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Porter Mailroom FAQS

 Location: Located in the foyer of the Porter/Kresge Dining Hall (Building C)

Be sure to check the Porter mailroom door for the most updated hours. The mailroom will be closed for observed holidays (see the academic calendar for specific dates). There will be occasional, unscheduled closures due to illness, unforeseen circumstances, or mailroom-related errands. Around school breaks (such as Winter or Spring break) the mailroom may also have limited service. 

 Porter Mailroom

Hours Will be posted here and on the Mailroom Website Calendar below.

SPRING BREAK CLOSURE

The mailroom will close at 5:00 PM on Friday, March 22, 2024.

It will reopen with regular hours on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Regular Schedule
Monday - Friday Noon - 5:00 PM
Saturday Noon - 4:00 PM
Sunday Closed
 

How are mailboxes assigned and where do I get my mailbox information?

All Porter and Transfer Community students who are living on campus are assigned a mailbox. Students will receive an email from the Porter mailroom manager with their mailbox number and combination prior to move in. Mailboxes are reassigned every year.

Can I get a mailbox If I live off campus?

We have limited space in our mailroom and our boxes are reserved for students living on campus. If there is an unusual need, please contact the mailroom supervisor.

Where do I pick up my packages?

If you receive a package, we will send an email to your UCSC email address. To retrieve your package, bring a photo ID to the mailroom during open hours and a staff member will help you.
Packages are not kept indefinitely. Packages that are not picked up in a timely manner are deemed unclaimed and then returned to sender.

I lost my mailbox combination, what do I do?

It is the students' responsibility to keep track of their mailbox information. If this information has been lost, an email must be sent to the mailroom supervisor with a request for this information.

What do I do if my mailbox is broken?

Report the problem right away to CruzFix.

How should my mail be addressed?

Do not use nicknames or pen names. Improperly addressed mail may be refused and returned to sender. Please notify your family and friends.
First and Last Name (no nicknames or alias)
UCSC, Porter College PMB #
411 Porter-Kresge Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1104

It says my package has arrived online, but I haven't received an email yet. Where is it?

The online tracking email that some mail/package carriers send out to notify you that your package has been delivered only indicates that your package has arrived in the city of Santa Cruz. USPS load up their trucks each morning at their main warehouse and immediately changes all tracking info on the packages to "Delivered to mailroom" even though it won't see our mailroom until the end of the day. It can sometimes take an additional 1- 3 days to be delivered to the Porter College Mailroom.  We will email you from the mailroom when your package is processed. Please wait for this email and not the tracking info from the carrier. DO NOT COME TO THE MAILROOM UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THE PORTER MAILROOM STATING THAT YOU HAVE A PACKAGE FOR PICK-UP. 

How do I get my mail forwarded if I am going to be away from UCSC?

Mail cannot be forwarded. Due to mail regulations, USPS will not forward UCSC mail or packages to another address. Also, USPS first class letter mail, along with packages from USPS, FEDEX, UPS, DHL, OnTrac, etc. cannot be forwarded. Mail unable to be delivered, due to the student no longer living on-campus or in Santa Cruz, will be returned to sender. 
Although mail cannot be forwarded, if you fill out the electronic form with your new address, we will hand-write your new address on your mail. We are doing this as a courtesy, so that when your mail is received by the sender, they can be re-informed of your new address.
If you have closed your mailbox, it is imperative that you do the following:
*directly contact anyone that you are receiving mail from and inform them of your address change
*make sure that your permanent mailing address is correct in your my.ucsc.edu portal so that any UCSC mail gets routed to you correctly.

Where can I mail a letter?

Your Porter College mailroom is not a full service post office, a UPS, USPS, Amazon, or FedEx pick-up spot. The closest U.S. mailbox for outgoing mail is at the Bookstore Plaza. Be sure to put your mail in the blue USPS box. 

Where can I mail a package and purchase postage?

Your Porter College mailroom is not a full service post office, a UPS, USPS, Amazon, or FedEx pick-up spot.

The nearest UPS location is next to the Safeway on Mission St. at :
849 ALMAR AVE, STE C
SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060-5848
Web:https://santacruz-ca-1128.theupsstorelocal.com/
Telephone: (831) 426-5762 

You can purchase postage and mail packages from this UPS location. Additionally, you can order stamps and postage online at  https://www.usps.com/ship/ 

The main US Post Office is located at:  850 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

What do I do if there is a letter in my mailbox that is not for me?

Mailboxes are shared between two people. If you have a college mailbox, you are required to check your mail frequently. If you receive mail that is not addressed to you or your boxmate, please return it immediately to the mailroom staff.

When do I start or stop receiving mail at this address?

We only accept mail & packages for students that live on campus. For any students that previously lived on campus we will return to the sender any first-class mail or packages that arrive.  We accept mail and packages through the school year, including Winter and Spring Breaks. All student mailboxes close at the end of Spring Quarter, to be reassigned to Summer sessions students. Any first-class mail or packages remaining in a mailbox/mailroom will be returned to sender the following week.  

For additional mailroom questions, please contact the mailroom supervisor.