As of the spring semester of 2019, Campus Security has plans to switch from the current paper ticketing system to an electronic ticketing system.
“Too much paper was being used,” Director of Campus Security Andrew Powell said. He noted that the system relied entirely on a heavy usage of paper.
Now, the system will continue to utilize paper; however, as Powell described it, the new system will now make it “paper light.”
Officers will now be able to submit a ticket on to an electronic device, and then, a ticket will be printed to place on the vehicle that has a parking violation on Elizabethtown College’s campus.
These modifications to the system are going into effect due to a new records management system.
This means billing will be easier to process because the Business Office will have access to the issued ticket electronically.
“[The system] should start after spring break,” Powell said. “If it isn’t implemented following spring break, then the new system will likely be implemented sometime this semester or next semester.”
Powell then explained further: “In the current system, it takes a lot of time to access everything since we’re using old carbon paper tickets. It also makes it extremely difficult to bill the ticket to the student as we have to keep track of all the tickets,” he said. “With a new system, Campus Security can be more efficient as tickets can be issued on electronic devices and then quickly printed to place on the vehicle.”
He also noted that the decision to modify the system was made to increase operational efficiency for the officer issuing the ticket on vehicles with parking violations.
Additionally, this will increase productivity by simplifying the process with the Business Office when billing students.
“In the current system, everything is completed by hand. Every ticket is issued on paper, even our copies of the ticket. It’s a lot of paper to utilize at once,” Powell said. “So, when we received a new records management system and inventory on the carbon paper tickets was low, I weighed the options. The cost associated with the paper tickets wasn’t worth it, not when there was a new system that would be more efficient for my employees.”
With a new system in which tickets can be issued on electronic devices and then printed out to place on the vehicle, the system will run more smoothly.
Both productivity and efficiency of the system will increase for Campus Security, thereby improving on the ticketing system for students at the College.
Ultimately, Powell emphasized that the new system will be more effective for employees at Campus Security.
It will also benefit students as it will ease communication when parking violations occur and students are ticketed.
The benefits of this new system adhere to Campus Security’s goals and mission statement, which, according to the Campus Security section on the College website, are to improve the quality of life for students and everyone else on campus.
The new system will launch after spring break and will likely continue onward from there.
All in all, the new system was chosen by Powell and others based on the new system’s ability to reduce the amount of paper utilized by Campus Security and its offices.
This will create a more effective system for employees at Campus Security as well as students.
Students with questions regarding the current system and the new system for parking tickets should contact Campus Security at their non-emergency phone number, 717-361-1264.
Additionally, further questions can be directed to Campus Security through email at security@etown.edu.
Students are also free to direct their questions to Powell through his email at powella@etown.edu.
