Access and Security

Security is a collective responsibility. The University and the residential community are both concerned about and responsible for the safety and security of housing. There are some things which each resident can do to help:

  • Do not prop open section or building doors for any reason.
  • Always lock your apartment door and carry your keys.
  • Do not admit unknown or unidentified people to locked sections or buildings. Residents who have a legitimate reason to seek admission to a building should be willing to show their ID.
  • If there are people found in the buildings that are unknown or unidentified, report the situation to a staff member or to the Lehigh University Police. It is mandatory that any resident present a Lehigh ID card upon the request of any University community official. Refusal to do so can result in disciplinary action.
  • Try not to lose your ID card or room key; and never loan them to others. If keys or ID card are lost or stolen, contact the IDEAL Office and Lehigh University Police immediately.
  • Report all incidents of theft or damage to the Office of Housing Services.

For the complete information on Keys and IDs, please reference the Building Access Policy on the IDEAL Office website.

Keys and ID Cards

ID cards will only operate the doors in the area(s) to which the student has been authorized to access. Attempts to use a card in area(s) other than those authorized will be monitored and may subject the student to disciplinary action. 

ID Card Stops Working 

If an ID card becomes de-magnetized, worn or broken and stops working due to normal wear and tear, the card should be taken to the IDEAL Office for exchange. ID cards that have been cut, burned, hole-punched, chewed, etc. will be considered to be the result of deliberate damage. A fee of $30 will be charged for a card that appears to be the result of deliberate damage. 

Lost or Stolen Card

If your Lehigh Pass (ID card) is lost or stolen, immediately deactivate it via the Transact eAccounts app or on the web. If the card is stolen, immediately make a report with LUPD.

Keep in mind that this will temporarily disable your access to buildings, your meal plan, Dining Dollars and Clutch Cash. Follow the deactivation instructions of your choice:

Transact eAccounts Mobile App

  1. Open the Transact eAccounts app.
  2. Tap the Settings gear icon at the top right of the screen, then choose "Card Management."
  3. Toggle the switch Off (left) to deactivate your lost card.

Transact eAccounts Web

  1. Log into Transact eAccounts and choose "Card Services" at the top of the screen.
  2. If the lost card is currently active, select "Deactivate Card" to disable it.

Obtaining a Replacement Card

A replacement Lehigh Pass may be obtained at the IDEAL Office (see Replacement ID Cards), located at 42 University Drive, during regular office hours. A $30.00 replacement fee will be charged to your Bursar account.

If you live on campus, and your Lehigh Pass (ID card) is lost or stolen after regular office hours or on the weekend follow these steps:

  • Immediately deactivate your card by following the instructions above.
  • Contact a Gryphon via the building cell phone if you live in a residence hall, or contact LUPD if you live in a fraternity or sorority. They will be able to issue you a Temporary Access Card, which will give you building access until the next business day.
  • The Temporary Access Card must be returned to the IDEAL Office and a replacement Lehigh Pass (ID card) must be obtained the next business day. Failure to return the Temporary Access Card to the IDEAL Office the next business day will result in an additional $30.00 replacement fee charged to your Bursar account.

If your ID card is found after being deactivated, but before receiving a replacement:

  • In the Transact eAccounts app:
    • Tap the Settings gear icon at the top right of the screen, then choose "Card Management."
    • Toggle the switch On (right) to activate your found card and services will be activated immediately.
  • On the Transact eAccounts website:
    • Log into Transact eAccounts and choose "Card Services" at the top of the screen.
    • Select "Activate Card" to begin using it again and services will be activated immediately.

If you find your Lehigh Pass after your replacement card has been issued, you cannot re-activate it. 

If keys were stolen, and this can be verified by a police report made at LUPD, the service charged will be waived.

Residents are provided one set of keys (1 key in traditional housing and 2 keys in suite/apartment housing). 

Key(s) issued to an individual may not be given to anyone who is not a resident of the particular room/building. All persons involved in such a transaction will be subject to disciplinary action. It is against regulations to duplicate keys. All keys must be issued through the Offices of Housing Services or the IDEAL Office. The unauthorized possession, alteration, or defacement of any key and the illegal entry of any room by any means are strictly forbidden under penalty of disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the university. 

Lockouts 

If a student is locked out of their room (key not accessible), these procedures should be followed:

  1. Find your roommate and ask them to let you in so you can retrieve your key
  2. Between 8 AM and 8 PM on a weekday, call the University Police at (610)758-4200 for assistance. Students living in Fraternity and Sorority Housing should always call LUPD.
  3. Between 8 PM and 8 AM M-F and all weekend long, student in Res Halls should call the Gryphon on Duty (phone numbers posted on staff off doors).

After the first lockout, all lockouts will incur a fee. Repeated lockouts throughout the year will resulting in increasing charges and may lead to intervention and disciplinary action.

Lost and Stolen Keys: Lock changes 

Lost keys must be reported to the IDEAL Office within 24 hours. Stolen keys must be reported immediately to the IDEAL Office and to Lehigh University Police. 

Lost or stolen keys that are not found within 24 hours will result in a lock change. Once the lock is changed, a $75 service charge will be placed on the student's Bursar account. It is the resident’s responsibility, in the event of a lock change, to pick up their key(s) within 24 hours of the lock change occurring from the IDEAL Office. Students who do not pick up their key(s) within 24 hours of a lock change are subject to a fine of $25/day until the key is picked up.

If keys were stolen, and this can be verified by a police report made at LUPD, the service charged will be waived.

Notes on Fraternity and Sorority House Access

  • All in-house members will automatically receive access to the chapter house.
  • Out-of-house members will be granted access with chapter leadership permission.
  • House Cooks will be given access upon request of chapter leadership and a successful background check. One door per house will be enabled with a 15 minute prop capability for food delivery.
  • New members will be granted access with house leadership permission after the recruitment process is completed.
  • Alumni will be granted limited access upon request through the office of Housing Services. Upon request, a swipe card will be generated that can be picked up and returned after the visit at University Police.