Campus ID News
Card, mobile credential, payment and security
FEATURED
PARTNERS

Some Pitt students want return of swipe access at campus buildings

CampusIDNews Staff   ||   Jan 19, 2023  ||   ,

The University of Pittsburgh implemented swipe access at all on-campus buildings and residences using its campus card in August of 2020 as an added precaution during COVID-19. The expanded swipe access policy for campus buildings remained in place until July 1 of 2022, at which point the campus reverted to its normal card access protocols.

Now, according to opinions gathered by student publication, The Pitt News, some students are calling for a return of increased swipe access on campus, expressing that the card swipe policy from 2020 added a layer of security and a sense of safety when navigating campus buildings.

Currently, swipe access is required to enter on-campus residential buildings and apartment-style dorms, but no other on-campus buildings require the same swipe access.

Part of the call for more card swipe access could be related to a spike in safety concerns at the university's Oakland campus following an alleged sexual assault last October on campus. A subsequent online petition calling for increased police presence, building access restrictions, and more security cameras received some 6,000 signatures.

The Pitt News report published a few of the opinions in favor of the more stringent card swipe policy.

A freshman student told the student publication that she feels safe on Pitt’s campus, but believes that swipe access should be required for entry to university buildings, stating that "the extra level of security would benefit students."

A Pitt sophomore told The Pitt News that she felt less safe on campus after the university stopped requiring swipe access.

“Pitt’s not a campus that’s closed off to the public,” commented one Pitt student. “We’re just in the middle of a city, so I definitely think that they should bring it back. I feel safer with it.”

“I liked it better during COVID with how everyone had to swipe in,” said another student. “Even visitors had to do an online visitors pass, and I felt more safe.”

There are no current plans to return to the COVID card access policy, nor is there any indication as to just how many within the student population want to see card swipe policy return. Nevertheless,  swipe access via the student ID card seems to have made a notable impact on students' perception of campus safety, and serves as a reminder that the student credential plays a valuable role in security.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

RECENT ARTICLES

Hurricane Katrina Historial Marker
Sep 12, 25 /

On the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, lost student ID is reunited with owner

It was 20 years ago when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, devastating cities and towns across Louisiana and Mississippi. Nearly 1400 people lost their lives and – adjusted for inflation – it remains the most costly hurricane in U.S. history. For countless families and individuals, life was changed forever, and negative impacts are still […]
Melinda Bakken, UNC Chapel Hill
Sep 11, 25 / , ,

It’s mobile-only for campus credentials at UNC Chapel Hill

The head of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s ID program spoke with CampusIDNews about the decision to require all students, faculty, and staff to use mobile credentials. Unlike many institutions that allow individuals to choose between a mobile ID or physical card, Chapel Hill adopted a mobile-first approach to streamline access and align […]
Campus card data research on laptop
Sep 04, 25 /

New study uses campus card data and AI to predict student success

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, understanding student behavior has become essential for improving learning outcomes and offering personalized support. A new study combines large language models (LLMs) with data from multiple campus sources to gain deeper insights into how students’ daily habits relate to academic performance. By analyzing student information system data, dining transactions, and […]
CIDN logo reversed
The only publication dedicated to the use of campus cards, mobile credentials, identity and security technology in the education market. CampusIDNews – formerly CR80News – has served more than 6,500 subscribers for more than two decades.
Twitter

Attn: friends in the biometrics space. Nominations close Friday for the annual Women in Biometrics Awards. Take five minutes to recognize a colleague or even yourself. http://WomenInBiometrics.com

Feb. 1 webinar explores how mobile ordering enhanced campus life, increased sales at UVA and Central Washington @Grubhub @CBORD

Load More...
Contact
CampusIDNews is published by AVISIAN Publishing
315 E. Georgia St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
www.AVISIAN.com[email protected]
Use our contact form to submit tips, corrections, or questions to our team.
©2025 CampusIDNews. All rights reserved.