California Lutheran University has implemented a new policy requiring students, faculty, and staff to swipe their university-issued ID cards to access academic buildings. According to an email sent to all Cal Lutheran students, staff and faculty this policy began on March 10.

According to David Hilke, director of Campus Safety,  the policy was not a response to a specific security incident but rather a proactive step towards increasing security. Hilke said Campus Safety collaborated with the General Counsel, Interim University President John Nunes, and the Cabinet to decide on an effort to define campus access and security. 

“The goal was to differentiate between public and private spaces on campus, ensuring that academic buildings, while remaining open and welcoming, are accessible only to those with valid credentials (a Cal Lutheran ID card),” Hilke said in an email interview. 

According to Hilke, this change also aligns with practices at similar universities, where controlled access to buildings is common.

“It is a standard practice in higher education institutions to have controlled access to buildings in order to maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff,” Hilke said. 

Matt Ward, vice president for enrollment management and student success said that the policy update was being considered for a number of years. 

“During COVID, we had the buildings secured through the swipe process and with the change in the semester, with spring break, we thought this would be a good time to implement it,” Ward said. 

Ward said the changes were made following feedback from students and faculty who wanted more secure access to academic buildings. 

“They would like our buildings to be more secure. For our students who are in the residence halls, they are very used to swiping to go into their residence hall,” Ward said.

Ward said that implementing this policy could be challenging across campus, such as Nygreen and Peters Hall not having card readers and different places where the card reader is located. 

Ward said not every building will accommodate students to swipe in like other academic buildings. 

Despite these issues, the university decided to proceed based on the benefits of increasing security against minor inconveniences, according to Ward. 

“I don’t like making people feel like the campus isn’t warm and open and easy to get into the buildings and institute any kind of concern over security. Thousand Oaks and the campus, it’s a very safe place to be,” Ward said. 

Ward said while there have been no major incidents prompting the policy change, there was an instance at the Samuelson Chapel of a person who entered and took all items from the community cupboard. However, Ward clarified that this incident was not the reason for the decision. 

“I would say that kind of thing has happened on different levels through the years that I’ve been here, but it wasn’t a response to that specifically,” Ward said. 

Junior Cal Lutheran student-resident Nic Mastropoalo said he has had no issues with this new policy. 

“We already swipe into our dorms, although I can see it being hard if somebody were to forget their ID. But I have no problem with it,” Mastropoalo said. 

Another junior student-resident, Jack Bradbury, said he agrees with Mastropoalo  having no problem with the policy. 

“It’s not that much of a hassle and, like, I’ve even forgotten my ID, but it’s just, like, I waited till someone came,” Bradbury said. 

Bradbury and Mastropoalo both said that while they haven’t previously encountered security concerns, the policy reinforces a sense of safety. 

“I’ve never seen a random person walk into the building, but now they don’t have the choice,” Mastropoalo said. 

Mastropoalo and Bradbury said commuter students might find this policy challenging, compared to residence students who have to carry their IDs all the time. 

“I’m not a commuter, but maybe some of them don’t always bring their IDs to school so it could be hard for them,” Mastropoalo said. 

Hilke said this policy is expected to be beneficial to Cal Lutheran’s community by enhancing security and making sure that only students, faculty, and staff are accessing academic spaces.   

“It helps protect the safety of everyone on campus and ensures that academic buildings are used as intended, promoting a secure and productive environment for learning and teaching,” Hilke said.