Securing campus life: Strategies for effective access control in higher education

Often operating as complex, self-sufficient ecosystems, colleges and universities represent unique security challenges for campus law enforcement. With dozens of buildings spread out across thousands of acres, combined with a diverse mix of students, staff, faculty, and visitors, it’s paramount for security officials to have comprehensive measures in place to ensure safe working, learning and living spaces.

There are many solutions to consider when pursuing that standard. Still, law enforcement should start with arguably the most fundamental threat and let that serve as the foundation for implementing additional measures. Access and asset control impact every person on a college or university campus, and many schools use some version of badge or key card access for exterior entry. In the more advanced settings, staff, faculty and contractors use those credentials to access critical key assets in intelligent cabinets and lockers connected to the school’s general access control system.