Facility Access and Security

Keyless Access Overview

Keyless card access uses contactless, magnetic stripe and other forms to open doors and grant access to secure areas.

Texas A&M Facility Access and Security serves as the general system administrator for the Matrix keyless card access system and the new Avigilon system. Provided in partnership with the Aggie Card Office and Building Access, along with many of The Texas A&M System offices, both the Matrix and Avigilon systems allows any department or system part member to easily manage access to doors and secure areas using web applications for the appropriate service.

For detailed information related to keyless access, please review the Texas A&M Design Standards. 

Keyless Card Access

To submit a request for keyless card access, visit AggieWorks. You may also contact keyless@tamu.edu or Facility Access and Services at facse@tamu.edu for assistance and information.

Standardized Readers

Standardized readers for Texas A&M Keyless Card Access will be HID Signo Series or an approved equal that supports BLE, NFC, ECP and MIFARE DESFire credentials. For more information, please submit an AggieWorks ticket or contact keyless@tamu.edu for more information regarding specific part numbers for readers that support Texas A&M Aggie Cards.

Help and Support

During normal business hours, contact keyless@tamu.edu. For after-hours support, please contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

FAQ

What is keyless card access or keyless entry?

It is the system that uses proximity and card-swipe readers, which grant access to doors and secure areas instead of keyed locks. To access a door or area, a user swipes or taps their badge. If that user has been granted access to that door or area, the door unlocks, granting them entry. Texas A&M University and many A&M System offices use the Matrix or Avigilon system, which is administered by Texas A&M Facility Services.

Do I need a special student or staff ID or badge?

Any Texas A&M ID issued by the Aggie Card Office since April 2004 will work with the Matrix system and any Texas A&M ID  issued by the Aggie Card Office since June 2019 will work with the Avigilon system.

I lost my ID/badge. What do I do?

Please contact the Aggie Card Office or your local badge administrator.

I cannot get access to my dorm/room/building. What do I do?

Please contact your building proctor, RA or local door administrator. For after-hours support, please contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

My ID/badge is saying "rejected" on a reader. What does that mean?

"Rejected" means that you do not have access to enter that door. If you feel that is incorrect, please contact your building proctor, resident advisor (RA) or local door administrator.

My ID/badge is saying "invalid" on a reader. What does that mean?

"Invalid" can mean the card reader did not register a successful swipe or there is a problem with your card. To check, verify that you are swiping your badge correctly or try your badge at a different card reader where you have access. If you are still having problems with your card, please contact the Aggie Card Office or your local badge administrator. If you think that the card reader may be broken or defective, please email keyless@tamu.edu.

My reader is dirty and needs maintenance/My reader says "invalid" for all badges/My reader is not working. What do I do?

Reader maintenance and repair are performed by Building Access. An AggieWorks order must be submitted to request maintenance.

In Frontier, what is the difference between a badge, a credential and a person?

In recent software releases, Matrix has transitioned from "Badges" to "People and Credentials." Similar to an individual having multiple forms of identification (i.e., driver's license, University ID, passport, etc.), "People" in Frontier relates to individuals and "Credentials" relates to methods that allow access. These methods could be badges (such as those issued by the Aggie Card Office), fingerprints (or other forms of biometrics) or HID/RFID/Prox devices.

A person/credential is showing as "invalid" or in "disuse" in Frontier. What do I do?

"Disuse" is a process in Frontier that invalidates credentials when the credentials have not been used at any reader on the system for more than two years. This process runs weekly. "Invalid" persons or credentials require investigation to determine the proper credential status. In both cases, please send the UIN to keyless@tamu.edu.

What is Matrix?

The legacy Keyless A&M System is Matrix Systems and is the hardware and software supplier for the integrated campus solution of access control and keyless entry.

What is Avigilon?

This is the new Keyless A&M System. Buildings across campus are being transitioned from the Matrix Keyless System to the Avigilon Keyless System.

How do I request a hardware estimate or door installation?

Complete an AggieWorks request for Keyless access in the desired location/s. Once submitted, you will be contacted to schedule a walk-through. For door or lock work, an AggieWorks order to Building Access may be required.

My door is not locking or unlocking properly. Whom do I contact?

During normal business hours, please contact us by emailing keyless@tamu.edu. For after-hours support, please contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300.

What is Frontier?

Frontier is the PC-based software that allows administrators to control access to doors, add or edit badges, as well as grant or remove access to doors. Currently, the Frontier software is offered as a browser-based client. The browser-based client can be accessed by visiting https://keyless.tamu.edu.

What is Avigilon?

Avigilon software that allows administrators to control access to doors, add or edit badges, as well as grant or remove access to doors in the Avigilon System. Currently, the Avigilon software is offered as a browser-based client. The browser-based client can be accessed by visiting https://avg-acm.it.tamu.edu/sessions/new

What is required to install Frontier or Avigilon?

The browser-based client is available to authorized users who are connected to the campus network by visiting https://keyless.tamu.edu or https://avg-acm.it.tamu.edu/sessions/new.

Can I access Frontier or Avigilon from off campus?

While the Frontier client is now browser based, it is not "web based" and is not directly accessible from off-campus connections. To access Frontier from off campus, an authorized user would first have to connect to campus via a VPN connection. Read more about connecting to VPN.

How do I request an account on Frontier?

In AggieWorks submit a request, and with appropriate departmental approval (if necessary), you will be contacted with the credentials and any necessary training.

How can I get additional training?

Complete a AggieWorks ticket. Once submitted, you will be contacted to schedule a customized training to fit your requirements.

Do you support biometric readers?

Yes, both Matrix and Avigilon systems support biometric readers on campus. We currently have an integrated Fingerprint solution installed in multiple facilities on campus. Interfaces from other biometric devices can be implemented with appropriate specifications to the Matrix or Avigilon system. If you are interested in biometric readers or further information, please contact keyless@tamu.edu.

Can I use PROX/RFID/HID?

For Proximity Badges, Matrix and Avigilon are natively integrated to HID compatible badges and readers. At this time, the badge issued by the Aggie Card Office supports Mag-stripe and Prox for Matrix and Prox for Avigilon. For implementation or further information, please contact keyless@tamu.edu.

The Audiovisual Surveillance Technology (AVST) Committee has been established by the Chief Operating Officer to review AVST installations to verify compliance with AVST Operational Standards and consistent application of surveillance controls, and to oversee management of new and existing AVST. The AVST Committee shall be chaired by the Chief Operating Officer or his designated representative, and include representatives from Technology Services, University Police Department (UPD), Facilities and Energy Services, Transportation Services, Division of Finance and Business Services, Emergency Management and the Division of Risk, Ethics and Compliance (DREC).