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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the frequently ask questions are listed below. Please do not hesitate to contact Mail Services if you should have any further questions.

How do I determine the shipping cost and transit time?

Call Evanston Mail Services at 847/491-7227 or Chicago Mail Services at 312/503-8131. Please have available the package weight, destination, content, time of arrival required, and value of package. Also, inform the Mail Services representative if tracking information and insurance are needed.

Does Mail Services process personal mail?

Please refrain from having personal mail or packages sent to you at the University.

As stated in the Employee Handbook "Employees may not use the campus mail system for receiving or sending personal mail. The purpose of the campus mail service is to support the necessary communications of the University business only. It also may not be used for purposes of organizations or activities not sanctioned by the University or for political purposes."

This includes magazines and catalogs that could be received at home or write to the address listed under "Junk Mail". We receive a tremendous amount of this mail, and it does delay the processing of other University mail, as well as occupies the recipient's time and resources.

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What do I need to do to send out a large mailing?

Before a large or specialized mailing gets too far into the planning stage, include Mail Services in your mailing arrangements.

Mail Services can be of assistance to ensure that your mailing program is cost-effective, efficient, timely, and acceptable by the mail carrier. Advance notice is required to effectively handle and process large or specialized mailings. Sufficient advance notice is needed to ensure that the following items are available:

  • Appropriate size and quantity of enclosures (envelopes and/or corrugated boxes)
  • Mail center personnel
  • Equipment to process the mailing
  • Sufficient postage on deposit

If your department is preparing a large mailing, please allow Mail Services to pick up the mailing in portions, as it is completed, rather than hold the entire mailing until it is complete. Portions of a mailing can be picked up on regular mail routes, whereas often a special truck has to be sent to pick up a large mailing that was held. If a department wishes for the entire mailing to go out on the same day, they should call Mail Services to request that all the portions be held until the complete mailing is received.

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Can I pick up my paycheck at the mail center?

Mail Services cannot release any paycheck without prior approval from Payroll.

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How do I stop receiving junk mail?

If you receive unsolicited catalogs, or other pieces of "junk" mail, you can have your name removed from mailing lists. The Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (MPS) allows people to "opt out" of national mailing lists.

Once you register, MPS will add your name and address to a "do-not-mail" list that is updated quarterly. All Direct Marketing Association members must purge their prospect lists of the individuals who have registered with MPS each quarter. However, MPS will not guarantee that all "mailers" will remove your name from their list.

Mail Services strongly recommend that you use this service to reduce "junk" mail that comes into the University. Any reduction in "junk" mail volume will improve delivery of important mail.

To find out more, go to http://www.the-dma.org


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How do I update my address in the Ph Directory?

A change of internal location must be acted upon promptly. As soon as a department learns of it's new location and mailing address, it should send a note or memo to Mail Services and Human Resources, and every person should change their respective Ph address.

Go to https://directory.northwestern.edu/edit.

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Why do I need to use the zip + 4 and mail codes?

The benefits of using zip + 4 and mail codes are as follows:

  • Help reduce the amount of misdirected mail
  • Expedite processing and delivery of mail
  • Reduce training time for new Mail Services employees

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How is mail addressed to on-campus students handled?

The United States Postal Service delivers all US mail to dorms and Greek houses provided the address on the mail piece has the full street address of the dorm or Greek house. If the mail piece contains only the dorm name or Greek house name, it is delivered with the rest of the University mail to Mail Services. Mail Services will deliver that mail to the dorm room as specified by the Undergraduate Life office or Greek house.

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