We currently operate with a loaner key system
where students who are
locked out show ID and are issued a loaner
key by a desk worker.
However, we have had problems with keys being
issued to non residents of
the room and turning up missing. Please
share how you handle lock outs
on your campus.
While we utilize loaner keys, we only allow
them to be checked out through
the professionally staffed office during the
day to assure that the proper
tracking paperwork and identification checks
are completed. If the student
needs to be let into their room during hours
other than the standard office
hours, they are provided a lock-out through
the paraprofessional staff
on-call. The first one of these lock-outs
is free before midnight. After
midnight the lockout cost ten dollars ($10.00)
each time. Additionally,
after the first time, a lockout between 5:00
PM and midnight costs five
dollars ($5.00) each time.
We use combination locks in our residence
halls and keys for our townhouse complex. We do not loan out any
keys if someone is locked out. If a student is locked out, they need
to find a residence life staff member or call Public Safety to be let back
into the townhouse unit. Only the assigned residents of that townhouse
unit can ask for a res. life staff member or Public Safety officer to let
them in. We will not unlock the door for people not assigned to the
space. We do not charge for this service.
We have the same lockout system whereby the
desk staff check out a spare
key. The student must show an ID and
sign out the key. I wouldn't consider
changing our system if the staff members were
letting others have the key.
I would take the desk workers(s) to task if
they can't do their job better.
There are clear procedures, and if the desk
staff can't handle that, then
they should be terminated. We are providing
a valuable service for the
residents. Our duty staff don't have
keys, so this is the only option
available to us. We do not have the
problem with the wrong people checking
out keys. That may be because they know
they will be in serious trouble if
a key gets in the wrong hands. Just
my thoughts on the subject.
