Chandler Smith, Campus Carrier staff writer
Jen Vincent, Campus Carrier staff writer
Berry Information Technology and Residence Life is changing the card scanners for residence halls and academic buildings. Ford was the most recent with the card scanners being changed just last week. The aging card reading system was due for an upgrade, being phased out in favor of a system that could potentially allow for greater ID card functionality.
“We still have to get through the main buildings over the next few weeks,” Stephen Swieton, director of Residence Life, said. “It’s just part of the normal life cycle of a system.”
The updating of the key scanner system does not just change getting into buildings on campus. This new system will change all the software that pertains to scanning ID cards. Updating the card system is just one part of a larger plan to keep campus security software up to date. Other elements include gate software and camera systems.
“There is a variety of pieces that are all tied together in the same systems,” Swieton said. “From the student perspective, you might not see all those pieces because they just work.”
Students might see additional benefits in the functionality of their ID cards in the future, being able to perform transactions much akin to those one might do with a debit card.
“There are features that other colleges have on their ID cards that we don’t necessarily have.” Swieton said. “There are things that you can do with financial transactions. By upgrading to the newer system, that might provide more options in the future.”
Enhanced functionality within the system also suggests a possible compatibility between ID cards and a mobile device, allowing one to gain access to their halls using their phone and a digital credential. Another possibility is integration of upgraded ID cards with dining services, allowing for order-ahead services and the like. While there is no definite date for these services, they are simply possible endeavors that Berry hopes to add to their ID cards in the future.
There have been some minor incidents of lockouts or other situations where the old scanners had trouble functioning. Resident assistants were told that the keycard scanners are supposed to work for at least an hour in the case of a power outage event. Sophomore Amanda Milner, an RA at Ford and 2nd West Mary indicated this was not the case.
“One of the first weekends here the power went out, and I was actually the RA on call,” Milner said. “Then we realized that people were outside [the building] waiting to get in, and people were like ‘what’s going on I can’t get in’ and we [realized] the power went out. I start banging on all the doors waiting for someone to come open the doors.”
Since the introduction of the new scanners, some minor accessibility issues have persisted, but none more than usual. While this transition might raise some questions about the security of residence halls, Chief of Campus Police Ryan Chesley says that there is no threat to security.
“The old system was not at risk,” Chesley said. “The primary drive for this upgrade was to provide an ultimately better student experience.”
This has been a campus wide effort from Res Life, Dining Services, IT, Telecom Services, and Campus Police. The new system was designed for students, with safety and convenience in mind.
Berry Residence Life hopes to have all of the residence buildings finished by the end of fall semester. There will also not be a change in the ID cards Berry students have already. Students should not be able to notice any changes. This new system is being added with the idea of being seamless. Students should expect an email when their residence hall is due to be updated.