Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/21/25

Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University. The new platform allows student IDs to be used as credentials to access facilities like residence halls, dining halls, libraries, and more.

Students can use the credential of their choice (either a physical card, mobile device, or biometric authentication) to access facilities. The system also lets university administrators real-time visibility of card usage for emergency management and threat detection purposes.

"We're building the future of campus safety–where intelligent systems anticipate threats before they materialize," said Acre Security CEO Kumar Sokka. "We’re leveraging the best in traditional security to create living ecosystems that protect not just physical spaces, but the very essence of academic freedom. We need to safeguard physical intrusions and sophisticated digital attacks, and that requires systems that adapt, learn, and evolve alongside the communities they protect."

Acre’s planned future developments include AI-powered anomaly detection, enhanced options for biometric identification, integrating with campus transportation and other off-campus amenities, visitor management, and automated compliance reporting for Clery Act regulations, according to the news release.

"Campus safety means more than just safety with physical access–what’s needed is an intelligent ecosystem that protects students from both traditional and emerging threats," said Jeff Groom, Acre Security’s Director of Engineering AI. "Our AI capabilities are designed to identify unusual patterns, from potential security breaches to attempts at digital manipulation through deepfakes or social engineering. Whether managing routine access, responding to emergencies, or protecting student identities in our increasingly digital world, the platform continuously learns and adapts to each institution's unique security landscape."

The system’s capabilities include unified access management from a single credential; real-time emergency response with campus-wide lockdowns and zone-specific controls; and digital mustering and accountability features for tracking during evacuations, fires, or shelter-in-place events.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Classical building columns display digital data streams

    The Campus Nervous System: Why Facilities Risk Is Now a Leadership Issue in Higher Education

    Facility performance now intersects with safety, compliance, on-campus experience, institutional reputation, and financial resilience. That places it firmly on the leadership agenda.