Mesa Legend - ARCHIVES - Vol. 40, Issue 9


Volume 40, Issue 9. Today is .

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Volume 40, Issue 9.
February 4, 2003

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Security for employees to be increased by Smart Card
By Stephanie McKee
Mesa Legend

MCC plans on implementing an Employee Smart Card Project, which is intended to make life easier for all MCC full-time employees.

The Employee Smart Card Project is a proposed plan involving the use of a new identification card, which will include a photo i.d. and a bar code that will allow access to open doors and parking lots. The card will also contain a smart chip that will contain an employees’ personal information, like passwords to voice mail, and e-mail. The card will also contain a monetary system to replace bankcards and cash. With one card an employee will be able to replace keys, excess cards and store countless passwords.

“The Employee Smart Card Project will serve as a one-stop card,” said committee chairman Bill Dehaan.

Dean of Adminstrative Services, Ron Etter, appointed Dehaan, who is also the director of Network Services, to head a team of college representatives to improve the employee identification system. The team consisted of representatives from personnel, public safety officials, and members of the faculty senate.

Although the group only met five times, they addressed campus concerns. The committee was concerned by a general lack of safety. They wanted a way to recognize employees on campus.
Currently, there is nothing separating college employees from students. They also addressed the issue of access into buildings and certain parking lots.

Employees will be required to wear the Smart Card around their necks with a lanyard or on their lapel. And only they will be allowed to enter certain classrooms or parking lots with their Smart Cards.
“The Smart Card serves as an up-to-date description for people that identifies who and what they are,” Dehaan added.

The Smart Card committee presented their idea to the College Leadership Group in early December. The proposed plan is still under review because of the financial commitment the plan would require.

Currently, the identification costs run about 40 cents per card. With the new system, each card would cost approximately $7 per card, which would be funded by MCC. The school would also have to install Smart Card readers on certain doors and at certain parking lots for the cards to work.

“We are hoping to implement this technology on new construction, not on the current buildings, because the costs would be too monumental,” Dehaan explained. “We should think of the Smart Card not as a barrier, but rather as an enabler of the future.”

About 1,500 employees will receive a Smart Card in summer or early fall. Any full-tiem employee, including active retirees and adjunct teachers would be eligible to receive the Smart Card. The plan included only the main campus, Red Mountain, and certain laptops for access with the Smart Card.