A university campus is ripe with different facility types and opportunities for potential security threats. From dining to residence halls, there are multiple areas to secure while also keeping students safe.
Moving into 2019, there is a continued increase in funding for campus security projects through bonds and grants especially after the Department of Justice allocated $70 million in funds as part of the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act.
Universities specifically understand that campus security is a top-of-mind concern for parents as their children go through the school selection process. In a move to continue to bolster their reputation as a more traditional school rather than a commuter school, Cleveland State University (CSU) undertook a large security initiative in one of their premier residence hall projects to protect their most valuable asset — their students.
Security Initiatives at Cleveland State University
The flagship residence hall at CSU, Euclid Commons, is a four-building, multi-phase project that houses over 600 students with apartment-style living and state-of-the-art features for the modern student. In the early stages of development, the campus’ director of security noticed that security monitors would become increasingly overwhelmed by the masses of students entering the facility at different times of the day.
Students also contributed to potential security issues by attempting to bypass the process of signing in visitors and guests. The challenge presented itself to address security issues like unauthorized access while also delivering a user-friendly entry experience.
A Smarter Way to Manage Entrance Control
CSU aimed to completely eliminate unauthorized access into Euclid Commons in order to better protect student residents. After careful review of available entrance control options, the university security team decided on investing in optical turnstiles with metal barrier arms to meet their goal. Metal barrier arms provided a more durable option for a population that is known to be rough on facilities.
The CSU team selected FastlaneⓇ Plus from Smarter Security, for its sleek exterior to complement the high-end residence hall while also maintaining a small footprint in the lobby vestibule. The turnstiles automate student’s entry while security monitors are able to fully focus on visitors ensuring they are escorted into the property with an authorized resident.
A Seamless User Experience for Students
Students can be a notoriously judgmental crowd, so ensuring a trouble-free and seamless entry into the building was a top priority. Upon the launch of the turnstiles, students were highly impressed by the ease of entry into the building by using their proximity access cards.
Improving Campus Safety One Facility at a Time
With more than 6,000 students and over 1,000 employees on CSU campus, the need for smarter entrance control resulted in a safer university experience. Read more about how Cleveland State University evolved their safety and security practice forward with Fastlane turnstiles from Smarter Security.
