Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tenn., has added hand scanning to complement its new ID numbering system, at least for entrance into the school’s recreation facility.

The school has already assigned an eight-digit identification number for the campus “BlueID” card as part of a new campus-wide software system. But in addition, students and staff members are placing their right hands on to a hand geometry scanner that turns the shape of their hands into 9-character templates to access the school’s newly renovated recreation center, where some members have been caught passing their ID cards to nonmembers to swipe through card readers for access.

While the hand scanners will only be used in the rec center this year, the system could be used for 24-hour computer labs and other areas of the campus, according to a university spokesperson.

MTSU issued new ID cards to all students, faculty and staff this summer to weed out decades-old cards that still have Social Security numbers printed on the front. Although the school removed Social Security numbers from ID cards a decade ago, many tenured faculty members still carry around old ID cards that use the numbers.

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