CBORD | A Diversified Education Technology Company | Dan Park

Heath Price, Associate Vice President for Partnerships at UK, expressed enthusiasm for the WildCard Mobile ID’s contribution to the student experience, “The WildCard Mobile ID is another opportunity to enhance the student experience at UK through technology. This will allow students to utilize their devices to navigate campus life with more ease and security.”

CBORD, a premier technology provider, partnered with HID, a global leader in access and security solutions, to bring this contact-free access solution to fruition. By leveraging the CBORD Mobile ID available through the GET app on the App Store and Google Play, students can seamlessly integrate their WildCard Mobile ID onto their devices.

Rosa Crisantos, Project Lead with UK Auxiliary Services, expressed the excitement surrounding the launch: “The excitement surrounding this launch is palpable, as we empower our students with cutting-edge technology.”

Paul London, a Project Lead with UK Information Technology Services (ITS), emphasized the transformative nature of this technology: “With a simple tap, UK is embracing a new era of convenience, security, efficiency, and enhanced student experiences.”

The WildCard Mobile ID also offers advanced features like “Express Mode” for Apple Wallet users, enabling swift and easy access to campus areas. Students can even use their WildCard Mobile ID without unlocking their devices. Additionally, the system’s safety measures include options to remotely issue WildCard Mobile IDs and employ the “Find My” app for immediate device locking and locating.

The move from physical cards to mobile credentials not only enhances convenience but also boosts security. Lizzy Hornung, Student Body President, expressed her delight with the new solution: “No more digging through my bag to find a physical card, forgetting it at home or accidentally dropping it in the rain—it’s all already in my hand.”

Jason Marcus, Student Body Vice President, emphasized the doors this technology opens for students: “This opens many doors for students—both literally and figuratively.”

While the WildCard Mobile ID will be introduced in phases, the university community is encouraged to visit the University of Kentucky website and social media platforms to witness the innovative mobile credentials in action.

A new study commissioned by CBORD, a leading provider of technology solutions for higher education, found that top institutional leaders are increasingly focused on improving both physical and network security, reflecting ongoing increases in school-focused violence and in cyberattacks on school computer networks. The result is an increased investment in automation and mobile systems that some see as essential for long-term survival.

The CBORD Insights™ Student Experience Survey* compiled responses from hundreds of students and leaders at higher education institutions across the country. The findings provide insight into the connected campus of the future, where an integrated automated environment will efficiently meet the needs of a security-conscious population. Additionally, the survey illustrates how automation and analytics are reshaping the higher education landscape.

The findings reflect recent concern for cyber threats to college campuses. In May of 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a notification informing colleges and universities that sensitive login credentials had been found for sale online, potentially leading to subsequent cyberattacks against the schools. In addition, the ever-present threat of on-campus violence has institutional leaders looking toward technologies to better track and inform students of potential harm.

“Enhancing on-campus security has been identified as a top priority for school leaders in the next two to three years,” said Dan Park, chief executive officer of CBORD. “Many are exploring the deployment of advanced mobile technology to improve students’ physical and cybersecurity.”

According to the research, nearly two-thirds of top higher education decision-makers felt that threats to physical and network security were among their top priorities for the near future. Vulnerability to cyberattacks has prompted many institutions to migrate infrastructure to security providers with the highest protection metrics. Likewise, many schools are updating their access control systems to more accurately monitor use of student IDs across campus. Door prop alerts and remote door locking controls are also seeing increased adoption.

“Student safety and the security of networks have taken on a new dimension with the escalating threats,” said Mike Henderson of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “Our students are transacting all across campus, using their campus cards or mobile credentials to access buildings, shop for supplies, and order food from on- and off-campus vendors. As they move about their day, we can effectively monitor transactions and safety.”

The study finds that nearly half of college leaders have plans to invest in automation over the next two years to address ongoing staffing concerns and create new revenue streams for their institutions. Moreover, labor shortages remain a top concern for institutional leaders across higher education as they plan for smaller class sizes beginning in 2025. Rounding out this list of challenges, nearly half of higher education leaders have plans to invest in systems to improve security on their campus.