Lock, Key and Card
Frequently Asked Questions

Obtaining a New ID/Access Card


  • At the start of the school year, new ID's will typically be in key packets for incoming students for whom an ID is on file (i.e. Freshmen, Transfer students, etc. ) if they have sent in their picture previously. If they have not sent in their picture, they will need to visit either the ID Office in the Ulrich Center or the Office of Access Control to get their picture taken and a card produced. Lines are ususally shorter at the Office of Access Control on Arrival days.

    New Faculty or Full Time Staff should ALWAYS obtain ID's through the ID office in the Ulrich Center, located at the upper street level in Grace Hall ( Building 39 ).

    With Departmental approval, Wage, Volunteer or Part Time employees can instead obtain a special access card through the Office of Access Control.

    Lost or Stolen ID/Access Cards


  • Lost or Stolen ID cards can be deactivated temporarily at no charge. During the normal business day, report them lost to the Office of Access Control at 758-6175; on Weekends or after business hours, report them lost to the campus police at 758-4200 to have the duty Access Control Technician deactivate them.

  • During the time the card is deactivated the student must "buddy up" with someone for building access and must have their ID keyed in manually to access Food Services. The card cannot be used to make Bookstore purchases, etc.

    If the card is later found prior to obtaining a replacement card , it can be re-activated by bringing the card in person to the ID or Access Control Office on the next business day. De-activated ID Cards CANNOT be reactivated by a phone call or after business hours ( such as weekends ). ( It should also be noted that once a replacement card has been issued, the old card cannot be re-activated under any conditions.)

  • Instead of merely de-activating the card, a replacement card can be obtained during normal business hours ( NOT after hours ). This card eliminates all reference to the old card, permanently de-activating it. ( It CANNOT be re-activated ). Any monies or access levels assigned to the old card will be moved to the replacement card.

  • The cost of a replacement ID card is ten dollars, which will be billed on the Bursar account. The Office of Access Control cannot accept payments.

  • Replacement ID cards can be obtained from the Office of Access Control and Locksmithing or at ID Office in the Ulrich Center across from the Post Office and next to the Gold Plus Office )during normal business hours - 8am to 4 pm Monday through Friday except Holidays or breaks .

    • Changes in Building Access Authorizations


    Requests for changes in Building Access Level Authorization for students should be made through a department contact for Academic areas, or a Sorority Officer for Sorority access. There is generally no need to bring your card to the Office of Access Control to accomplish this.

    Requests for changes in Building Access Level Authorization for Employees, Volunteers or Authorized Students should be sent to inlock@Lehigh.edu

    Please allow at least three business days in advance of need if at all possible. Often levels need to be created and all affected panels re-initialized.

    If your building has a department contact or committee related to such authorization, the request should be made by them in most cases, rather than by an individual faculty member, etc. to simplify the process.

    Lost or Stolen Residence Hall or Sorority Keys


  • Residents should be encouraged to obtain replacements as soon as possible when keys are lost or stolen. During business hours, they will normally be given a temporary set which can be used until the core is changed. This gives them a full business day to try to locate the set that was lost. However, if the set was lost with ID or they are concerned that someone might be able to determine where the keys operate, the core can be immediately changed, at no additional cost.

  • The cost of a core change is a flat rate of $25 for the core change, and a flat fee of $5 for a replacement Section ( Hallway or Laundry Door ) key, during the day, for a total of $30 if both were lost. ( A $10 flat fee per key for replacement fraternity keys applies, and locks are only changed upon request.) If a technician must be called out to change the core after hours, it is an additional $75 to recoup the expense.

  • Normally, the above charges will occur. However, if there are circumstances which justify doing so, the Office of Residential Services may waive the charges upon successful appeal. ( Contact them at 758-3500 if you believe such circumstances exist.) The Office of Access Control and Locksmithing has nothing to do with billing or fees.

    Keys for Academic Areas


    Please remember that although the Office of Access Control controls card access on campus and keys for all Residence Halls, Sororities and Fraternities, Academic Area keys are issued through the Office of Facilities Services main office at 461 Webster Street

    ( 758-3970 ) for the main ( Asa Packer ) campus or the Goodman campus ) or in Room C011 in Iacocca Hall for the Mountaintop campus.

    Found ID ( Identification ) Cards or Keys

  • If cards or keys are found, DO NOT hold onto them or put them in the Department or Staff Office to "see who lost them". Notify Access Control IMMEDIATELY at 8-6175 and return them to the Office of Access Control as soon as possible, where they can be computer matched and returned to their proper owner. This also stops any charges for replacements that might have occurred to the owners if this procedure was not followed.

  • After Hours, the key(s) or card(s) can be returned by dropping them into the "Key Drop Box" next to the door of the office. Pull the handle down toward you to expose the drawer, and make certain the item(s) are in the drawer portion. Then swing the drawer shut so that they enter the building. Check the drawer to make certain they have dropped into the catchbox inside, and are not still trapped in the drawer portion or slide.

    Location of The Office of Access Control

    The Office of Access Control and Locksmithing

    The Office of Access Control is located at 42 University Drive, just uphill from Price Hall and just below the Richards Residence Hall. It is across the intersection from Lamberton Hall on the upper street side, before you get to the Ulrich Center.

    There is a small lot next to the building for short term parking while transacting business with the office.

    For more directions to the Office from other places on Campus, click on the link just below the building picture above.

    Work Requests

    The Facilities Services Office in Iacocca Hall room C011 issues keys and issues Work Orders for the Mountaintop Campus( 758-5310 )

    Work Orders for all other areas can be sent to Work Order Central through FSWORK or by phone to 758-3940 or 758-3941.

    Terminology For When Hardware is damaged or defective

    This is important, because these problems could create a potentially life-threatening situation, particularly if a fire were to occur in the area.

    Use of the proper terms to describe a problem can speed up response time and effectiveness of repairs considerably.

    To describe the part, pay attention to where on the door or door frame the part is attached:


    Use the terms above to call Work Order Central ( 758-3940 for Fraternities, or 758-3941 for Residence Halls or Academic Buildings ) during business hours, or the Campus Police ( 758-4200 ) for after hours emergencies.

    The Fundamentals of Security and Life Safety

    Although its primary area of responsiblity is to maintain and operate the Card Access system in effect on the Residence Halls exterior doors and some of the Academic Buildings, the Office of Access Control and Locksmithing also maintains all of the physical locking devices on campus, and establishes keying systems as well as hardware and keying standards to help protect both life and property at Lehigh University.

    Lehigh University has always placed a high value on Security and Life Safety, and this office is but one of the ways it does so. This office relies heavily on many other offices on campus in order to be as effective as possible.
    • Residence hall housing and related policies are set by Residential Services at 63 University Drive. ( telephone 758-3500 )
    • Campus Police provide emergency response and law enforcement( telephone 758-4200 )
    • The Dean of Students office provides many security and safety related education programs covering both the residence areas and academic buildings, and Residence Life Gryphons lock and unlock the hallway section doors each night during the academic year.
    • Other functions are provided by many other offices on campus, too many to mention, but all of which play an important part in Security and Life Safety at Lehigh University.

    But the most important factor affecting security and Life Safety is
    YOU.
    If you leave your keys lying around, or your desk or room unlocked, or you lose your access card and do not report it, you are destroying every effort that can be made to protect you and those around you. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be aware of security issues and take steps to protect yourself, and to help others to do so.
    • DON'T let strangers follow you into your building.
      ( even if they " LOOK like they belong there " )

    • Report suspicious people or events in or near your building.
      ( But you should never directly confront them yourself )

    • When a lock is broken or a key is lost, report it PROMPTLY.
      ( Don't wait to see if it "turns up" )

    • LEARN what the procedures are for lost keys or a lost access card BEFORE you need to know. ( see above )

    • UNDERSTAND the principles behind the policies. For example, tampering with a Hallway door can leave residents vulnerable to fire should one occur. A lost ID card can be used by anyone finding it to enter the building until it is cancelled. A room left unlocked while keys are lost leaves its occupants vulnerable to thefts or risks to personal safety.

    Page design and graphics by Don O'Shall
    (c) 1998,2003,2004 at Allentown, PA-
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
    Last Updated 12/23/2004
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