Students living on campus have one more reason not to lose their Sun Cards -- without them, students might not be able to get into their residence halls.
On-campus residents must now swipe their Sun Card in order to get into their halls and complexes.
Previously, a key separate from the room key was needed to enter.
"It's another way the University is working toward improving the safety and security of students," said Susan Mulligan, spokeswoman for Residential Life.
Mulligan said Sun Cards offer more security because they cannot be duplicated.
"Additionally, they can be programmed to allow access to certain cardholders and to certain areas," she said.
Mulligan said the badge number on the back of the Sun Card would distinguish which students are allowed to enter buildings.
"Gates [surrounding complexes] are programmed so anyone with a valid Sun Card can enter," she said.
The system was programmed so students who have classes inside residential halls, but may not live in the halls, can still enter the buildings during class hours, she added.
The project cost about $250,000 and was completed over Spring Break, Mulligan said.
Center Complex, which houses Irish, Best and Hayden halls, were the last buildings to switch to the Sun Card system.
"[ResLife] tried to get it in as soon as possible," Mulligan said.
Manzanita was the first hall to change to the system in January.
Sonora Hall, Cholla Apartments, Palo Verde Main and Palo Verde East and West were the next to get the system, Mulligan said.
McClintock Hall changed to the Sun Card system in mid-February, she added.
However, some of the residence halls will not be swapping keys for Sun Cards.
Ocotillo, Sahuaro and Mariposa -- all halls on south campus -- will not be getting the system, Mulligan said.
Ocotillo and Sahuaro are part of a development plan beginning next year that will reconstruct the halls, she added.
Mulligan said Mariposa Hall wouldn't house students next year.
Political science sophomore Kirstin Dvorchak, who lives in Center Complex, said she doesn't like the system.
"So far it's been pretty annoying," she said.
Dvorchak said the change makes it inconvenient for residents.
"You still have to have your [room] key," she said. "It's just an extra burden."
Using the Sun Card doesn't make her feel any more secure, she said.
"The [complex] gates are still open all the time anyway," she added.
But some students do like the change.
"It's a lot easier to get into other buildings," said marketing sophomore Blake Lerdall, who lives in Best Hall. "You don't have to call up your friends to let you in."
Lerdall said the change does add extra security, although he never felt unsafe in his hall.
"Alarms are sounded if the dorm doors are propped," he said.
Reach the reporter at kristi.eaton@asu.edu.
