UHCL’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) should have it be standard procedure to require its staff to visibly display their UHCL identification at all times while working in classrooms or offices. Security should not be reactive. It should be proactive, clear, and visible.
“Our staff typically introduce themselves and explain their purpose when servicing equipment in classrooms or offices,” a representative from OIT said in an email responding to questions about staff identification protocols. The department clarified that its technicians are not required to display their UHCL ID badges unless specifically asked to do so.
That policy is insufficient and potentially unsafe.
UHCL classrooms, media spaces and student offices regularly house thousands of dollars’ worth of university-owned equipment. In some cases, those devices also store sensitive data, such as student information or restricted media files. Allowing unidentified personnel to move freely through these areas without any visible form of verification invites confusion and serious security vulnerabilities.
Relying on students or staff to challenge someone who is already inside a workspace shifts the burden onto bystanders instead of the institution. Most people will assume anyone handling electronics or cables is “supposed to be there,” which creates an easy opportunity for impersonation and exploitation. A visible ID badge removes that uncertainty before it even arises and establishes immediate legitimacy.
Requiring visible identification would strengthen both accountability and security by making it clear who belongs in a restricted space, discouraging impersonation by outside individuals and reinforcing professional transparency. These are standards that already exist in most corporate IT departments and at many universities where technicians are expected to display ID as part of workplace protocol.
UHCL already requires students to present their campus ID for far lesser occasions, like testing centers, building access, and even some campus events, yet doesn’t extend the same level of precaution is to the individuals servicing and removing institutional hardware out in the open or behind closed doors.
For more information on OIT services and policies, you can visit their official website.
