Access to Buildings and Classrooms
How to access physical campus spaces at the College.
Access to buildings and locations on campus is stratified and based on several factors. Different systems may be used at different locations. Types of physical access control include:
- Physical keys
- Cougar Card (College ID), either physical or stored electronically as a mobile credential
- RFID keyfob
- Door codes
Regardless of access control type, pre-authorization is required for access to all buildings, rooms, and spaces.
The Department of Public Safety prefers the use of Astra Schedule as the default space reservation tool. However, if the space you require is not listed on Astra, there are other tools available below.
Please note that there is no “proactive” door opening service, as pre-opening buildings for events is a security risk. For all events, if the door(s), including interior room(s), need opened for the event, an event host or sponsor should call Public Safety Dispatch (953-5609) when on-scene, prior to the event, to have an officer respond for an unlock. It is during that call that the reservation will be confirmed from one of the submission methods below. For your event with several buildings and rooms, please call for the unlock before the event at one building to meet with the responding officer on-scene and coordinate the opening of the rest of the buildings.
Proper ID is required on-scene for all door openings. This will be cross-referenced with the tools listed below to ensure access is authorized.
Astra Schedule
Astra Schedule is the preferred tool to reserve and confirm classrooms, conference rooms, and other spaces. Astra is a next-generation scheduling tool, replacing the Live25 tool previously employed.
Please click here to access Astra Schedule (College login required).
Temporary Building Access Form
The Temporary Building Access Form collects approval data for individual access to physical locations, on a temporary basis, on the College of Charleston campus. This form is designed for administrators, supervisors, and building managers only. Submissions will only be accepted and considered valid if entered by a College administrator, supervisor, or building manager with the authority to grant access to the location in question.
The form is available in two formats:
- To authorize one individual person to access a campus building or location, please submit the online Temporary Building Access Form (College login required). To authorize a small number of individuals, simply fill out the form multiple times.
- To authorize several or many persons to access several or many different campus buildings or locations, please download the Temporary Building Access Form file and follow the instructions.
- This Microsoft Excel file contains macros for error checking and easy form submission. If macros are blocked on the downloaded file, follow the instructions in the IT Knowledge Base article Error: Microsoft has blocked macros because the source is untrusted (College login required) to activate macros.
- Regardless of whether you activate or utilize macros, the form may still be filled out. The form may also be filled out utilizing a different spreadsheet app (Google Sheets, Apple Numbers, etc.). Once you have completed the form, email it as an attachment to DoorOpeningRequests@cofc.edu.
- This Microsoft Excel file contains macros for error checking and easy form submission. If macros are blocked on the downloaded file, follow the instructions in the IT Knowledge Base article Error: Microsoft has blocked macros because the source is untrusted (College login required) to activate macros.
Door Opening Requests Email
If your request cannot be fulfilled via one of the above methods, please send an email from your College of Charleston account to DoorOpeningRequests@cofc.edu. Generally, reaching out via email is only required when temporary access must be added for a restricted location utilizing a Cougar Card or mobile credential.