Page 22 - Campus Security Today, September/October 2023

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SECURITY require a far greater number of faculty, administrators, and other support staff. Plus, there’s the rich mix of historic and ultramod- ern buildings, scenic quadrangles, on-campus shops and dining establishments, stadiums, and field houses to take into account that are all part of the college lifestyle experience. The wide variety of residence halls, dining halls, halls of edu- cation, and other structures means there are equally diverse secu- rity needs across campuses. As a result, higher ed was compelled years ago to start adopting smart locks, electronic access control devices, and advanced electro-mechanical door security solu- tions at a much more accelerated pace compared to K–12 districts. Higher ed also has had the benefit of more funding resources to help spur that acceleration. Endowments, foundations, alumni donations, fundraisers, sports, and other funding sources go a long way in supplementing tuition, fees, and government allocations for a variety of priorities—safety and security being high among them. Well-formulated security strategies are a chief concern among parents of new students, and the implementation of leading in- novations like access control credentials on mobile devices plays a significant marketing role in appealing to candidates. Universities are also like small cities. With so many ways to access campuses, it’s impractical to have fences, gates, bollards, or guards at every entrance. That’s partially why most have their own police departments. Patrol cars and officers on campus are accepted and expected by students and provide a strong visible deterrent. It’s one of the reasons why active assailant events at colleges and universities are less common. Because of the vast size and layout of college campuses, today it seems most practical to have a more targeted lockdown strategy. A mass notification goes out by phone, text, or email as an alert that there’s a dangerous situation underway and advising a building to lock down and occupants to shelter in place. A newer approach is to have a panic button in each classroom of a campus building that can immediately activate electrified locks on interior doors when necessary instead of relying on a central com- mand center to take action. Each room with a button includes sig- nage and instructions regarding protocol. Free egress is always still possible from inside if circumstances call for evacuating the building or once there’s an “all-clear” notification verifying it’s safe to exit. In locations where electrified locks are not yet part of a class- room door system, mechanical locks that can be secured from in- side and that feature a visual lock status indicator should be the minimum requirement. Lockdown strategies for K–12 and higher education campuses are vital. Developing the best approach for a school district and university takes a village of dedicated stakeholders, the broadest integrated so- lution choices, and input from credible expert resources like PASS and university colleagues experienced and well-versed in the process. Offering State-of-the-Art Security Solutions For Commercial And Residential Properties for over 15 Years. • People Management + Access Control + Visitor Management Systems + ID Badging • IP Video Surveillance + Video Management Systems + Network Video Recording + IP Cameras See why consultants, IT experts, project managers, and installers work with our experienced team of security professionals to complete projects efficiently and achieve a level of excellence that is second to none. Contact us today for your free security assessment: Call us at 516-887-0022 or Email info@sastechs.com Licensed by the NYS Department of State NYS License: 12000291690 22 Untitled-4 1 8/1/23 2:09 PM