In the next 10 days, Hillsdale College Security and ITS plan to finish a software upgrade of every ID card reader on campus.
The new software, called CCure 9000, is more compatible with ITS’ databases than the old software. The databases contain which students have access to which buildings. For instance, the database would inform the software that a sophomore woman who lived in the Suites could use her ID to enter the Suites, Kendall Hall, Grewcock Student Union, and other places on campus.
CCure 9000 has fewer parts in its hardware. NOVIS used edge controllers and door controllers to communicate with the software. CCure hardware has only one platform. Students and faculty, however, will not see any physical changes. The readers will remain and allow access by touching an ID to them.
Director of ITS Patrick Chartrand said CCure 9000 is designed for business enterprises.
Security and ITS started last year to plan for upgrades in the system. They tried different
products and companies before choosing the new software.
“It’s the right product for Hillsdale,” he said. “The University of Michigan uses it. It’s really reliable.” CCure 9000 also offers better measures for campus protection. Once the security office has
the new software, they will detect if doors are forced open and see what cards have opened doors.
“It’s not Big Brother,” Director of Security Bill Whorley said. “As with anything security does, we are just trying to best protect students and faculty.”
For two weeks before spring break, students could not access the union from the card reader on the east side of the building.
“Students wanted me to let them in the other door, because they were worried they would be locked out,” said senior Brett Pasche, a Grewcock Student Union monitor.
Recent problems with the card readers in the union encouraged security and ITS to start the change earlier.
“Having break helped,” Whorley said. “We were able to push up Grewcock’s update and start on
the classroom buildings. It’s coming along well.”
While dormitories are renovated, Whorley said that plans exist to equip every building with a card reader. If a threat occurred, with a press of a button in the security office, all of campus would be locked.
Though the new system will eliminate glitches that ID cards have had in the past, there may be some problems. Saga workers have already had trouble accessing the door near their loading dock. Chartrand said that ITS will fix the reader shortly.
If an ID card fails to open doors, security will print a new one without a fee.Whorley encourages students and faculty to inform the security office if they experience issues with the readers.
“If we don’t know there’s a problem, we can’t fix it,” he said.
