How Turnstiles are Enhancing College Campus Security
Posted on Wed, Jan 04, 2012
In recent years, incidents such as the Virginia Tech Massacre have heightened public awareness of the need for strong security plans and policies at college campuses to protect students and faculty from crime. The challenge that universities face is ensuring the safety of students and faculty within an open and free environment that allows public access in varying degrees. How this challenge is met is becoming a key consideration by parents and prospective students, alongside the quality of education and degrees available, especially for universities in densely populated or urban areas.
Many institutions are implementing access control systems and card readers integrated with anti-tailgating products such as optical and full height turnstiles to monitor and control access into residence halls, gymnasiums, lecture halls, libraries and even parking areas. While the cards provide valid authorization, turnstiles ensure only one person can pass through per card swipe. The benefits of this are many:
1. Authorized people can come and go quickly without having to slow down and sign in.
2. Turnstiles are a physical/visible deterrent to crime – one that visiting parents can see and appreciate.
3. The students that work the front desk are freed up to focus on processing visitors, even during peak hours.
Several universities have deployed both optical and full height turnstiles in their security plans. Read how Hofstra University in Long Island used two types of full height turnstile to restrict access to residence halls and parking lots: http://www.boonedam.us/publications/Hofstra-Case-Study.asp