by Brianna Crandall — June 2, 2014—Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, is making a move to improve student safety by rolling out online door access control on 8,000 doors in its 36 residence halls and other facilities. The online security system replaces labor-intensive offline and key-based locks, with the goal of better protecting students and improving efficiency. CBORD, New York-based provider of campus card and integrated security solutions to colleges and universities around the world, is providing the easy-to-manage security solution along with long-time associate Allegion PLC, global provider of security products and solutions.
Security and convenience reportedly drove the transition away from offline residence hall room locks, which required frequent card re-encoding to make changes. Northeastern switched to CBORD’s CS Access for online access control, which is fully integrated with the CS Gold campus card system already used on campus. (Northeastern has been using CS Gold or its predecessors since 1977.) Together with Allegion’s Schlage AD-400 wireless locks and aptiQ smart cards, the integrated, online solution:
- Controls and updates locks remotely;
- Opens doors with a card, app (CBORD Mobile ID), or text message (“Open MyDoor”);
- Eliminates metal master keys by temporarily elevating Husky Card privileges with a text message (with prior approval);
- Enacts quick emergency lockdowns on one or thousands of doors; and
- Audits door histories and alarm states.
In a recent Northeastern student survey with more than 1,100 respondents, 79 percent reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the new online locks, and 82 percent were satisfied or very satisfied with the many options to open their doors (card, app, text).
The CBORD solution also reportedly removes the financial and security risks of metal master keys for Northeastern’s resident assistants (RAs). When responding to lockouts, Northeastern wanted to keep its RAs from walking outside between buildings at night to retrieve master keys. RAs and other staff members can now use CBORD’s “MasterKey” feature to temporarily elevate their Husky Card privileges via text message, and open residents’ doors using their own cards. This feature, which requires preapproval, has proven to be an important safety benefit, says CBORD.
According to the company, Allegion’s Schlage AD-400 locks are designed with the future in mind. If Northeastern moves to a different Husky Card format in the future as technology evolves, the lock’s modular reader can be easily replaced without removing the rest of the lock from the door. Northeastern chose aptiQ smart cards from Allegion for their secure, encrypted reader communication, expressing the desire to move away from the security risks associated with magnetic stripe technology.
CBORD, founded in 1975, provides campus and cashless card systems, food and nutrition service management software, integrated security solutions, nationwide student discount and commerce programs, and housing and judicial process management software around the world. CBORD’s broad portfolio of solutions serves colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, supermarkets, continuing care facilities, corporations, and a host of other market segments.
CBORD products and services are used by more than 6,000 organizations in the USA, Canada, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Australia. Employing over 400 professionals around the world, CBORD operates as a unit of engineered products and solutions provider Roper Industries, Inc., a diversified growth company and a constituent of the S&P 500, Fortune 1000, and Russell 1000 indices.
Allegion says it creates peace of mind by pioneering safety and security. A provider of security solutions for homes and businesses, Allegion employs more than 8,000 people and sells products in more than 120 countries across the world. Allegion comprises 27 global brands, including strategic brands CISA, Interflex, LCN, Schlage and Von Duprin.
