« Back to Facilities Management News Home

« Facilities Management

Ingersoll Rand Study: Only 18 Percent of Colleges Believe Their Security Access Control is Effective

CARMEL, Ind. -- Data from independent research, Effective Management of Safe & Secure Openings & Identities, released from Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, a leading global provider of security and safety solutions and manufacturer of Schlage contactless smart credentials and readers, shows 82 percent of public, private and 2-year specialized colleges and universities believe they are not very effective at managing safe and secure openings or identities. Only 18 percent believe they are very effective at granting or denying access to appropriate individuals or knowing who goes where.

“We found there are very differing mentalities on how access control systems are designed and managed,” reports Beverly Vigue, vice president of education markets at Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies. “Facilities and Public Safety, the key stakeholders in 57 percent of colleges, are more traditional in their approach while IT, One Card and Housing departments are more customer-/student-oriented. The focus is evolving from the former to the latter.”

According to Vigue, if the IT, One Card or Housing departments are the key stakeholders, the solutions are more innovative.  For instance, the One Card department considers convenience, customer service, improving customer experiences and including the students’ perceptions in the access control decision as primary concerns. IT’s major focus is measuring the return on investment to the higher education institution to improve options for upgrading.

In general, access control on campus is evolving from the traditional security/product-oriented focus of the Facilities and Public Safety departments to the broader definition of the IT, One Card and Housing departments. Differing mentalities typically do not occur on the same campus as colleges tend to be solely one or the other in their focus.

Respective of the way access control is viewed, the five leading concerns on college campuses are:

1.                 Minimizing the occurrence of tailgating/piggy-backing.

2.                 Maximizing the likelihood the students can comply with the intended access design.

3.                 Maximizing real-time notification when problems occur.

4.                 Minimizing the time it takes to lockdown a campus.

5.                 Maximizing the ability to locate building occupants in an emergency.

The study was conducted among more than 140 colleges and universities, including leading institutions such as the University of Michigan, MIT, UCLA and Columbia.

About Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies
Ingersoll Rand’s Security Technologies is a leading global provider of products and services that make environments safe, secure and productive. The sector’s market-leading products include electronic and biometric access control systems; time-and-attendance and personnel scheduling systems; mechanical locks; portable security; door closers, exit devices, architectural hardware, and steel doors and frames; and other technologies and services for global security markets.  Website is www.securitytechnologies.ingersollrand.com <http://www.securitytechnologies.ingersollrand.com/> .
                                                       
About Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) is a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments in commercial, residential and industrial markets. Our people and our family of brands—including Club Car®, Hussmann®, Ingersoll Rand®, Schlage®, Thermo King® and Trane® —work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies’ market-leading products include electronic and biometric access control systems; time-and-attendance and personnel scheduling systems; mechanical locks; portable security; door closers, exit devices, architectural hardware, and steel doors and frames; and other technologies and services for global security markets. Ingersoll Rand is a $14 billion global business committed to sustainable business practices within our company and for our customers. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com <http://www.ingersollrand.com/> .

More From 9/12/2011 on FacilitiesNet