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University of Virginia joins George Mason and Rockhurst in deploying Acre’s comprehensive access control systems, transforming student IDs into all-in-one credentials for building access, dining, recreation, libraries, and real-time emergency response
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Thursday, August 21, 2025 – As students return for the fall semester, Acre Security, a global leader in cloud-native physical and digital security solutions, trusted by more than 30 Fortune 500 companies like Amazon, Google, SAP, Coca Cola, and Mastercard, announces the successful deployment of a comprehensive access control platform, now protecting more than 69,000 students across three major universities. With the University of Virginia (UVA) completing its campus-wide rollout, and joining George Mason University and Rockhurst University, these implementations set a new benchmark for campus security as institutions nationwide respond to growing safety challenges.
The implementations were delivered through Acre's partnership with Atrium Campus, a leading cloud-native campus card and mobile credential management provider serving institutions from 300 to 144,000+ users. Together, Acre and Atrium enable student IDs to also serve as credentials that integrate campus life with critical safety protocols. Students use a single credential–whether physical card, mobile device, or biometric authentication–to access residence halls, academic buildings, dining facilities, libraries, and recreational centers. This same intelligent system provides administrators with real-time visibility for threat detection and emergency management. At University of Virginia and George Mason University, Atrium Campus powered mobile credentials are used with the Acre Security platform to elevate the student experience while increasing security.
"We're building the future of campus safety–where intelligent systems anticipate threats before they materialize," said Kumar Sokka, CEO of Acre Security. "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."
Future capabilities on Acre's roadmap include AI-powered anomaly detection for proactive threat identification, enhanced biometric authentication options, integration with campus transportation and off-campus services, advanced visitor management and contractor access protocols, and automated compliance reporting for Clery Act and other regulations.
Acre offers a full range of access readers tailored to different environments and security needs. Their NGCR Readers are built for outdoor use, featuring IK09 impact resistance and real-time OLED displays for instant feedback. Multi-Tech Readers bridge older legacy systems with modern mobile access options, supporting everything from traditional 125 kHz cards to Apple Wallet. For high-security areas, Secure-Touch Readers combine sleek glass-front designs with enterprise-grade encryption. All these readers seamlessly integrate with Acre’s software platforms, ACTpro, ACT365, Access It!, and DNA Fusion, creating a unified security system that adapts to the unique architecture of each campus.
This announcement follows recent campus security incidents and universities accelerating investments in campus security infrastructure, with the University of New Mexico announcing $20 million in security enhancements, and Purdue University and the University of Victoria rolling out mobile IDs. Universities are increasingly viewing physical access control as mission-critical infrastructure essential to modern campus operations.
Acre's comprehensive ecosystem provides unified access management through a single credential that controls access to all campus facilities, from dormitories to academic buildings. The system enables real-time emergency response with instant campus-wide lockdown capabilities and zone-specific controls during active threats. Digital mustering and accountability features provide automated tracking during evacuations, fires, or shelter-in-place situations. The mobile-ready architecture supports smartphone-based credentials via Apple and Google Wallet alongside traditional cards. Comprehensive safety tracking offers location-based features for emergency situations including security incidents and missing person cases.
"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," noted Jeff Groom, Director of Engineering AI at Acre Security. "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."
Unlike traditional on-premises systems, Acre Access Control’s (aAC) cloud-native architecture allows universities to continuously enhance capabilities without disruptive hardware replacements. The platform's open architecture supports integration with existing campus systems while providing a clear pathway for emerging technologies. In the event of a campus alert, administrators can instantly identify who is in affected buildings and coordinate response efforts accordingly.
"We’re building infrastructure for the next decade," added Sokka. "When students know they're protected by the most advanced security ecosystem on the planet, they're free to innovate, collaborate, and push the boundaries of knowledge. That's the future we're building at Acre–where security becomes the foundation for limitless possibility."
For more information about Acre Security's education solutions, visit https://acresecurity.com/industries/secure-your-educational-institution-with-acre-security
