Sign of the Times
Is it a sign of the times when a major university decides that they will no longer accept snail-mail? The University of Texas in San Antonio (UTSA) announced last year that they will no longer be handling physical mail on-campus. The only option available for receiving snail-mail will be to rent a private mailbox at the University Center for $100 per year. Though they have opted to continue receiving packages and parcels on behalf of students. Universities across the nation are looking for creative ways to save money and UTSA has decided that mail is the line item cut from the university’s budget. Will this be a trend?
Arguments For and Against
There are outcries from parents and students alike, but the truth is US Mail is on the decline by about 25% since 2006. With email and social media dominating communications, an old-fashioned letter seems almost archaic. So are these universities in the right to consider ridding themselves of mail service all together? The flip-side of the argument is that while snail-mail is generally down, package deliveries are up. 85% of internet users shop online, which translates to about 2 billion people. That means lots of packages being delivered, with parents buying their college-bound children supplies and technology, and students buying things like furniture, shoes, and clothing. According to a US Postal Solutions Study, the average student receives about 21 packages per year. Multiply that times the number of students living on-campus and see how many packages you can expect to manage. Each with substantially higher values than letters with the university liable for damages, loss, and theft.
Are There Alternatives?
If universities are going to relinquish responsibility for mail service, it may be in their best interest to consider outsourcing the service and finding a way to generate revenue in the process. This would resolve any budgeting issue that may exist, while providing a revenue stream for the university. Universities everywhere are looking for areas in their budgets to cut and it looks like mail could be the next culprit. A recognized expert like US Postal Solutions can assist with assessing this scenario and finding a solution that would best serve the university.
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US Postal Solutions is the nation’s leader in the student housing mail management industry, for both on/off-campus mail management services. The US Postal Solutions, Inc. companies offer mail delivery management, delivery services and package logging / package management software. For more information regarding US Postal Solutions, please call us today at (866) 378-8157 or visit us online at www.uspostalsolutions.com.
