Key Request Policy

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VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY FACILITIES

Click here for the procedures necessary to obtain a key

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for access to University owned and leased facilities by keys and cards in order to provide appropriate access to authorized individuals; to facilitate timely access in case of emergency; to enhance personal safety for all members of the University community; and to secure the moveable physical assets of the University. It is the University's intent to continue to evaluate new technologies and to implement those that are more efficient, user-friendly and cost effective than the current access systems.

B. KEY ACCESS POLICY

1. Master Key and Lock System

All University facilities, currently equipped with a lock and key system, will be made accessible by the University Master Key and Lock System. Because of the need in the case of emergencies for Public Safety, Fire and Maintenance Personnel to gain immediate access to all University facilities, off-master locks will be utilized for specifically identified sensitive areas that require special security control. Such areas will be jointly determined by the Directors of Public Safety and Facilities Management with the requesting department head.

University property, except for office, scientific, and other equipment that has its own, intricate locking system, will be secured by locks having the capability for conversion to the University Master Lock System.

In the issuance of keys, individual University employees will be issued the following: (1) the lowest level key in the system hierarchy that is necessary to provide access required by the individual's position and responsibilities and (2) the least number of keys.

All keys are the property of the University. It is a violation of University policy for any employee to attempt to duplicate or to have duplicated any key issued by the University. Only the Facilities Services Department is authorized to duplicate keys. Keys issued will be marked with a distinctive stamp.

2. Issuance, Control and Responsibility for Keys

The Facilities Services Department is responsible for installing, maintaining, servicing, replacing and updating all locks used to secure University facilities and property. This responsibility includes design of lock systems, maintenance and service of locks, issuance of all keys, and maintenance of cores, keys and records. No outside locksmith may perform work at the University without the prior approval of the Director of Public Safety and the Director of Facilities Services.

The Department of Public Safety, with input from the Facilities Services Department, will establish and implement procedures and will prepare such forms as are necessary for the management of keys.

Individual room or area keys will be issued to University employees upon the request of the appropriate unit administrator (Vice-President, Dean, Chairperson or Director). Keys will be issued to individuals by name and they will be held responsible and accountable for such keys. Spare keys will not be issued.

Building keys or keys to one or more areas within a building may be obtained from Public Safety by the responsible Vice President, Dean, Chairperson, Director or other unit head. Such keys will be issued only if there is a need for access to multiple areas for performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.

Loss or theft of keys must be reported immediately to Public Safety by the person to whom the key was assigned.

Obsolete and unneeded keys should be returned to the Facilities Services Department for disposal. Department heads, or their designees, are responsible for retrieving issued keys from employees prior to termination, separation or retirement from the University.

3. Access by Non-University Personnel

Certain non-University personnel (e.g., telephone service, elevator service, meter readers and certain vendors) have an ongoing need for access to University facilities. In such cases the head of the unit which contracts for these services will provide appropriate keys to the vendor or contractor. The unit head will maintain a record of each key provided to a vendor or contractor.

In other cases where there is no ongoing, continuous need for access to University facilities, vendors and contractors will obtain keys for temporary use from the Work Control Clerk in the Facilities Services Department. Authorization for issuance of such keys should be by the unit head responsible for each vendor with appropriate notification to the department head responsible for the space.

4. University Leased Facilities

Whenever possible, the key policy for leased facilities should duplicate that of owned facilities, and responsibility for the issuance and control of keys should be contained in the language of the lease.

C. CARD ACCESS POLICY

1. Definition of Responsibilities and Users

Current use of the card access system fall into two distinct categories: residence halls and other facilities. Student residence hall access is granted through the Office for Residence Life, while access to other facilities is managed by the Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the responsible Vice President, Dean, Chairperson, Director or other unit head. Each of these managing entities defines levels of access security appropriate for their respective users.

The WildCard Office is responsible for assisting both Public Safety and Residence Life in implementing their predefined access schema on the actual system and for carrying out the encoding of the actual software to ensure that the different levels of access function as intended. The WildCard Office does not define or grant levels of access to users except in emergency situations.

2. Issuance of WildCards

The WildCard Office will produce and distribute access cards to all new users. Replacement and deactivation of lost or stolen cards will also be carried out by the WildCard office during the normal work day. After hours replacement and deactivation of lost or stolen cards will be handled through the Department of Public Safety. Lost or stolen cards must be reported for deactivation to the Public Safety Department.

Temporary WildCards can be issued by the Public Safety Department outside of the normal working hours of the WildCard Office. These cards issued by the Public Safety Department will expire at the start of the next business day that the WildCard Office is open.

3. Definition and Issuance of Residence Hall Access Privileges

The Office for Residence Life is responsible for defining levels of access privileges for entry to the residence halls by all students and the following groups of non-student users: Hall Ministers, Residence Life professional staff, Resident Assistants, Head Residents and Student Life staff. The Office for Residence Life is also responsible for granting access and facilitating entry to the halls for contracted vendors providing services under the direct supervision of its office, (e.g., moving, extermination, laundry and vending). Such vendors will be required to return temporary access cards to the Office for Residence Life prior to departing the campus each day.

Student access to the residence halls is limited to undergraduates enrolled at the University on a full-time basis. The level of an individual student's access is determined by place of residence and/or gender as follows:

Residents of a hall will be provided with 24 hour access to their own building or community of buildings (Austin/St. Rita's and all four apartment buildings are considered as single living communities).

All students may access all residence halls during the published visitation or entry hours relevant to each building, as well as halls of their same gender on a 24 hour basis.

Changes of residence or resident status that necessitate a corresponding change of a student's access privileges will be administered by the Office for Residence Life.

Hall Ministers, Office for Residence Life professional staff, Resident Assistants, Head Residents and designated Student Life staff may access all residence halls on a 24 hour basis.

Outside contractors operating under the direct supervision of the Office for Residence Life will be provided with the minimum level and duration of access required to accomplish their work. Entry will be facilitated via a temporary access card issued to Residence Life by the WildCard Office.

4. Definition and Issuance of Other Access Privileges

Access privilege is defined as the minimum level of access individuals need to carry out their work and/or study related tasks. During times of low occupancy or break periods, WildCard access to some campus facilities and residence halls may be restricted, subject to consultation between Public Safety and the appropriate Vice President, Dean, Chairperson, Director or other unit head.

Full access privileges will be made available to members of the University community only. Restricted access privileges may be made available to outside contractors and vendors to facilitate the delivery of their goods or services.

Limited WildCard admission into Athletic and Library facilities may be granted to friends and alumni of the University, subject to residency and membership requirements.

5. Repairs, Maintenance and Expansion of Access System

The WildCard Office will function as the coordinator for reports of damage or needed repair to gates, doors or the electronic components associated with the access system. Repairs to the mechanical components of the access system will be coordinated with the Facilities Services Office. The WildCard Office is responsible for basic trouble shooting, diagnosis and repair of the electronic components of the access system.

The WildCard Office will coordinate the reporting of any problems of the access system which could create security risks or operational difficulties.

Expansion of the system will be in accordance with established University standards for doors, alarms, strikes and associated hardware.

D. VIOLATIONS OF POLICY

No campus area may be secured by an unauthorized locking device. Modifying, removing or attempting to defeat or disable any access control systems, except in cases of system failure, maintenance or repair, are not permitted.

Any person causing intentional damage to University access control devices and associated hardware or software, or who props, holds open or in any way interferes with the proper securing of an access controlled entryway is in violation of University regulations and will be subject to appropriate sanctions and/or prosecution.

Key request form, Version 5