Frequently Asked Questions
Closing your mailbox at the end of the year
How are mailboxes assigned and where do I get my mailbox information?
I live off campus and would like a mailbox. What do I do?
Where do I pick up my packages?
What do I do if I lost my mailbox key?
What do I do if my mailbox is broken?
How should my mail be addressed?
It says my package has arrived online, but I don't have a slip yet. Where is it?
What do I do if there is a letter in my mailbox that is not for me?
When do I start or stop receiving mail at this address?
Closing your mailbox at the end of the year
Coming back to campus next year? Don’t worry - mailboxes are reassigned every year!
1. It is your responsibility to check your mailbox one last time before you move out.
2. If you live on campus: return your mail key with the rest of your housing keys the day you move out.
If you fail to return your key by the deadline, you will be charged $15!!
3. It is your responsibility to activate the forwarding service by submitting a change of address form through USPS
How are mailboxes assigned and where do I get my mailbox information?
All Cowell College students who are living on campus are assigned a mailbox, including students living in the Cowell Apartments, as well as Cowell-affiliated students living at The Village.
Mailboxes are reassigned every year. Both new and continuing students will be sent an email with their mailbox information to their UCSC email account.
Can I get a mailbox If I live off campus?
Yes, you sure can! If you are Cowell affiliated, you can go to the mailroom during open window hours and request to open a mailbox.
Where do I pick up my packages?
When you receive a package at your College address, an email notification is sent to your UCSC email. To pick up packages, present a photo ID during posted open hours only.
Packages are not kept indefinitely. Packages that are not picked up within four weeks are deemed unclaimed and returned to sender.
I lost my mailbox key, what do I do?
It is the students' responsibility to keep track of their mailbox key. If the key has been lost, report it to a Mailroom Assistant immediately. Your account will be charged $15 to replace the lost key.
What do I do if my mailbox is broken?
Report the issue right away to a Mailroom Assistant.
How should my mail be addressed?
Please use your legal or lived name. Please notify your family and friends of your new mailing address. Improperly addressed mail may be refused and/or returned to sender.
Student's NameUCSC Cowell College #XXX501 Cowell Service Rd.Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1119It says my package has arrived online, but I have not received a notification email yet. Where is it?
Different carriers have different tracking methods.
USPS, UPS, and FedEx use tracking numbers and consider the package delivered when a staff member signs for it.
USPS records when a package reaches the nearby distribution center. It may take up to 48 hours for your package to reach the Cowell College Mailroom.
Where can I mail a letter?
Your College mailroom is not a full service post office- it only receives. The closest U.S. mailbox for outgoing mail is near the BayTree Book Store. Be sure to put your mail in the blue USPS box.
Where can I mail a package?
Your College mailroom is not a full service post office- it only receives.
You can go to the Campus Post Office (located in Baskin Engineering) to purchase postage or send USPS packages.
In addition, the nearest UPS Store location is next to the Safeway on Mission St. at:
849 ALMAR AVE, STE C
SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060-5848
Web: http://www.theupsstorelocal.com/1128/
Telephone: (831) 426-5762
Where can I purchase stamps?
You can go to the Baytree Bookstore or Campus Post Office (located in Baskin Engineering) to purchase postage or send USPS packages. For exact location, open hours and range of services, please visit http://cms.ucsc.edu/uspssubstation.html.
What do I do if there is a letter in my mailbox that is not for me?
If you have a college mailbox, you are required to check your mail frequently. If you receive mail that is not addressed to you, please return it immediately to the mailroom staff.
When do I start or stop receiving mail at this address?
We do not accept mail during the Summer quarter and will return any first-class mail or packages that arrive before your Move-In Day unless special arrangements and/or permission occur in advance.
We accept mail and packages throughout the academic year, including Winter and Spring Breaks.
All student mailboxes close at the end of Spring quarter. Any first-class mail or packages remaining in the mailroom will be returned to sender.
