Texas Christian University (TCU) is testing ID swipe technology for entry into student housing and residence halls, according to a university student newspaper.

The school’s latest Worth Hills residence hall, opening Fall 2013, will feature this new amenity to offer students the ability to swipe into their suites using their ID cards. TCU Housing and Residence Life said the service will bring a new element of convenience for faculty and students and, in the long run, will be more cost effective.

Card swipe technology is much more expensive to install upfront, said campus officials. However, with traditional rack and pinion lock systems, if there are four people in a suite and one person loses a key then the university has to re-core that door and give new keys to every person in that suite.

Using the existing TCU ID platform, campus officials can deactivate the lost card and reissue a new card with the same access permissions. For resident assistants and hall directors it makes their job much easier; for students it adds an element of convenience.

There are plans to also renovate Colby Hall next year, but officials haven’t decided if they want to use the keycard technology on individual rooms, rather than for suite access only. The TCU ID is used daily by students providing access to many things on campus: computer labs, athletic events, vending, print & copy, the TCU Bookstore, library privilege, laundry, and more.

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