What's New?

Services Prices Effective Monday, May 11, 2009.

On May 11 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Prices for other mailing services — Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services (including Parcel Post), and Extra Services — will also change. The average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

Customers can use their Forever Stamps — regardless of when purchased — to mail 1-ounce letters after the price change, without the need for additional postage. Forever Stamps are widely available through Post Offices, commercial retail outlets such as grocery stores, and online.

Prices for mailing services will continue to adjust each May. Prices for most shipping services, including Express Mail and Priority Mail, were adjusted in January and will not change in May.

CUA Student Package Services receives a high level of parcels on Mondays.

CUA Student Package Services often receives enormous volumes of parcels and mail, typically on Mondays. The volume of overnight parcels/letters can also be substantial. Given the high volume of inbound mail for faculty, staff and students, the Package Room staff may not be able to check for residents who do not have packing slips.  Residents expecting items should check their email as well as their mailbox for notification. Hours will be extended when normal thresholds are exceeded. The shortest service lines are during class periods.

Did you know...

...that CUA Department of Postal Services is wholly operated and staffed by CUA and not the U.S. Postal Service?  The majority of our full-time staff however, are retired U.S. Postal Service employees with a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to providing exemplary service to the campus community.

Moving to campus?

Here's how to have your mail addressed:

Work on Campus?

This is how your mail should be addressed:

Students - Find mail in your mailbox that is not yours?

If so, put it in the return mail bin (red) located by the stamp machine or bring it to Mailroom on the ground floor of McMahon Hall. Remember, mail is sorted and delivered by residence hall and room number information, not by name.

Leaving or graduating? Notify your correspondents of your forwarding address.

Are you are leaving campus for the summer or graduating soon? If so, now is the time to notify your correspondents of your summer/forwarding address if you haven't already done so. To let CUA Postal Services know you want your mail forwarded -- even if it just to your home address, you must update your mailing address address type in Cardinal Station with an effective date of May 2nd or later. If you have not had your mail forwarded before you may not have the mailing address address type in your portfolio and will need to add it (Even if the information is the same). More detailed instructions for changing an address in Cardinal Station can be found here.

If the mailing address address type is not updated or present in Cardinal Station by May 31st and you are not listed on a summer housing list, we will assume you have left campus and do not want your mail forwarded. Additional information regarding the mail forwarding policy can be found in the Student Handbook or contact us at extension 5225 between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday - Friday.

Thank you for updating your address online, instead of using the paper Change of Address cards. Doing so will reduce labor-intensive data entry and therefore expediting the actual forwarding of your mail.

Concerned about the safety of our mail?

Mail received at the Department Postal Services in McMahon Hall exhibiting obvious suspicion is reported to CUA Public Safety who in turn contacts the appropriate law enforcement agencies. If however, you believe you've received a suspicious item (click here for a description), please contact the Department of Public Safety at 202-319-5111. The US Postal Service recommends that if you receive something out of the ordinary or raises suspicion, "Don't open it. Don't shake it. Don't smell it. Instead, keep others away from it, put it in a plastic bag and seal it. Then wash your hands with soap and water and call 911". Of course, on-campus emergencies are to be reported to Public Safety at 5111 rather than 911. For more information, see the following links:

Have a question not covered here?

Please call us at Mail Processing, extension 5021 or Student Package Services, extension 5225.