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From your experience, would you say this is the norm for US/North American campuses? Do non-North American campuses have different policies, in your experience

by dsq 4y ago

From your experience, would you say this is the norm for US/North American campuses? Do non-North American campuses have different policies, in your experience? I am asking because my experience with campuses (not in North America) has been very different. Gated entrances that filter out anyone who doesn't have a specific, sanctioned purpose. These were invariably state-run or sponsored institutions.

impendia 4y ago
Yes, I'd say this is the norm nearly everywhere I've been -- although I've mostly only been to universities in higher-income countries. There are occasional exceptions; for example, the American University of Beirut had manned gates, although the guards usually just let people walk through. The one common exception I've seen is libraries. For example, at the main library at the University of South Carolina, there is a gate, and you have to either swipe your campus ID or register as a visitor.
Jenda_ 4y ago
In .cz, the universities are either completely open, or there are turnstiles/card entry which is possible to easily social-engineer[1]. The lectures are open and nobody asks if you actually study there (this would be even practically impossible with mass courses). The practicals/seminaries depend on particular tutor, but visitors are generally tolerated (sometimes even welcomed). In practicals where some material or resource is consumed (biology labs, welding tutorials) it's of course a different case. I was visiting university lectures while at high-school, and then I did some totally out-of-curriculum courses when at the university. (speaking of https://www.mff.cuni.cz/en https://www.mff.cuni.cz/en, https://www.natur.cuni.cz/eng https://www.natur.cuni.cz/eng and https://fel.cvut.cz/en/ https://fel.cvut.cz/en/, YMMV) [1] Just say "I go to lecture XYZ", or slip with someone thru, or the best strategy is probably to lie about forgetting the card at home (nobody checks it), as "I go to lecture XYZ but I don't actually study here" spawns weird conversations with the watchman. For example, at some buildings the card entry was installed only to prevent the tourists using the university toilets :) and the security is instructed to let in anyone who looks like a genuine attendant.

by dsq 4y ago

impendia 4y ago

Yes, I'd say this is the norm nearly everywhere I've been -- although I've mostly only been to universities in higher-income countries. There are occasional exceptions; for example, the American University of Beirut had manned gates, although the guards usually just let people walk through. The one common exception I've seen is libraries. For example, at the main library at the University of South Carolina, there is a gate, and you have to either swipe your campus ID or register as a visitor.

Jenda_ 4y ago

In .cz, the universities are either completely open, or there are turnstiles/card entry which is possible to easily social-engineer[1]. The lectures are open and nobody asks if you actually study there (this would be even practically impossible with mass courses). The practicals/seminaries depend on particular tutor, but visitors are generally tolerated (sometimes even welcomed). In practicals where some material or resource is consumed (biology labs, welding tutorials) it's of course a different case. I was visiting university lectures while at high-school, and then I did some totally out-of-curriculum courses when at the university. (speaking of https://www.mff.cuni.cz/en https://www.mff.cuni.cz/en, https://www.natur.cuni.cz/eng https://www.natur.cuni.cz/eng and https://fel.cvut.cz/en/ https://fel.cvut.cz/en/, YMMV) [1] Just say "I go to lecture XYZ", or slip with someone thru, or the best strategy is probably to lie about forgetting the card at home (nobody checks it), as "I go to lecture XYZ but I don't actually study here" spawns weird conversations with the watchman. For example, at some buildings the card entry was installed only to prevent the tourists using the university toilets :) and the security is instructed to let in anyone who looks like a genuine attendant.