Campus Security

Dec 1, 1997 12:00 PM, Dr. ADAM THERMOS

Security automation benefits on campus: A cost/benefit case for small scale re-engineering

Many major universities are currently involved with campus-wide re-engineering efforts to streamline operations in a cost-effective manner for the next century. Automated security systems are probably the most underrated and yet most immediately attainable, cost/benefit identifiable and technology-tested re-engineering innovations today.

Automation projects benefit the entire campus and are viewed as particularly attractive small scale re-engineering projects, because: * they have been applied all over the country for the last five years; * they are readily controlled and modified; * they are easily quantified in terms of budgets; * they are easily plotted in terms of time-lines; and * they produce known and predictable results, something that generic business re-engineering plans cannot project with any degree of accuracy.

Here are some salient points associated with the benefits of security automation: 1. Residence hall security is enhanced by inhibiting the use of duplicate keys to gain unauthorized access; and immediate reporting of forced entries, propped doors and general unauthorized access attempts.

Positive effects: * savings from stationary guard personnel optimization; * savings from managerial guard personnel optimization; * savings from a single, campus-wide management entity for maintenance and service of campus-wide security technologies; and * savings from equipment standardization, cost predictability and future planning projections.

2. Implementation of instant changes to access privileges assigned to any person. Additionally, individual door access schedules may be changed at any time, without key recalls, change of locks, rotation of lock cores or security personnel reassignments.

Positive effects: * budget savings in key management; and * budget savings for emergency re-keying and re-coring when individual keys are lost, misplaced or stolen.

3. Man-hour savings in locking and unlocking buildings - a considerable and usually invisible budget item.

Positive effect: * typical budget allocation, three officers 4-6 hours every day, or estimated 4,125 hours/year.

4. Enhancement of the university crime prevention and control policy, by providing central monitoring of the security status of building entrances. Currently, the average litigation settlement is $650,000 per event.

Positive effect: * budget savings in litigation management.

5. Standardization and consolidation of building entrance protocols within a card access program, including automated lockdown features during non-business hours and holidays.

Positive effects: * budget savings in non-procurement of various diverse systems by various university departments, as needed; and * budget savings in maintenance and management of diverse systems.

6. Access cards facilitate ADA compliance for handicapped students without costly hardware redesign for designated handicapped doors.

Positive effect: * access control automation with automatic door openers provides the only truly ADA-compliant hardware configuration.

7. An access control system improves the safety of students, faculty and staff and provides a proactive policy on campus that every parent will want to hear about. It also puts a university on a par with other institutions.

Positive effects: * student enrollment; * student enrollment retention; * market competitiveness; and * student housing participation and retention.

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© 2012 Penton Media Inc.

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