The recent death of a University of South Carolina student has reminded many to revisit the safety precautions around ride-sharing apps. Among those stressing important safety measures is the Marquette University Police Department, which recently issued a notice to its campus community reminding students to remain vigilant when using ride-sharing services.

In a recent addition to the company’s tech article series, ColorID’s David Stallsmith discusses the options at a university’s disposal should it decide to pursue open-source hardware and software solutions. Opting for open-source solutions can offer an alternative to the traditional practice of opting for card system vendor solutions and the comprehensive ecosystems that come with.

In 2017, the University of Georgia made the advancement of card technology a priority on campus. After long leaning on a combination of mag stripe and prox card technologies, the need to update and upgrade was more than evident. So UGA’s OneCard Oversight Committee examined its card environment from within, and focused its decision making on a desire to own the entire card system process — encryption keys and all.

Having launched CBORD’s Odyssey campus card solution years ago, student satisfaction has long been the catalyst for card system initiatives at Suffolk University. So when Suffolk needed a solution that both eliminated time-consuming, manual processes and also provided a single point of contact for both hardware and software queries, CBORD and Allegion stepped up to the plate.

Seton Hall University recently completed renovations on a new, round-the-clock study space. The After Hours Study Space has been made possible in large part by the campus card and a door access reader. The After Hours Study Space is a joint initiative funded between the Libraries and the Office of the Provost in response to students’ long-expressed need for a safe study and work space that’s available during overnight hours.

A student ID card policy implemented at Loyola University New Orleans has been the cause of some frustration. The policy, which took effect back in January, fines students who fail to present a Loyola ID when entering a campus residence hall. The idea behind the policy is to both better lock down access to campus residences, as well as help to hold the campus community accountable in keeping student IDs in possession at all times.

After nearly three decades in the field, the 125 kHz prox card remains one of the most widely used card technologies for electronic access. Still, it seems that many are unaware of more recent developments that now threaten the security of these cards. In a blog post on the company’s website, David Stallsmith, Director of Strategic Initiatives at ColorID, details prox, its susceptibilities and why it’s so easy to clone.