Mobile-enabled Access Control

Sponsored content by CBORD

The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago has taken access control in its residence halls mobile with CBORD®.

Students can now access their residence hall rooms and other doors by opening a smartphone application (CBORD Mobile ID™) or sending a text message (“Open MyDoor”). These services are offered through CBORD’s CS Access™, leveraging the security and convenience of students’ devices of choice — their phones.

Additionally, staff can receive temporary, elevated door access privileges with CBORD’s “MasterKey” text-enabled feature. For example, an RA can send a text message to receive instant access to a student’s room when responding to a late-night lockout call. The privilege elevation is granted only when pre-approved by management, and all occupants of the room or suite receive notification of the access. This innovative solution has resulted in significant security improvements and cost savings at IIT, drastically reducing the need for costly and risky metal master keys.

IIT was honored with the 2013 Innovative Technology award from the National Association of Campus Card Users (NACCU) for these mobile-enabled security solutions.

Greg Makowski, IIT’s director of Technical Services for Auxiliary Services, says, “It is an honor for the HawkCard program to be recognized for implementing cutting-edge, integrated solutions that really drive student satisfaction and enhance security. Many of these developments with CBORD came as a result of extensive research and feedback from our campus community, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Arlington High School

    Arlington High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Arlington High School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.