Summary
The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, a private school in Villanova, Pennsylvania, partnered with Sciens to consolidate and upgrade its safety and security systems. This strategic collaboration has significantly improved campus safety, streamlined vendor management, and enhanced technological infrastructure. Key achievements include:
- Installation of advanced security cameras and key card entry system
- Enabling the consolidation of safety services under one provider, resulting in easier coordination and simplified billing
- Development of a comprehensive security migration plan
About The Academy of Notre Dame
The Academy of Notre Dame is a prestigious private school for girls in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It serves grades 6-12 and has an enrollment of approximately 550 students. The campus spans seven buildings, creating a unique college-like environment. As a well-respected institution, the Academy continuously seeks to enhance its facilities to remain at the forefront of educational excellence and student safety.
Challenges
Before partnering with Sciens, the Academy faced significant challenges in managing its safety and security needs. The campus’s large footprint and complexity of systems required a comprehensive solution for monitoring and maintaining safety across multiple buildings. Additionally, having multiple contractors for different safety services led to inefficiencies. Specifically, the outdated camera system and the fragmented approach to safety services underscored the need for a unified, reliable partner to oversee all aspects of campus safety.
We spoke with David Teasdale, The Academy of Notre Dame’s Director of Operations. Teasdale is a seasoned building operations professional in the education field with over two decades of experience.
“From my perspective, having a partner in Sciens means it’s not just me. If something goes wrong, they’ll be there. It’s been one way we tested the waters with Sciens, and now we want to go all in.” – David Teasdale, The Academy of Notre Dame’s Director of Operations
Modern Safety and Compliance
Sciens has had a transformative impact on the Academy’s safety and security infrastructure. By moving safety services under Sciens, the Academy has streamlined vendor management, resulting in more efficient operations and improved response times. Sciens’ proactive approach included upgrading to high-quality, advanced security cameras and implementing key card entry systems, which have greatly enhanced the overall security of the campus.
By upgrading the camera systems, Sciens strengthened the school’s ability to monitor and respond to security incidents efficiently. The introduction of license plate recognition cameras significantly improved security in the parking areas, leading to quick resolutions of potential threats. Additionally, Sciens’ local presence and responsiveness ensured that any safety concerns were promptly addressed, fostering a secure environment for students and staff.
“The same crews have come out every time for all our security installs, which is beneficial because they know the campus and the needs of our facilities. It has saved my team time and helped us ensure we’re implementing the best possible solutions for our campus.” – David Teasdale, The Academy of Notre Dame’s Director of Operations
The transition to Sciens has also facilitated the development of a strategic, long-term security plan. This plan ensures that the Academy can adapt to future technological advancements while maintaining a robust safety infrastructure. Sciens’ proactive involvement in planning and execution has given the Academy a reliable partner capable of addressing both immediate and future safety needs.
The Future: Sciens Service Suite
Looking ahead, the Academy of Notre Dame plans to expand its partnership with Sciens by transitioning more services under its umbrella, taking advantage of the Sciens Service Suite. This includes further enhancements to their fire safety systems and continuous upgrades to their security infrastructure. The Academy values Sciens as a trustworthy, one-stop-shop solution for its comprehensive safety needs, ensuring seamless operations and heightened security for its campus.
“One of the benefits of consolidating vendors is having one point of contact. If I have an issue or emergency, I can go to my Sciens account manager instead of having to navigate an automated system.” – David Teasdale, The Academy of Notre Dame’s Director of Operations
