Obtaining a New Proximity Capable Card
As was communicated in a memo from the Office of Safety and Security (August 7, 2006), proximity locks were installed on most academic and administrative building external doors. A proximity lock is opened by holding an identification card (the Grinnell College Pioneer One-Card) near or up to a small box mounted near the entry door(s).
To properly work, the Pioneer One-Card must have proximity capabilities and the cardholder must have been granted off hours access to the building. Over the past few years, only faculty and staff in specific departments were issued a Pioneer One-Card with proximity capability.
The Pioneer One-Card you are currently carrying may or may not allow you to access buildings during hours outside of the normal work day. To determine whether or not your current Pioneer One-Card has proximity capabilities, turn your card over to the back side and check for a multi-digit code in the lower right corner of the card (see image above).
If a number appears in the lower right corner of your card, you currently hold a proximity capable card. You do not need to obtain a new Pioneer One-Card.
If a number does not appear in the lower right corner of your card, it does not have proximity capabilities. You will need to follow the steps below to ensure that you are able to enter campus buildings in the future:
1. Call the Pioneer One-Card Office at ext. 3661 to schedule an appointment for a new Pioneer One-Card. (The Pioneer One-Card Office is located on the second floor of the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center.
2. You must bring your current Pioneer One-Card to your appointment (if you have one). Your photograph will need to be updated and a new card with proximity capabilities will be issued to you at that time.
Once you have determined whether or not your card has proximity capabilities and you hold a proximity capable card, contact your building coordinator to review your individual building entry access. A list of building coordinators is available from the Office of Campus Safety and Security.
The building coordinator is responsible for communicating your request to the appropriate executive administrator for approval or denial and pass approvals on to Campus Safety and Security. Proximity access will be entered into the system by a security staff member; this will then enable you to enter academic and administrative buildings during off hours, if approved.
