PERSPECTIVES: It’s Time To Invest In Campus Security Through Access Control Technology

From 2020 Vision TechnologyDangers lurk for students who live on-campus and in off-campus accommodations. Safeguards are needed.  


Residing at university should be a great time, but some recent stories carry negative connotations for parents and students. Take, for example, what happened recently at Nottingham University. Students chanted racist comments in a residence hall while they stood in front of the door of a student-of-color.

The video, which went viral on social media, highlighted the potential danger associated with living in university accommodations.

Thankfully, with advancements in technology, there are ways to monitor what’s happening in university halls. And that’s why UK security experts say that security measures–like access control systems and IP CCTV systems–are vital for student protection.

Access Control Systems

There are two key functionalities associated with installing access control systems. The first option prevents unwanted visitors from entering/exiting a location. Restrictions can range from the whole site, a wing of a building, or a room that needs protection from unauthorized personnel. The second option enables tracking location movements and helps detect areas. ID tags or key cards are then used to enter restricted areas.

These security measures protect students from unauthorized access. Doing so reduces the threat to their well-being and safeguards personal possessions.

Both are needed when you consider that students are living in environments with strangers where aberrant behavior is commonplace. According to a study reported by 2020 Vision Technology, 52% of students have noisy housemates, 37% of housemates steal food, 8% live in dangerous conditions, and 6% have experienced a break-in or a burglary.

That all adds up to one conclusion: student safety needs to be a top priority for universities and other accommodation providers.

Investing in technology to enhance student safety is a wise investment, too. That is because accommodation providers are under extreme pressure to protect students or run the risk of experiencing empty rooms and underpopulated halls.

And investing in access control systems offers multiple features.

The neutralization of old key cards — Unlike regular keys, system keys are unable to be duplicated/copied. When a student leaves the university the card is then deactivated, That approach removes the risk of unauthorized entries and heightens the safety of an incoming tenant.

Access limitation — If a university’s accommodation has the use of access control systems, only authorized students will have access to the premises. That will make it very difficult for anyone else to enter.

Advanced credentials — With smartphones rarely out of students’ hands, locked areas can be accessed via security info/credentials that are stored safely on student mobiles.

Enhanced security during a lock-down The use of security access technology is especially helpful when breaches prompt a facility lock-down, say due to firearm attack).

All in all, then, the time has come for improving campus security through the use of access controls.

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Reading:

What happened at Nottingham Trent?

Discussion paper: Access control in university accommodations

“Save the Student” national student accommodation survey, 2018.

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