University of Missouri upgrades access control system to provide enhanced security, emergency management
another important consideration for quality control and student support. Mizzou’s access control system records all access attempts in case data is needed. Old and her staff are on 24-hour call to respond to issues. If a student reports a card reading problem, the software can retrieve historical records for Old s review so she can determine whether the rejection was due to access exclusion or an ID card/card reader malfunction. The system allows remote access, so when Old receives rejected card holder incidents at any time of day or night she can connect to the on-campus access control workstation via the internet to investigate and remedy the situation. The campus police office also has a Matrix Systems workstation/software for monitoring doors, student access/rejections, etc.
One of the valuable features of Mizzou’s access control system is that it makes it time- and cost-effective to add new facilities. Old can easily program new access control hardware to connect to the workstation, using 24/7 back-up support from Matrix Systems customer support department, if necessary. New installations are also cost effective from a hardware standpoint. While some access control systems are proprietary and can only be installed by manufacturers or their resellers, Mizzou’s maintenance department has the choice of using its in-house staff or Matrix Systems installation services when new buildings require additional Matrix hardware, according to Stan Freeman, Mizzou s superintendant of maintenance Residential Life.
On our first building years ago we used an outside installation contractor, but we have since done it ourselves because it s a very easy system to install, said Freeman. Plus, there s always a shorter learning curve to troubleshooting a system if you install it yourself.
Several years ago Mizzou converted from modem- to Ethernet-based access control systems. Now the university can avoid the expense of installing building controllers in every new building, and can instead install the Matrix Subsystem Gateway, which is an IP-based alternative that is considerably less expensive.
The university realizes additional savings because Matrix System card readers are compatible with equipment from the university s long-time door strikes/locks provider, the Folger-Adam division of Southern Folger Detention Equipment Co., San Antonio, Texas.
Today s Mizzou’s Residential Life buildings security has combined the best of both worlds one of the industry s most advanced access control/security software programs with hardware that the maintenance staff can install and maintain itself to control costs, said Jim Russell, vice-president of sales, Matrix Systems.
