Mail Services

All student mail is processed by Mail Services and may be collected either at the pick-up window or from self-service lockers, both located on the garden level of the Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center.

When a letter or package is received, students will receive an email notification to their Smith College email address indicating that the item is being prepared for pickup. Please allow up to two hours for processing, sorting, and placement into a locker. During peak periods (such as the beginning of the academic year or other high-volume times) processing may take up to one business day.

Once a package has been loaded into a locker, a second email will be sent with detailed pickup instructions and locker information. If your package has not been loaded after two hours, please visit the pick-up window on the garden level of the Campus Center to retrieve your package.

To pick up a letter or package at the pick-up window, please visit Mail Services during open hours and present your Smith College OneCard and Student Unit Number.

For safety and policy compliance, the following items may not be sent to the college mailroom or residence houses:

• Hazardous materials (flammable, explosive, corrosive, or toxic items)
• Alcohol, illegal drugs, and controlled substances
• Tobacco, nicotine, and vaping products, including e-cigarettes and related devices
• Weapons or weapon components, including firearms and ammunition
• Candles, incense, and open-flame or heat-producing devices
• Live animals or insects
• Items prohibited by residence house or campus policies

Packages containing restricted items may be refused, returned, or disposed of at the sender’s expense.

For questions or exceptions, contact Mail Services before shipping.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you will be living off campus, please notify banks, subscription services, friends, and family of your new address or permanent home address. Magazine and newspaper publishers should be contacted well in advance, as address changes can take up to four weeks to take effect.

Mail Types and Forwarding Policies

First Class Mail (Letters, bank statements, official documents, etc.)

• U.S. Addresses:
   Mail Services will forward all first-class mail to the permanent U.S. address on record. If you would like your mail forwarded to a different U.S. address, please email Mail Services with the updated information.

• Students are responsible for submitting a change-of-address request with the United States Postal Service when relocating from their permanent address.

• International Addresses:
   Mail Services is unable to forward mail to international addresses.

Standard Mail (Magazines, Newspapers, Catalogs, Etc.)
Standard mail is not forwarded and will be recycled. Students are responsible for contacting publishers and subscription services directly to update their mailing address.

Packages
All packages will be returned to the sender. Students are responsible for updating shipping addresses with all online retailers and vendors.

Mail Forwarding for Graduated Students

Graduates may request first-class mail forwarding for up to six months after graduation.

To ensure your Amazon deliveries reach Mail Services accurately and on time, please review and update the delivery address settings in your Amazon account. Incorrect or missing delivery settings may result in delays or failed deliveries.

Ordering from Amazon

When adding your Smith College address in Amazon, make sure the following settings are selected:

• Include your Student Unit Number in the address
• Property Type: Business
• Delivery Hours:
   Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. -  4:00 p.m.
   Saturday - Sunday: Closed for deliveries
  Federal Holiday Deliveries: No

Delivery Location: Mailroom

Where can I pick up my mail and packages?
Mail Services is located on the garden level of the Julia McWilliams Child ’34 Campus Center at 100 Elm Street. The facility features  staffed pickup window and 600 self-service lockers for convenient package retrieval.

When can I pick up my mail or packages?
When students receive letters or packages, they will be notified by email. Letters, large envelopes, magazines, and oversized packages can be picked up at the staffed window.

If the email indicates that a package is in a locker, students should go to the designated locker bank and either enter the provided PIN or scan the QR code. Locker banks are accessible during all open hours of the Campus Center.

Can I return packages through Mail services?
Mail Services accepts returns with a prepaid shipping label that includes a barcode. Returns with only a QR code cannot be accepted.

Can I mail out items or purchase stamps from Mail Services?
Yes! Mail Services provides outgoing shipping through USPS, UPS, and FedEx. A variety of shipping supplies are also available for purchase, including stamps, envelopes, padded mailers, and cardboard boxes.

When should I ship my personal belongings to Smith?
Due to high volume and limited space, items should be shipped to arrive no earlier than five days before a student’s arrival date at Smith. Thank you!

Will I be able to receive perishable items at Smith?
Yes. Perishable packages are marked as “perishable” when logged in and are processed immediately for pickup.

If I live off-campus but, in the area, will I be able to send items to my Smith address?
No. Students living off campus in the local area should have their mail and packages sent to their off-campus address.

The campus mail run stops at each department once per business day, Monday through Friday. Mail received by Mail Services on the previous business day will be delivered during the next campus mail run, and outgoing departmental mail will be picked up at the same time.

Departments may send mail to other campus departments, send mail directly off campus if postage is already applied, or have postage created by Mail Services and charged to the appropriate cost center. 

Packages weighing more than 50 pounds require a Work Order to be submitted in advance.

Mail Services processes outgoing mail and packages on behalf of college departments. Departments may submit mail through the daily campus mail run or drop items off at Mail Services during open hours. Shipments are sent using USPS, UPS, or FedEx and are billed to a departmental cost center.

Including a departmental shipping form with outgoing mail helps ensure accurate processing and billing. When a shipping form is not provided, Mail Services will select the most cost-effective shipping method and charge the department listed on the return address.

Overnight or time-sensitive shipments must be received by Mail Services no later than 1:00 p.m. to be sent the same business day.

Personal mail and packages are processed in person at the Mail Services Retail Window during open hours. Mail Services ships letters and packages using USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Accepted payment methods include cash, credit or debit card, and Apple Pay.

Please provide two copies of forms to Mail Services if you would like one returned for your records.

Campus Building Addresses (Excel doc)