Page 18 - Campus Security & Life Safety, January/February 2020

Identification
On The Move
Advancing technology on campus with mobile credentials
By Tyler Webb
Ken Wolter/Shutterstock.com
The University of Oklahoma has a history of evolving alongside technology. Throughout the years, they have made a conscious effort to upgrade hardware and soft- ware and introduce new services to better the student and staff experience, and to bolster campus security efforts. Every generation of students has different expectations of the campus experience, and it is up to universities to stay up-to-speed in meeting them.
A study from Google and Ipsos found that today’s teens received phones when they were in elementary or middle school, compared to high school or college for their older counterparts. As Generation Z replaces millennials on campus, we must consider how to update tech on our campuses to meet their needs.
Open communication with students and staff, a focus on interop- erability and continuous improvement is critical to the implementa- tion and advancement of technology in higher education.
Predicting the Future
Having a campus that is equipped with modern tools and plans for safety, but also without losing all convenience, is critical. By staying on the cusp of innovation and taking advantage of new security solu- tions, OU is maintaining a safe environment for its community.
Student ID cards are a core aspect of life on and around campus. Every OU student receives a Sooner Card, previously known as the
OneCard. The Sooner Card gives students the ability to access build- ings, make purchases and attend campus events.
Over the past six years, we have built out robust, campus-wide integrations to make sure that access with the Sooner Card was secure and seamless, and that we were ready to adopt new technology as it became available. Beginning in 2013, we made updates to hard- ware, including doors and locks on campus buildings, to ensure when new software hits the market our hardware is ready and compatible.
In 2015, working with our campus card and security vendor Trans- act, we become more aware that mobile IDs and credentials would be the future of logistics and security on college campuses. We also understood the path would involve many components, so we created a transitional plan to ensure that the Sooner Card would evolve alongside technology. To start, our team implemented Near Field Communication (NFC) ID cards, a standards-based wireless tech that allows data to be exchanged between devices. These replaced the magnetic stripe cards that were previously in use. We also imple- mented ASSA ABLOY access control hardware on campus buildings and installed biometric hardware throughout our athletics depart- ment buildings.
Adoption of NFC meant that we were ready to adapt to new mobile technologies. In 2018, our mobile-centric planning was realized when we introduced the option for students to add the Sooner Card to Apple Wallet, the first step in transitioning IDs to mobile. This was
18 campuslifesecurity.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020