Upgraded Security Equipment Delivers Efficiencies
Leading the security installations and development of standards for the implementation of technology at UWG is Campus Police Chief Tom Mackel. The school has a variety of security technologies in place and continues to upgrade solutions with newer access control and surveillance.
When Mackel started at the university in 1991, however, the systems in place were outdated and inefficient.
“Our previous surveillance system had multiple platforms, which were cumbersome since our 911 dispatchers had to log out of one system and then log into another to view the feeds from different cameras around campus,” he says. “And when I first came on board, no one had cell phones, so the blue-light emergency stations were installed and stationed at various locations around campus, which allowed anyone on campus to call 911 whether they were in a building or not. But that technology is now 20 years old.”
Over the years, and with the support of UWG, Mackel has embarked on a mission to improve safety at the university. He first created the standard on how to address crime prevention on campus and how to protect each of the different facilities on campus, which led to the installation of upgraded and more efficient equipment.
Some of the current security infrastructure includes Best electromechanical locks, which allow for detailed transaction histories, assisting in investigations and determining peak traffic times; Stanley Wi-Q wireless locks, which allow university police to identify users, track stolen ID cards and change access clearance more efficiently; alarm intrusion detection; the continued proliferation of surveillance cameras and current standardization on the Avigilon video management system, which began several years ago and makes viewing feeds more efficient; centralized Lenel access control software, making installation and repairs easier; and newer LED lighting, which improves visibility for identifying suspects and vehicles. UWG also has a fiber optic infrastructure it leverages for its networked security, which allows campus police to utilize live feeds and add as many cameras as the institution needs.
Grants Pay for More Security Cameras, Other Improvements
The safety and security plan, as well as the technology implementation, are ongoing. Mackel adds that some of the money UWG was awarded from a Stanley Security grant will be used to install more surveillance cameras at a major university thoroughfare.
“The dollars will be instrumental in giving us extra eyes across the campus,” he says. “We know safety and security have to be proactive and generate greater awareness. We are a large campus, so we have to use technology to make sure we have that extra set of eyes.”
Students say they are excited about the upgrades.
“The video cameras are definitely a good idea because they can capture what really happens,” says senior Ariel McBride. “I’m a commuter student, and I have one class that ends at 8 p.m. The lampposts are really important to me because walking in the dark through the parking lots can be scary.”
Sophomore Landon Carver agrees that more cameras and more light would be a welcome addition to campus.
“I think [installing more lights] would be really helpful to improve safety measures,” he says. “I feel like there aren’t enough lampposts. I have a lot of classes that end at night, and it’s really dark.”
Although security may not seem like an obvious priority for a university, Dr. Marrero says it’s an integral part of the work faculty and staff do behind the scenes to ensure UWG achieves its primary objective: student success.
“We are proud of our safety and security track record and our students who have had their lives transformed by quality instruction, engaging in campus activities, graduating and going on to lead productive lives,” Marrero says. “We do everything to ensure they can learn and prosper here; it’s a critical, distinctive part of what we do and the philosophy and credo at UWG, and we want to continue on this path.”
Brittany Dupree is a writer for the security industry.
