boxes).
- Click on the time slot of your choice to open the appointment reservation form.
- Fill the form out to share information with our consultants about your goals for the session. Attach any relevant documents to the appointment reservation form.
- Online Appointments: When it is time for your scheduled appointment, return to the Appointment Schedule and click the yellow box (your appointment), then click “Start or Join Online Chat Session.”
Online Appointments
The speaking center offers two types of online appointments: Live Chat and Video Conference. These appointments are ideal for getting immediate feedback and answers to your public speaking questions. Live chat appointments are the best when conducted with a personal computer for laptop rather than a mobile device.
Live Chat
You and your consultant will be able to type messages, share drafts of your speech outlines, and make changes in real time. This type of appointment requires a consistent internet connection for the length of the appointment
Video Conference
These appointments are synchronous and ideal for getting feedback on the nonverbal (tone of voice, facial expression, hand gestures, etc.) aspects of your speech delivery.
Student Resources
Check out our collection of printable/downloadable guides to various public speaking topics and tasks.
The videos linked below can help you navigate and use our services as well as provide you with information about public speaking related topics.
- COMMpadres Media
Educational videos made for introductory college-level Communication courses, but freely available to anyone who stumbles upon them.
Click below for further information and resources.
For Faculty
Does your class include a public speaking or oral communication component this semester? Not sure where to start? Take a look at the Speaking Center’s Best Practices for Faculty guide and get in touch with us!
We would be happy to visit your class to discuss the Speaking Center. We would also gladly welcome your class to the Speaking Center for a guided tour. Please click Request a Class Visit and complete the form to request a Speaking Center orientation session in your classroom or in the Speaking Center itself.
Click below for further information and resources.
Speaking Center
The University of Mississippi Speaking Center offers free public speaking consultation services for UM students. Their highly trained peer consultants work alongside UM students on projects in all disciplines. They provide free access to one-on-one consultations, group workshops, and other speech communication-focused resources. If you need to create a presentation for a class or for a university-related activity, you can get feedback and advice from consultants in the Speaking Center. Their services are delivered face-to-face and online. Their goal is to cultivate individualized strategies with UM students to help them become independent, effective, and confident speakers.
To learn more about the Speaking Center, check out their website. Or use this link schedule an appointment for a consultation. This link will prompt you to complete a registration form before scheduling your appointment.
We recommend sharing information about the UM Writing Centers on your syllabus. Feel free to copy and paste this blurb along with the contact information for the relevant location.
The University of Mississippi Speaking Center accepts applications for new Peer Consultants on a rolling basis. Positions are available to students with or without work-study eligibility.
Peer Consultants are expected to communicate effectively in a public, interpersonal, and group communication environments, show leadership qualities, take an interest in ideas about teaching and learning, and demonstrate professionalism as members of the Speaking Center team.
Know a student who would be a great fit? Send them to our Application process above.
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Speaker's Edge
The Speaker’s Edge Competition is unlike any other speech event in the country, challenging University of Mississippi students to express ideas, knowledge, and understanding clearly and effectively. Started by UM alumni, the Speaker’s Edge Competition brings industry professionals. retirees, working alumni and students together, requiring students to adapt their messages to different audiences and different situations.
Read More About Speaker's Edge