Forwarding Mail

The Student Mail Center offers Columbia Housing residents mail forwarding service for 1st class USPS mail. It can take the USPS up to five weeks to deliver forwarded mail. The Student Mail Center does not forward packages; students must make arrangements with the USPS to have these forwarded. The Student Mail Center also does not forward mail delivered from private couriers; these shipments will be returned to the sender.

Graduating Columbia Seniors

Graduating Columbia seniors can request to have 1st class USPS mail forwarded through June 30. The deadline to submit a request for mail forwarding service is June 1. All forwarding services cease on July 1. 

Graduating seniors must notify the U.S. Postal Service of a change of address upon graduation. Official changes of address can be filed at any USPS branch office. The closest branch to Columbia's Morningside Campus is located at 534 W. 112th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam). Please note that changes of address cannot be filed online and must be done at a branch office.

Leave of Absence

Students taking a leave of absence can request to have 1st class mail forwarded for 30 days. Mail forwarding service takes effect on the first official date of leave of absence and ceases after 30 days. 

Students taking a leave of absence must notify the U.S. Postal Service of a change of address. Official changes of address can be filed at any USPS branch office. The closest branch to Columbia's Morningside Campus is located at 534 W. 112th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam). Please note that changes of address cannot be filed online and must be done at a branch office.

Study Abroad

Students departing on a University-approved program of study abroad can request to have 1st class USPS mail forwarded for up to two semesters. Mail forwarding service takes effect upon submission and processing of a student’s request and ceases either when the student notifies Mail of his/her return to Columbia Housing or at the end of two semesters—whichever comes first. Students must notify Columbia Mail upon their return to Columbia Housing, so that forwarding services can be terminated. Forwarding for longer than two semesters will require a Mailbox Assignment Extension Request to be submitted.

Summer/Winter Break

Mail forwarding is not recommended for winter break.

If desired, students can request that their 1st class USPS mail be forwarded over the summer. The deadline to submit a request for mail forwarding service over the summer is June 1; mail forwarding automatically ceases on August 1.

Prior to leaving campus at the end of spring semester, students are strongly encouraged to notify banks, credit card providers and other organizations that send time-sensitive material of their address change. 

Withdrawal

Withdrawing students can request to have 1st class mail forwarded for a period of 30 days. The deadline to submit a request for mail forwarding service is seven days from the date of official withdrawal. All forwarding services end 30 days from the date of official withdrawal. 

Withdrawing students must notify the U.S. Postal Service of a change of address. Official changes of address can be filed at any USPS branch office. The closest branch to Columbia's Morningside Campus is located at 534 W. 112th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam). Please note that changes of address cannot be filed online and must be done at a branch office.