RESIDENTIAL LIFE AND HOUSING

Please do not schedule mail or packages to arrive before the resident moves in. The system we utilize to process packages and mail uses residence hall rosters, which will not include residents not currently living in the building. Mail and packages may be returned to the sender if they arrive prior to the resident’s contract start date.

Packages and letters sent during breaks may be delayed in delivery. All Mail and Package Centers operate on reduced hours or may be closed at times the University is closed. Detailed information about hours will always be posted on the RLH website and via signage at each mail center. If all mail centers are closed, packages and mail will be held by the carrier and delivered once Mail and Package Centers reopen.

Residents can expect mail delivery by 5 p.m.* Monday through Sunday. The United States Postal Service (USPS) does not deliver on Federal holidays. Mail service times vary during break periods.
*Mail delivery times are contingent upon USPS delivery.

Please notify Residence Hall Mail Services at reshallmail@vcu.edu ahead of time to arrange for special handling, if needed.

No. An email from a carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL) or a vendor (Amazon, etc.) does not mean that the package is available. When a package is ready for pick up, the resident will receive an email from reshallmail@vcu.edu. 

Each package is processed the same day it arrives. At the beginning of each semester, processing times may be longer due to high volume.

Residents must provide their VCU ID to pick up mail or packages from their Mail and Package Center. Residents CANNOT pick-up mail for another student by presenting a VCU ID that does not belong to them.

If a current resident is unable to pick up a package, they may request to have someone act as their proxy and pick it up. To do this, the resident will need to complete the Proxy Pickup Form. Residential Life and Housing Mail Services will automatically receive a notification once the form is completed and will notify the person listed as the proxy with instructions about how to pick up the package. Do not complete this form until a package has been delivered and the resident has received a notification email that a package is ready to be picked up. This form cannot be used by former residents to request any package(s) be picked up by current on-campus residents. Any items received for a resident that has moved-out will automatically be returned to the sender.

If a resident receives mail addressed to a former resident (not addressed to them or their roommate), they are required to take it back to their designated Mail and Package Center. It is illegal to keep, open or discard mail addressed to someone else.

If the mail was sent via USPS certified mail, the resident should check their tracking number and determine if it is marked as delivered. If the mail was sent via non-accountable First Class mail, the mail has likely not yet arrived. Mail coming to the Residence Hall Mail and Package Centers typically takes a bit longer than residential mail to arrive from USPS. VCU has no way to track First Class mail. All mail received at Brandt, Rhoads and Gladding Residence Center is placed in in-hall mailboxes by staff the day it is received. Mail received at the Central Package Center is processed and notifications are sent to students for pick-up the day it is received. If a resident is concerned that the mail has already arrived, they should check with the other individuals who share their mailbox and be sure that no one else picked up their mail by mistake. First Class mail that is unable to be fully delivered will be returned to sender after 7 days.

If the package has been marked as delivered by the carrier, the resident should wait until they receive an email from reshallmail@vcu.edu before visiting a mail and package center to look for the package. If the resident does not receive an email within one business day, they should double check the tracking information to be sure it was delivered to the correct location. Be aware that USPS often marks packages as delivered when they arrive at the area post office, and they may not yet be delivered to the Residence Hall Mail and Package Center. 

All same day delivery services (e.g. Amazon Prime Now, InstaCart, DoorDash, Shipt, etc.) are typically scheduled for an exact delivery time and location by the recipient (resident). In these cases, residents should utilize the physical address of their building and be prepared to meet the delivery driver in the lobby/front entrance area of their building during the specified delivery timeframe. 

If placing orders for food delivery services (e.g. Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, Freshly, etc.) that are shipped via a carrier such as Lasership, UPS, or FedEx, the resident may utilize the mailing address as listed on this website. If specialized delivery arrangements are set between the resident and carrier, Residential Life and Housing will not assume responsibility for the delivery of the package(s). Any packages delivered outside of the Residential Life and Housing practices and procedures will be the direct responsibility of the resident. 

All letters and packages are held for 14 days from their date of delivery. Residents will receive a reminder email every two days for any packages/letters they have not yet collected. Any items not collected within 14 days from the date of delivery will be returned to the sender if possible or disposed of if a zero cost return is not possible.

• Amazon Fulfillment tracking numbers begin with "TBA" and cannot be tracked through conventional methods. The full tracking history should be supplied via screenshots or photos to reshallmail@vcu.edu.
• DHL tracking numbers (often called the "waybill number") are normally 10 or 11 digits long and do not contain letters.
• FedEx Express tracking numbers are normally 12 digits long and do not contain letters.
• FedEx Ground tracking numbers are normally 15 digits long and do not contain letters.
• LaserShip tracking numbers usually begin with "1LS" and contain 15 characters.
• UPS tracking numbers usually begin with "1Z", contain 18 characters, and do not contain the letters "O", "I", or "Q".
• UPS tracking numbers that do not begin with "1Z" include tracking numbers for Air Shipping Documents (hand-written airbills) and International Air Waybills.
• USPS Tracking numbers are normally 20-22 digits long and do not contain letters.
• USPS Priority Express Mail tracking numbers are normally 13 characters long, begin with two letters, and end with "US".

We encourage you to visit the university's Call Me By My Name website. Our on-campus tracking system pulls data from multiple database sources. Until those database administrators are aware that you have a different “name of use,” our on-campus tracking system only displays your legal name. Due to this, you may experience a delay in receiving mail or packages if no one is aware that you have a different “name of use.”

Mail service for campus residents ends at the close of their housing contract or once they move out, whichever occurs first. Students will not receive mail on campus after they have moved out. Mail forwarding services are NOT available. 

Unfortunately, due to how the United States Postal Service (USPS) classifies VCU's campus addresses, USPS will not accept a 'Change of Address' form. Because of this, we strongly suggest that all residents take the following steps to ensure their mail is directed to the correct address: 

• Discontinue any newspaper, magazine, or other periodical subscriptions or forward with the publisher directly.
• Update any web browser address autofill information and any website delivery addresses where you might complete online orders regularly. 
• Reach out to the following entities and make sure they know your current address:  
• Any family members, friends, current or former employers. 
• Financial institutions, cell phone service providers, health care facilities, insurance providers. 
• Records and Registration, the Internal Revenue Service (only if you filed taxes using a VCU address), the VA Department of Elections, and the VA Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Any other person, company, or institution that sends you mail regularly.