Three Can’t-Miss Sessions on School and Campus Security at ISC East 2025

ISC East 2025 is coming up Nov. 18–20 in New York City, and the Security Industry Association (SIA) and ISC West have revealed full conference details for the SIA Education at ISC East program, including keynote presentations from leading luminaries and over 75 sessions from top industry expert speakers on the most current business trends, technologies and industry developments.

Among the robust lineup of conference sessions are three sessions on school security. Attendees will learn about modern campus security design, the latest school safety guidelines and more. Here are three sessions you won’t want to miss; be sure to add them to your ISC East calendar!

All Times EST

Campus Security by Design: Rethinking Safety for Schools and Universities

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 11:00–11:45 a.m.

Campus safety requires more than just hardware—it demands holistic, trauma-informed design that supports student wellbeing and community trust. This session explores how educational institutions are integrating physical security with behavioral health, inclusive design and emergency planning. Attendees will examine campus layouts, communication systems, visitor management protocols and technologies that balance openness with protection.

“PSA is proud to continue our tradition of hosting sessions each year at ISC East. I’m especially passionate about my session focused on campus safety, a topic that’s deeply personal to me. I spent a decade living and working on college campuses before transitioning to the security industry, collaborating closely with campus security and law enforcement to manage crises. Supporting students in K–12 and higher education requires balancing trauma-informed care, individual well-being and community connections. Our session will explore how schools are evolving security and emergency management strategies to meet today’s student needs while integrating advancements in the industry.”—Mary O’Sullivan, manager, learning and development, PSA

Speakers:

• Mike Garcia, national end-user manager, K–12 safe schools, HID
• Mary O’Sullivan, manager, learning and development, PSA
• Kevin Wren, school safety advocate, The Cook and Boardman Group

Designing the Modern Campus: NC State University’s Roadmap to a Smarter Identity Ecosystem

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 9:30–10:15 a.m.

After 20 years with the same “onecard” and access control systems, North Caroline State University has set out on the road to a modern campus and a whole new approach to credential management. As many universities have done recently, they are migrating from physical cards to mobile credentials, but they will manage all their credentials with a separate, dedicated platform. This session will be a report from the road as the university implements a pilot in fall 2025, with a move to a production environment planned for early 2026.

“Too often, legacy identity systems create silos that limit growth and innovation. [Our session will] highlight how NC State is breaking down those barriers by designing a smarter, vendor-agnostic identity ecosystem that prioritizes flexibility, security and user experience. This is a model that any institution can learn from as they plan their transition to mobile and cloud-based solutions. We’ll share the university’s roadmap and lessons learned so attendees can apply these strategies in their own environments.”—David Stallsmith, director of strategic initiatives, ColorID

Speakers:

• Chris Dunham, director, information technology, campus enterprises, North Carolina State University
• David Stallsmith, director of product management, ColorID

Unlocking the Future of School Security: What’s New in the Seventh-Edition PASS Guidelines

Thursday, Nov. 20, 9:30–10:15 a.m.

Join us for an in-depth look at the newly released seventh edition of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) Guidelines, the most comprehensive update to date. This session will walk attendees through the key enhancements that make the updated guidelines more practical, holistic and aligned with the evolving security needs of K–12 schools.

Key updates include:

• The introduction of a Digital Infrastructure Layer, expanding PASS into cybersecurity and data protection
• The merging of the Property Perimeter and Parking Lot layers into a unified Campus Perimeter Layer for more integrated safety planning
• Detailed visitor entry protocols, including traffic-flow diagrams and vulnerability assessments
• Enhanced physical hardening recommendations covering doors, windows, classrooms, and more
• Expanded guidance on panic alarm systems and their role in emergency response
• Comprehensive coverage of door locks and access control, tailored to the complexities of school environments

Whether you’re a school administrator, public safety officer, or technology partner, this session will provide valuable insights to help you apply the updated PASS framework effectively in school environments.

You can access the full SIA Education at ISC East conference program by registering for a SIA Education at ISC Passport. Even better, use SIA’s link to sign up for the ISC East trade show for free and save 20% on your conference pass!

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association (SIA).