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Student Mail FAQs
Frequently asked questions about mail and package services for students.
What is the mailroom address and hours of operation?
We are located in the basement of Hill Hall at 389 Boston Avenue Medford, MA. You will need to enter from the parking lot behind Hill Hall; the mail room cannot be accessed from inside Hill Hall.
We are open year-round Monday to Friday 8:00AM to 5:00PM. We are closed Saturdays, Sundays and most University Holidays.
Fall Move-In & Extended Hours
- Friday, August 23rd: 8am - 5pm
- Wednesday, August 28th: 8am - 5pm
- Sunday, September 1st: 8:30am - 5pm
- Monday, September 2nd: 8:30am - 5pm
- Saturday, September 7th: 9am - 4pm
- Saturday, September 14th, 21st, 28th: 10am-2pm
I am a freshman/returning student or parent of a freshman/returning student; can I ship things to you early and pick them up on move-in day?
Yes; For the Medford campus please do not send packages/mail to arrive before August 1st. For the Beacon St. residents please do not ship packages prior to August 15th. All packages must be picked up within 30 days on their arrival in the mailroom. Plan to have your packages arrive 2-3 days before your move-in date so our team can check them in. Medford campus residents will receive a notification you that they have arrived.
How do I know that I have packages or mail in the mailroom?
For Medford campus students, when packages and mail arrive for you, our team will check those items in and you will automatically be emailed. These emails are sent to your tufts.edu email address; please double check your spam folder if you are expecting an email but do not find it. Please wait for the email notification before coming to the mailroom.
How long do I have to pick up my mail or packages?
Our team will hold onto your mail or packages for 30days. You will receive an email notification when your mail/packages arrive, then a follow up reminder if you haven't picked up your items.
After 30 days mail/packages will be returned to sender. During winter recess mail/packages delivered in December will be held until February 1st.
The delivery carrier (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, USPS) is saying the package has been delivered but you haven't received an email from the mailroom?
The mailroom team will be processing mail as it arrives to the mailroom. Some carriers will mark a package delivered when it is processed out for delivery which will impact the actual time it arrives at the mailroom.
During peak times there may be a delay from when the carrier delivers to the mailroom and the mail is processed for you to pick up. Please expect most notifications to be sent the same day however it may take up to 48hrs depending on the volume of mail/packages that arrive at the mailroom that day.
My package was marked delivered by the carrier several days ago and I still do not have a notification from the mailroom?
The most common cause for this type of delay is the mail/package is not addressed correctly or missing information. If a package arrives at the mailroom without a way to identify its recipient it will be marked "unidentified". If this happens to your package, you will need a tracking number in order for the mailroom to search for the package.
Can food be mailed to a student?
The delivery of perishable food is not permitted; this includes fresh fruits, vegetables, cakes, cookies. Food deliveries from third-party vendors are not permitted (e.g. Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, grocery stores, Amazon fresh).
There is no refrigeration at the mailroom and perishable foods can pose a health and safety hazard. Any food deliveries brought to the mailroom will be disposed of at the end of each day.
I need to have medication shipped, can it go to the mailroom?
- Medications that require refrigeration should not be shipped to the mailroom and other medications shipped may not be available immediately.
- Please note the mailroom will be closed on holidays and that processing of deliveries may take up to 2 business days. Students will be emailed when packages are ready for pick up.
- Medications that need to be refrigerated or are of an urgent nature, please contact healthservices@tufts.edu to speak to one of the nurses for instructions.
I don't know my Unique Mail Code, how do I address my mail?
Your unique mail code was emailed to you during the summer. Please check your Tufts email account for that information. Your unique mail code is also listed with your information in the Student Information System. Please log-in and review that information. If you can't find the number, please call the mailroom and our team can assist you, 617-627-3495.
Do I need my Tufts ID to pick up my mail or packages?
Yes. You must present you ID when picking up your mail/packages. You will tap your card at the kiosk, our staff will be notified you are here to pick up your mail and will bring your mail to the window. You will tap your ID card again to receive your packages.
Can my roommate/friend pick up my mail for me?
In the event you are not well or may not be able to come pick up your mail, you may designate someone to pick up on your behalf. This must be done in advance and will be done on a case-by-case basis, not blanket permission for the semester. Please send an email to mailroom@tufts.edu from your Tufts email account. Please include the name of the person that will be picking up your mail and they will need to show their Tufts ID.
What if I have an oversized or heavy package delivered, how do I bring that to my room?
Please plan accordingly if you are receiving an oversized or heavy item via mail. Our staff will not be able to help bring items to your car or room.
During move-in weekend there will be support from Residence Life for students moving into the residence halls. The mailroom will also have a small number of carts available to borrow for students with a large volume of mail/packages.
Does the mailroom mail and ship items too?
The mailroom does not currently offer this service. There is a United States Post Office located at the corner or Boston Ave and College Avenue. There are several shipping stores in Medford Square and Davis Square.
What are some common considerations for student mail?
Please make sure the name on the address label matches the name in your student portal; any nicknames or lack of names may delay your mail/packages.
Please include your Unique Mail Code on all mail/packages being sent to you.
Share how to properly address your mail with friends and family so if they want to send you something there are no delays!
If I am expecting an important package, what do I do?
Contact the Mail Center so they can set up an alert for your package.
Amazon Deliveries - Update your delivery settings
Amazon has been instructed to not leave packages unattended when the mailroom is closed. However, some drivers will still leave packages at unattended locations. To help limit the chance your package is lost, please set your delivery options to match the Mailroom hours, Monday - Friday 8am-5pm.
There is also an Amazon locker located on campus at Dowling Hall. The locker name is "Run" and it is searchable when you choose the "Pick Up" option.
Do not ship mail or packages to your physical address. Tufts University and most shippers will not be responsible for lost or stolen packages.
Can I send mail or packages directly to my dorm, apartment, residence or room?
No, all mail and packages should be addressed to 389 Boston Ave, including your name and Unique Mail Code.
The USPS and most shippers will not deliver directly to any of our residences and doing so may cause your package to be delayed, lost or stolen.
Do not ship mail or packages to your physical address. Tufts University and most shippers will not be responsible for lost or stolen packages.
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