New Installations

Benefits of using electronic access control to secure spaces in your department:

  • Keyless access to spaces: Departments who install card readers to their spaces no longer have to issue keys to those spaces. This means that unlike situations where doors have to be re-keyed when a key is lost, access to the space can be secured quickly without any changes to the door hardware. Please note that if an i-card is misplaced or stolen, the loss should be reported immediately.
  • Audit trail of access: The access control system maintains a detailed log of which cardholder accessed which door and when. Area Access Managers can run these reports for the spaces that they are responsible for via the AAM application.
  • Schedules for locking doors: The access control system allows the establishment of locking and unlocking schedules for doors. This allows doors to automatically lock and unlock at specified times (e.g., M-F 7am-5pm; S-S closed) without any intervention. Lock schedules can also be changed to accommodate the needs of departments or for special events. Note that Area Access Managers cannot change door schedules on the same day. Schedule changes need to be requested by emailing buildingaccess@uic.edu.
  • Card access to unlock doors:  The card reader at a door can be programmed to unlock the door. For example, a privileged user can unlock a door by double-swiping or double-scanning their i-card.
  • Self-service management of access lists: Using the AAM web application, authorized Area Access Managers can manage the list of departmental users who have access to their secured spaces. Departments can add and remove users from their access lists. Changes made to access lists are applied to doors automatically within 15 minutes.
  • Alarms: Doors that are on the access control system can be alarmed if they are propped open, or if someone uses a key override instead of using their i-card. For situations in which doors are propped open, the system can have a local audible alarm sound at the door to emphasize the importance of keeping the door closed. Alarms are received and monitored at the UIC Police Department 24×7, 365 days a year.
  • Intercoms: Need to be able to “buzz” a visitor in after a brief interaction by camera or by phone? The access control system integrates with video intercom systems to allow departments to enable visitor entry into their spaces after visual or verbal verification of identity.

Access Control Equipment Installation

Campus policy restricts departments or end-users from installing their own access control infrastructure or systems. All installs of access control equipment must be coordinated and performed through OVCAS.

The installation of card readers for access control on campus is usually performed by Facilities Management unless the installation is part of a larger capital project. To submit a request to install a new card reader, please submit a billable request using FMWeb.

Cost of Installations

The cost of an access control install varies based on the location of the spaces, the nature and number of doors that need to be secured, and the type of access control features that are required on the door.

  • A typical wired card reader installation costs around $5,000.
  • A typical wireless card reader installation costs around $2,000.
  • A typical intercom installation costs around $2,500.

Please note that these estimates are for budgetary purposes only and the actual costs for each install will vary based on the specific circumstances of the install. Additionally, when installing multiple devices (e.g. an intercom and a card reader, or multiple card readers), there may be economies of scale that can reduce the overall cost of installation.