As electronic key-card access is installed in Main Quadrangle buildings this month, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to make sure they have an up-to-date University identification card that will work on the new card readers for after-hours access.
Starting in May, electronic card readers and camera systems will be activated in some campus buildings as part of a multi-phase process. Faculty and staff who currently have after-hours access to their building will keep that access; the only noticeable difference is that they will use their Chicago Card ID to gain entry instead of turning a key.
People who already have the Chicago Card, which the University introduced in 2008, can use their IDs with the new card readers. But anyone with an older ID card will need a free upgrade to the Chicago Card in order to open doors after hours. Keys will no longer work at building entrances once they switch to the card reader system.
Building hours will not change. The new readers and the new Chicago Cards are part of the University's efforts to heighten security around campus by ensuring proper access to its buildings.
Updating the Chicago Card takes less than 10 minutes if avoiding peak hours like lunchtime. The new card is free with the return of the old card; otherwise the fee is $20. To get a new card, please visit the Identification & Privileges Office in the lobby of Regenstein Library, 1100 E. 57th St. A remote card station also will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., May 3-7 in the third floor of the Administration building. For questions, contact IPO at (773) 702-3344 or card@uchicago.edu, or visit their Web site.
The first phase of the project is tentatively scheduled for completion by the end of May and includes the Administration building and others in the southwest end of the main campus: Blake, Classics, Cobb, Gates, Goodspeed, Harper and Wieboldt. Local building managers will communicate specific activation dates for each building in advance. Eventually, all main campus buildings will switch to the access control system.
The new Chicago Card can be easily identified by its vertical orientation, maroon stripe on top and skyline picture of the University below. An important new feature of the Chicago Card is that it contains an RFID (radio frequency identifier). The RFID feature contains a computer-generated number that belongs to that particular card, with no identifying personal information.
Unlike the old magnetic stripes, this technology has a much higher "first-read" reliability, and is not affected by weather or wear. It also eliminates the need to swipe the card; to gain access to a building, tap the card on the small, black card reader. A light on the reader will change from red to green to indicate when the door is unlocked.
For troubles accessing a building after hours, please contact the UC Communications Center at 773-702-8181.
—Prof. Chuan He
