Page 70 - Security Today, May/June 2021

"Following the COVID-19 pandemic, campuses will require a similar long-term commitment to successfully address the threat of this virus and future health safety risks."
By Jim Primovic
Preparing Your Campus
Leveraging security and access control to create the optimal student experience
Student Safety
Peryn22/Shutterstock.com
Creating a safe and secure learning environment has always been a top priority for campus security professionals and administrators, but it becomes more and more complex with the constantly changing landscape.
Now, for example, on top of this already tremendous task, campus security professionals must also address health and wellness, an issue brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic. After an incredibly challenging year, colleges and universities are preparing for the upcoming academic year with a focus on addressing these multifaceted requirements in an effort to provide the optimal student experience.
Healthier Buildings
Access control solutions have always played a critical role in increasing security at schools, especially as part of lockdown strate- gies and active shooter response plans, creating an impetus for schools to increase their investments in security technology. Follow- ing the COVID-19 pandemic, campuses will require a similar long- term commitment to successfully address the threat of this virus and future health safety risks.
One important element in creating and maintaining a safe campus environment is frictionless access control. A frictionless access con- trol experience makes it is easier to manage access to an area without
18 campuslifesecurity.com | MAY/JUNE 2021