Case Study #20 - Johnson & Wales University
Biometric HandKeys Control Access to Residence Halls and Rooms at Johnson & Wales University
May 20, 2006
Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey® Improves Security, Saves Money for Johnson & Wales University
Industry:Education
Application:Access Control
Biometric:HandKey®
Users:325
Geography:United States
“We believe the Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey® technology will improve our profitability.”
- Lindsay Morgan, Spokesperson, Johnson & Wales University
Summary
Johnson & Wales University in Denver replaces keys and ID cards to improve campus security and save money with Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey® biometric hand readers.
Business Need
Johnson & Wales University wanted a cost-effective, foolproof method for providing fast and secure access to its facilities. From entering a 24-hour computer lab, to obtaining meals, checking out library books, accessing the athletic fields and receiving bookstore charge backs, the Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey biometric readers eliminate cards and keys. Students often lose their ID cards or keys, which posed a security risk and cost money. “The problem with our former traditional card swipe system is that students lose ID cards, which can be picked up by strangers, and thus, grant them access to a resident facility. That’s a serious security risk for our students,” said Lindsay Morgan, Johnson & Wales University Spokesperson.
Morgan adds that the costs and overhead of managing keys and cards is exorbitant. “Besides eliminating the administrative overhead of dealing with this huge time and money expense, we gain additional benefits,” Morgan said. “First of all, there is no credential for our students to lose, plus the biometric system forces them to be accountable for the people they choose to let into a facility.”
Challenges
The university wanted a scalable, secure access control system to provide greater safety to students and easily expand to accommodate future growth.
Solution
Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey readers were installed at the main entrances of each of three residence halls. In Pulliam Hall, eight additional HandKey readers, two on each opposing wing of the four-story building, are used to open a student’s individual room. Doors are timed so that those nearest a HandKey reader open for five to ten seconds while those farther down the hall open for up to 20 seconds.
Students entering the residence halls slide their hands onto the HandKey, and in less than one second the hand reader verifies their identities based on the unique size and shape of their hands. Once they are in the residence hall and arrive on their specific floor, they again slide their hands onto the hand reader and the door to their own room opens. They no longer have to worry about losing keys or paying the high fine to replace them.
“Granting access to, and removing from a facility from a PC as opposed to having to put in a key request with a locksmith and wait for a few days is a great operational benefit,” says Morgan. “Access can be removed immediately upon dismissal of a student as opposed to trying to get back a card or change a lock. Management of building access is simplified via the software that controls who has access to what facility and administers what times the facility is open and to whom,” he says. “Lastly, we can generate reports on building access.”
Johnson & Wales University
At Johnson & Wales University, the HandKey readers are connected to the institution’s computer network. Since the network infrastructure is designed to be scalable, Morgan said, the biometric system is easily expandable.
Morgan adds that students like the biometric system. “The technology certainly sparks a lot of interest and they know that they are using the cutting edge of building access solutions,” he says.
Result
“The students feel safer and note that it is more convenient,” Morgan said. He believes the system will improve the university’s profitability in terms of student retention and recruitment. “When parents and their children see and understand the safety measures we are taking, it will translate into increased confidence and enrollment at Johnson & Wales.”
Johnson & Wales University is saving substantial costs and providing enhanced security for its students.
Industry:Education
Application:Access Control
Biometric:HandKey®
Users:325
Geography:United States
“We believe the Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey® technology will improve our profitability.”
- Lindsay Morgan, Spokesperson, Johnson & Wales University
Summary
Johnson & Wales University in Denver replaces keys and ID cards to improve campus security and save money with Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey® biometric hand readers.
Business Need
Johnson & Wales University wanted a cost-effective, foolproof method for providing fast and secure access to its facilities. From entering a 24-hour computer lab, to obtaining meals, checking out library books, accessing the athletic fields and receiving bookstore charge backs, the Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey biometric readers eliminate cards and keys. Students often lose their ID cards or keys, which posed a security risk and cost money. “The problem with our former traditional card swipe system is that students lose ID cards, which can be picked up by strangers, and thus, grant them access to a resident facility. That’s a serious security risk for our students,” said Lindsay Morgan, Johnson & Wales University Spokesperson.
Morgan adds that the costs and overhead of managing keys and cards is exorbitant. “Besides eliminating the administrative overhead of dealing with this huge time and money expense, we gain additional benefits,” Morgan said. “First of all, there is no credential for our students to lose, plus the biometric system forces them to be accountable for the people they choose to let into a facility.”
Challenges
The university wanted a scalable, secure access control system to provide greater safety to students and easily expand to accommodate future growth.
Solution
Schlage Recognition Systems HandKey readers were installed at the main entrances of each of three residence halls. In Pulliam Hall, eight additional HandKey readers, two on each opposing wing of the four-story building, are used to open a student’s individual room. Doors are timed so that those nearest a HandKey reader open for five to ten seconds while those farther down the hall open for up to 20 seconds.
Students entering the residence halls slide their hands onto the HandKey, and in less than one second the hand reader verifies their identities based on the unique size and shape of their hands. Once they are in the residence hall and arrive on their specific floor, they again slide their hands onto the hand reader and the door to their own room opens. They no longer have to worry about losing keys or paying the high fine to replace them.
“Granting access to, and removing from a facility from a PC as opposed to having to put in a key request with a locksmith and wait for a few days is a great operational benefit,” says Morgan. “Access can be removed immediately upon dismissal of a student as opposed to trying to get back a card or change a lock. Management of building access is simplified via the software that controls who has access to what facility and administers what times the facility is open and to whom,” he says. “Lastly, we can generate reports on building access.”
Johnson & Wales University
At Johnson & Wales University, the HandKey readers are connected to the institution’s computer network. Since the network infrastructure is designed to be scalable, Morgan said, the biometric system is easily expandable.
Morgan adds that students like the biometric system. “The technology certainly sparks a lot of interest and they know that they are using the cutting edge of building access solutions,” he says.
Result
“The students feel safer and note that it is more convenient,” Morgan said. He believes the system will improve the university’s profitability in terms of student retention and recruitment. “When parents and their children see and understand the safety measures we are taking, it will translate into increased confidence and enrollment at Johnson & Wales.”
Johnson & Wales University is saving substantial costs and providing enhanced security for its students.
