Security and Building Hours

THIS POST IS A REPUBLISHED VERSION OF AN EMAIL COMMUNICATION SENT BY AUP PRESIDENT CELESTE M. SCHENCK TO STUDENTS ON February 13, 2020, ABOUT UPCOMING CHANGES TO AUP's SECURITY SYSTEMS. IT IS PART OF OUR SAFETY & SECURITY BLOG THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

The security of our community has always been a priority for University leadership. After the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, we raised security to the top of our strategic planning goals. Over the past five years, we have created a contingency plan to unify and strengthen our security protocols, increased the presence of guards outside of our buildings, installed equipment, including turnstiles, to secure the entrance of some buildings, and developed a lockdown plan with regular drills. Visiting brigades making security inspections pronounced AUP's security apparatus amongst the best of any institution in France.   

We are now ready to launch a new phase in our security planning to better leverage technology in the service of enhanced security. I'm writing to let you know that you should expect to see a gradual increase in the role of equipment and technology across campus, while at the same time a change in the way we deploy security personnel. 

To begin with, turnstiles will be installed at La Tour-Maubourg and St. Dominique in the weeks ahead. The installation of a turnstile or similar solution at Passage Landrieu is also planned, currently pending negotiations with that building’s management.

In addition, we will set up a new video surveillance system outside all our buildings. Installation will begin in March and we aim for the entire system to be operational by the end of April/beginning of May. These cameras will not only provide a clearly visible deterrent, but will also allow us to better observe access to our buildings and their surroundings. 

Finally, we will be making a few other changes to building hours and security management. For the foreseeable future, with the exception of during a few special events, the Quai entrance to the Life and Learning Commons will be closed, requiring that all entry and exiting of the building take place through the Combes turnstiles. After doing an exhaustive year-long study of building use, we have determined that very few people remain in the building beyond 10 pm or on Friday or Saturday evenings. We will thus be closing the Quai complex at 10 pm nightly, except for during exam periods when extended hours will prevail. On Saturdays the Quai/Combes complex will be open from 10:00 am to 18:00; on Sundays, from 13:00 to 18:00 during the academic year.

Adding the new elements described above to our security toolkit will allow us to lighten the heavy security guard presence on campus without reducing our overall protection. Guards will, of course, continue to be present outside of University buildings, though now they will adhere to rounds of random schedules without predictability, which will in itself be a deterrent. We will also continue to practice regularly both fire and lockdown drills to increase our readiness to respond in the unlikely, but of course always possible, event of an emergency.

These new measures require that all AUP campus constituencies carry their badges/cards with them at all times to access buildings, and to expect bag checks when guards are present. 

Thank you for supporting AUP's security efforts by adhering to these necessary rules and guidelines, and by being vigilant always while you are on campus. As always, if you see anything at all suspicious, please notify Phil Von Eiff or Marc Monthéard immediately.  Our common safety and security depends upon it.