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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Best Practices for Mail and Packages

On-Campus Housing Mail and Package Guidelines and Best Practices

Efficient mail and package handling starts with accurate addressing and timely processing. To avoid delays and ensure your items reach you quickly, always include your Cornell NetID in the shipping address. Missing identifiers, incomplete labels, and oversized parcels are the most common causes of delivery issues. Explore the tips below to address mail correctly, avoid common mistakes, track your deliveries, and reduce the risk of returns or misdeliveries.

How to Address Mail and Packages

To ensure timely and accurate delivery, always include the student's NetID (e.g., abc222, cba1234).  Each Service Center and House Office has a unique mailing address. For more information on campus addressing, visit Service Center and Mail. 

Why NetID Matters:
Including the student’s NetID is critical for accurate processing and prevents delays or returns caused by incomplete identifiers.

Perishable Package Shipping and Pickup Guidelines

If you are sending fresh food or other items that can spoil, clearly label the package with 'PERISHABLE' in large, bold letters near the address label. 

Please be aware of the following:
1. Service Centers do not have refrigeration.
2. Packages may take one or more days to be processed after arriving on campus.
3. The student will receive a notification once their package has been processed and is ready for pickup. Students should not attempt to pick up their package until they receive an email or portal message.

Exception:
Packages sent directly from food vendors (e.g., HelloFresh, Goldbelly, local bakeries) are typically processed the same day they arrive, and you will be notified accordingly.

Once you receive the notification, Perishable items must be picked up on the same day. Items not picked up that day will be discarded for health and safety reasons. Please plan accordingly to avoid loss of your items.

Deliveries From Local Businesses

Please note that the Service Center is not a designated drop-off location for perishable food items or local deliveries. This includes services such as DoorDash, Grubhub, Instacart, Walmart, and Target.

Sending Medication to Campus

We strongly advise sending student medication to the Cornell Health pharmacy. You can mail your refrigerated (or other) prescription to the pharmacy for timely processing and convenient pickup. Once received, the student will be notified and can pick up their medication. Please direct those packages to the following address: 

Cornell Health Pharmacy
ATTN: Tracey DeNardo
110 Ho Plaza
Ithaca, NY 14853

If you have any questions, please email Student Mail Services at scl-student-srv@cornell.edu or visit our website.

24/7 Amazon Lockers

Amazon Locker 'Dodgeball' is available for your on-campus delivery needs. 

Amazon Locker 'Dodgeball' is a self-service delivery location where you can pick up your Amazon.com packages. When placing an order, simply select the Amazon Locker 'Dodgeball' as your delivery location for convenient 24/7 self-service pickup. To learn more about this service, visit Amazon Lockers.

The Amazon Locker 'Dodgeball' is located outside the Robert Purcell Community Center and can be selected as a delivery option for eligible purchases.

Amazon lockers are a standalone service offered by Amazon and are not connected to Service Center operations.

Occasional Delivery Issues

Mail carriers sometimes misdeliver packages to the wrong Service Center, or students may use an outdated or incorrect address. Here’s how these situations are handled:

Carrier Misdeliveries
If a mail carrier delivers a parcel to the wrong Service Center, staff will return it to the carrier for proper delivery. Please note: this correction may take up to two business days.

Students Living On Campus Using an Old Address
If a parcel is addressed to a previous on-campus location, the Service Center that receives it will secure and process the item. The student is responsible for retrieving the parcel from that Service Center.
Important: Parcels will not be transferred between Service Centers or House Offices.

Students No Longer Living On Campus
USPS Mail: Forwarded to the address listed in the Housing Portal.
Non-USPS Packages: Returned to the sender, as Service Centers cannot redirect these items.

You have Mail!

When a parcel is processed for you, you’ll receive notifications in two ways:

Email Notification 
An email will be sent to your Cornell account (e.g., NetID@cornell.edu) with details, including the Service Center or House Office where your parcel is secured and the type of parcel (e.g., envelope, package, flowers, perishable) 

Housing Portal Update 
Under “My Packages” in your Housing Portal, you’ll see all parcels waiting for pickup.