Protecting the nest with Project Secure

Project Secure is a joint project designed to secure UHCL’s facilities when events are not scheduled and classes are not in session, while maintaining access to these building after hours for students, faculty and staff. The project is spearheaded by the UHCL Police Department and supported by Office of Facilities Management and Construction, Office of Human Resources and Office of Student Life.

Starting fall 2015, Project Secure will be completely implemented. The project will consist of a new identification access card system and keypads to the exterior of UHCL’s building doors. Students, faculty and staff will be issued an ID card that includes an access chip, which will allow entrance to the exterior building doors after standard business hours. The buildings will be locked during non-business hours, restricting entrance to anyone without an access card.

Standard business hours for classrooms are expected to be Monday – Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. These hours may vary between semesters depending on scheduled class times. Because UHCL’s library is required to be publicly accessible, the Bayou Building will have extended hours that coincide with the library’s business hours.

Anyone needing to enter these buildings after standard business hours must have the new access ID badge.

Project Secure’s goal is to be proactive in providing improved safety measures for students, faculty and staff.

“No specific crimes have occurred yet,” said Chief of Police Paul Willingham. “We are taking proactive measures to decrease the likelihood of an incident. Over the past two semesters, we have noticed an increase in building usage by students during overnight hours. Many of the buildings stay open deep into the night and are accessible to anyone who walks in off the street. The police department has escorted suspicious persons from campus during overnight hours. Our goal is to allow access to these facilities to only our students, faculty and staff while keeping all others out during these times.”

Special campus events and student organization events, requiring the community to have access to these buildings after standard business hours, are scheduled through University Scheduling. UHCL Police Department has access to this schedule and will coordinate and handle these events accordingly.

There will be no entrance into these buildings during non-business hours without an ID badge. In the event a student or faculty member does not have his/hers badge or the badge is not working, he/she will have to call the UHCL Police Department to gain access. As long as he/she can be identified as a UHCL student or employee, he/she will be allowed access. Anyone who can’t be identified will be escorted from UHCL property.

“This project is in its early stages,” said President William Staples. “We are still in the process of determining the cost of Project Secure, which includes purchasing a new I.D./access card system. Once a new I.D./access card system is chosen, the university will absorb the cost of this important project.”

Initially only current students and employees who need after hours or weekend access will be issued the new access card. Human Resources will issue faculty and staff IDs, which will remain active until they cease employment, and Student Life will issue student IDs, which will remain active for the semester in which they are enrolled.

All newly issued university IDs will automatically include the access chip starting in the fall of 2015.

“We are still working through the processes,” Willingham said. “As we near going live, we will provide details to the community.”

The plan is to go live starting with employee badges first, in late spring, and then the students in early summer.