A security-focused higher-ed guidance brief argues that “open campuses” require strategic access control planning rather than blanket moves toward closed models. It warns that implementing fully closed access would introduce repeated checkpoints that reshape the university experience, including slowing movement for students, faculty, and staff, and adding barriers for collaborators and visitors. The piece also highlights cost and systems risk: comprehensive access control investments are substantial, and workarounds can erode the intended security outcomes—such as propped doors or shared credentials. The guidance frames campus security as a balance between friction, openness, and realistic operational enforcement. For institutions planning AI-ready security upgrades, the article signals that physical access control and credentialing strategy must align with digital identity practices to reduce vulnerabilities and maintain campus functionality.