Written by: Tenci Reid
Southern Adventist University is working on integrating smartphones as keys to unlock doors on campus, aiming to make the access process more convenient for students, according to Gary Sewell, associate vice president for Information Technology. ID cards will not be discontinued; instead, smartphones will be a second key option.
Currently, Southern utilizes three types of locks across campus, Sewell explained in an interview with the Accent. The first is the Onity dip lock system, where you push and pull the card out. The second is the SALTO contactless lock, where you place the card near or on the pad to unlock the door. Lastly, the third system – the card key – involves a swipe back and forth. The SALTO contactless lock is the only system that will be compatible with smartphones.
The driving force behind this change stems from the challenges students face using traditional ID cards, according to Sewell. He said it is easy for students to lose track of cards, and, sometimes, the cards become so damaged they are no longer usable. There is a $15 charge to replace an ID card.
“What we are trying to do is make it convenient,” said Sewell. “We have students who frequently lose their cards at inconvenient times when the campus card desk isn’t open. There’s a bit of confusion about where to go to get a card. We never want to put a student in a situation where they’re unable to eat because they don’t have their card, they’ve forgotten it or it’s been stolen.”
Without a card in hand, students lack access to their assigned rooms or other designated rooms on campus and must wait for a resident assistant or faculty member to assist them in gaining access. Furthermore, lacking proper identification, students might be unable to charge meals to their accounts.
Sewell emphasized that students are not obliged to purchase new phones if they don’t have access to a smartphone. Traditional ID cards will remain an option on campus.
“Under no circumstance will anybody be left without a way to eat or get into their room,” Sewell said.
According to Sewell, the university aims to become a “cardless campus” in the future, meaning ID cards will not be necessary to unlock any doors. However, ID cards will continue to be available. Sewell said there’s still much to be done before achieving a cardless campus.