Mail and Package Pre-Delivery
Shipping items to campus in advance of Check-In is a smart move-in strategy.
Package Pre-Delivery
Packages received by Columbia Mail Services between August 1 and August 15 will be eligible for direct delivery to students' rooms. Packages must be shipped to the mail center via courier (i.e. UPS, USPS, FedEx, etc.) to be eligible for room delivery. The Mail Center will not accept hand-delivered packages.
Items received after August 15 may be delivered or may be available for pick-up at the Student Mail Center or a satellite location. Students will be notified via email when a package is ready for pick-up, usually within 24 hours of arriving at the center.
Please do not ship items you may need immediately, like bedding or medication.
How do I know if my package was delivered to my room?
Students will receive a notification from the Student Mail Center once their package is processed and delivered. During high volume periods like the start of term, it may take up to 48 hours for the Mail Center to process the package. Delivery notice from the courier (Amazon, UPS, etc.) does not mean that a package has been processed by the Mail Center, and students should wait to contact Mail until they have received the notification or more than 48 hours has passed since delivery.
In the notification email from Mail, students will be provided with a link to their Student Mail Portal. Within the portal, the student should check the item management/history sections to see whether the package was delivered to their room or will be available for pick up.
Packing & Shipping Tips
- Your room is furnished and space for additional items is limited.
- Review our recommendations of what to bring to campus.
- Items like cleaning supplies and other small household goods can be purchased at stores in the immediate area around Columbia.
- Save on mini-fridges: gently used fridges will be available for purchase during the first week of classes through the Columbia Eco-Reps. Alternatively, students can rent a micro-fridge, which will be delivered to your room prior to arrival.
Receiving Mail at Columbia
Students living on-campus with guaranteed housing must receive mail through the Student Mail Center. Residents are not permitted to receive mail or packages to any address other than the Student Mail Center. Addressing mail/packages to an individual residence hall or brownstone is prohibited.
How to Format Your Address
The following address and format should be used for all mail and packages.
Student’s Full Name
70 Morningside Drive
[Full UNI] [Building Code]*
New York, NY 10027-7236
The student's UNI will act as a mailbox number. Failure to provide UNI will result in processing delays. For Check-In only, students should also include their building code; see the table below.
Note: Web forms may vary depending on how your address can be submitted. Try to include your full UNI and building code using one of the lines typically provided: either Address 1, Address 2, or Apartment/Suite.
The word "box" should never be used in the address.
The codes used for your shipping address are the same as the codes used in the Housing Portal in your building assignment.
If your assignment is still pending, use "Alma" as your code.
Package Pick-Up Hours, Locations & Instructions
Hours of operation for the semester will be posted to the Columbia Mail Services website. During Check-In, the Student Mail Center may be closed or have reduced hours.
Student Mail Center Closed August 29 & August 30
Package pick-up will not be available on the days of first-year international and general Check-In, Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30. Please plan to bring important items with you or ship them so they arrive before the package pre-delivery deadline.
Reduced Mail Center Hours: September 1 & September 4
- On September 1, package pick-up will not be available until 1:00 p.m.
- On September 4, package pick-up will not be available until 2:00 p.m.
Locations & Instructions
Satellite package pick-up locations may be in use during the first two weeks of classes. Students will receive instructions for package pick-up from the Student Mail Center when a package is ready for pick-up. Please do not come to the Student Mail Center or a satellite location until you have received a confirmation email from Columbia Mail with the subject line "Your package is ready for pickup at Student Mail Center" (usually within 24 hours of your package being accepted by the center). A delivery confirmation email from a vendor does not mean a package is ready for pick-up.