Flying on campus
Can I fly a drone on the Ole Miss campus?
Not without approval from UPD (University Police and Campus Safety). Every campus flight goes through UPD's UAS Request Form, which has to be approved "prior to any UAS operations on university property." That covers students, faculty and staff as well as hired pilots; the form asks every applicant for their affiliation.
How do I get approval?
Submit the UAS Request Form to UPD. It asks for your Part 107 certificate number, the purpose of the flight, the exact location, the dates and times, the drone's model, weight and serial number, whether it's registered, and whether you'll take photos or video. Once it's approved, the operator has to carry a copy during the flight and show it to any university official who asks.
What if the flight involves Athletics?
You need a second approval. The form says any activity involving Athletics also needs Athletics' own approval, uploaded with your request. Plan on it for anything at an Athletics venue, like Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the Pavilion or Swayze Field.
How far ahead should I ask?
The university's drone policy says the request has to go in at least 48 hours before the flight. I submit campus requests at least a week ahead, and earlier when Athletics has to sign off too.
Does the rule apply at chapter houses?
If the house sits on university property, yes. Many Ole Miss chapter houses do, so I check the address and file the request with UPD before a date party, a formal or a parents weekend at the house.
Game day, the Grove and the Square
Can you fly a drone over the Grove on game day?
No. FAA rules ban drone flights within 3 nautical miles of a stadium during NCAA Division I football games, from an hour before the game until an hour after it. That circle around Vaught-Hemingway Stadium covers the Grove, all of campus and the Square, and the university's own approval rule applies on top of it.
What about days without a home game?
The stadium restriction only applies around game time. On other days the Grove and the rest of campus still need UPD's approval. The Square isn't university property and its airspace is open, but I still need a legal spot to take off and land.
Do baseball and basketball games count?
Not under the FAA's standing stadium rule, which covers Division I football but not college baseball or basketball. Swayze Field and the Pavilion are Athletics venues, though, so the UPD and Athletics approvals still apply. Check the FAA's temporary flight restrictions before any flight too, since special events and VIP visits can add others.
Is Oxford's airspace controlled?
Not at drone altitudes. FAA airspace data puts Oxford, the campus and the Square in Class G airspace up to 700 feet, so a flight under 400 feet needs no FAA airspace authorization. University-Oxford Airport has no control tower.
If you're flying it yourself
I'm a student with a drone. What rules apply to me?
If you fly purely for fun, the FAA's recreational rules apply: pass the free TRUST test, register your drone if it weighs 250 grams or more, fly no higher than 400 feet and keep it where you can see it. On campus you still need UPD's approval first.
When do I need a Part 107 certificate?
Whenever the flight isn't purely for fun: if you're paid, or if the footage is for a business. That's the FAA's Part 107 rule (14 CFR 107.12), and the university's form asks for your certificate number.
Hiring a pilot for a campus shoot
Can you handle the approvals for our shoot?
Yes. I have a working relationship with UPD and I'm authorized to fly on campus. For each shoot I file the request with UPD, get Athletics' approval when the shoot needs it, check the FAA's restrictions for the date and carry the approved form on the day. If a spot or a date can't work, I'll tell you up front.
What do you shoot on campus?
Chapter events, campus organization events and brand films for businesses that want Ole Miss in the shot, each with UPD's approval. My drone photography Q&A covers the rest of what I fly.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026. Rules change, so check the official pages before you fly.
- University of Mississippi drone page
- University of Mississippi UAS Request Form
- University of Mississippi drone policy (DSA.EM.100.001)
- FAA stadium flight restrictions
- FAA temporary flight restrictions
- FAA recreational flyers
- FAA rule requiring a Remote Pilot Certificate (14 CFR 107.12)
- FAA rule on controlled airspace (14 CFR 107.41)