Starting this fall, "The Friendliest Campus in the South" could also become one of the South's safest campuses, thanks in part to a new biometric security system being installed at every residence hall at Jacksonville State University.

The new security system features a device that will scan the palms of students' hands for entrance into their respective residences. Also, cameras will be installed at all residence facilities across campus to help ensure the safety of all students, faculty and staff.

"The biometric door access controls have been installed at every residence hall, Pannell Apartments, Leadership House for Women, and the International House," said Kevin Hoult, JSU's director of University Housing and Residence Life. "Security cameras have been installed in the common areas of the residence halls (lobby areas, entrances and exits), and at the Houston Cole Library. Security cameras have also been installed on the exterior of residence halls to monitor the parking lots."

Additional security cameras with phones are also located on campus to help ensure the safety of all students, faculty and staff.

For Hoult, "safety over convenience" is an important aspect of campus safety. He stresses that awareness, as well as the implementation of these new security measures, will help keep people safe.

"Security is, and always will be, an issue," he said. "As we prepare to educate our students and the campus community about the importance of security within our facilities, it is our intent to encourage our students and staff to increase their sense of responsibility toward campus security."

The new system will be operated and monitored by University Housing and Residence Life and the University Police Department.

According to Chief Shawn Giddy, JSU's director of public safety, security cameras have already proven effective at the University Police Department. Cameras were installed about five years ago in the station to help monitor the evidence room and other sensitive areas in order to comply with departmental accreditation standards.

"The system works well and has solved two reported crimes already," Giddy said. "One case was a reported criminal mischief just outside Sparkman Hall and the other was a fire alarm that was pulled in Pannell Hall. In both cases, the camera systems recorded each offense and made it possible for UPD investigators to identify the offenders. (Our department) looks forward to having the system available because it will enhance safety and security for (everyone) on campus."

According to Hoult, the biometric readers will be used in conjunction with a student's ID number. External doors will unlock only after the student enters his or her ID number on a keypad, and then scans his or her palm on the reader.

Students will be allowed to enter and exit the building only where hand readers are located. If a person exits through a door that does not have a hand reader, an alarm will be set off at the front desk of that residence hall. This will notify UPD and the housing staff that someone has exited through an unauthorized door. Staff members will then be able to review video footage to identify any unauthorized exit.

Visitors will be able to enter the building via an intercom system located outside the entrance of each residence hall.

For students returning this fall, policies and procedures will be explained during their first week on campus.

"We are developing policies which will be made available to students once they arrive on campus," Hoult said. "We will have first-floor meetings [at residence halls] during the first week of classes. These meetings will include information about the new [biometric] system."

For more information, call the JSU Department of University Housing and Residence Life at 256-782-5122 or the University Police Department at 256-782-5050.

Bill Boykins, a student assistant in the Office of Public Relations, contributed to this article.