Our services

Mailing services

Mailing Services is responsible for all incoming and outgoing mail services for the following locations:

• University Park Campus (UPC)
• Health Sciences Campus (HSC)
• Alhambra campus (HSA)
• USC Building One (SCO formerly AT&T)
• CitiGroup Center (CGC)
• Mani Figueroa Tower (MFT)

Primary responsibilities include the pick-up or receipt, sorting and delivery of all university incoming, outgoing, and interdepartmental mail, coordinate the delivery of time-urgent materials through an overnight express service, as well as controlling all permit and bulk mailings processed through university-approved suppliers.

Additionally, this unit assists all departments on campus with their shipping and receiving needs to ensure goods are received properly and delivered in a safe and expeditious manner.

Outgoing Mail Requisition

Mail that requires metering is accepted from departments with an Outgoing Mail Requisition. We also accept FedEx, UPS or any stamped mail. The mail is processed at the main office location.

• Mailing Services Outgoing Mail Requisition online form.

Postal/mailing service forms

Departments may contact Mailing Services to obtain interdepartmental envelopes, USPS forms, publications and supplies.

Pick-up and delivery

The university has one pick-up and delivery per day between 12:30 and 4:00 p.m. Delivery and pick-up times may vary due to mail volume (see Mailing Services Delivery Schedule under Related Documents, located at the bottom of this page). If you have need for a pick-up of outgoing mail or large packages that exceeds your department’s typical daily volume, please contact Mailing Services to arrange for the pick-up.

SPECIAL PICKUPS:  A special pick up is considered 4 or more full mail bins.  If less than this amount, mail should be taken to the assigned mail stop for that building and the regular carrier will pick it up.  Any calls received after 1:00 pm will be picked up before 5:00 p.m. or the following day based on staffing availability.

Drop-off deadlines (Monday through Friday, excluding university holidays) for all outgoing items handled by Mailing Services are:

• UPS Ground: 12:00 pm.
• USPS Express Mail: 12:30 pm.
  • 12:30pm deadline for Next Day Delivery (For many major markets. Average number of days based on origin, destination, and delivery zone).
  • 2:30pm deadline for 2-Day Delivery.
  • Due to the deadlines, we must pick up your Express during the morning pickup/delivery.
  • Verify Service Commitments here: Service Commitments.
    • Service Commitments tool can be used for Express Mail or any other Class of Mail and Shipment options.
• USPS stamped/metered mail: 4:00 pm.
• FedEx prepaid: 4:00 pm.
• Certified mail: 4:00 pm.
• Insured mail: 4:00 pm.
• UPC collection boxes: 4:00 pm.
• HSC collection boxes: 3:30 pm
• HSA collection box: 2:30pm.

USC collection boxes

USC collection boxes can be easily identified by their cardinal and gold color, and are exclusively for interdepartmental mail and outgoing mail accompanied by an Outgoing Mail Requisition (see below). Outgoing mail accompanied by an Outgoing Mail Requisition will be processed and delivered to the United States Postal Service (USPS) that same evening. Interdepartmental mail is delivered the following business day.

FedEx drop-off boxes are also located throughout the campus. Please refer to the map below for general locations of both USC collection boxes and FedEx drop-off boxes.

Do not deposit express delivery items (USPS, FedEx, UPS) into USC cardinal collection boxes. Doing so will delay processing of your express items as this mail is collected after all overnight deadlines.

There are five collection boxes located at UPC, two collection boxes located at HSC and one located at HSA-A10 (see Collection Box Locations under Related Documents, located at the bottom of this page).

UPC collection box locations (4:00pm Drop-off deadline)

1. Downey Way Parking Structure (PSA) – 3667 McClintock Avenue
2. McCarthy Way Parking Structure (PSX) – 620 West McCarthy Way
3. Royal Street Parking Structure (PSD) – 649 West 34th Street
4. Bovard Administration – 3551 Trousdale Parkway
5. Grand Avenue Parking Structure (UPX) – 3434 South Hope Street

HSC collection box location(3:30pm Drop-off deadline)

1. On the quad in front of Seaver Student Residence Hall (SRH).
2. Infront of the Center for Health Professions Building (CHP).

HSA collection box location(2:30pm Drop-off deadline)

1. Inside the mailroom at Alhambra building A10.

Mail security awareness

USC Mailing Services provides the campus community with reliable and professional services for the receipt and processing of USPS and interdepartmental mail. Our staff takes this responsibility very seriously and does their best to move the university’s mail safely and securely. Nevertheless, you should be on the lookout for unusual mail. Insure that the mail area in your building/department is secure and its use is limited to authorized persons only.

Departments should check mail for the following and take the precautions indicated.

Suspicious mail or packages

Pay close attention to any mail or packages with the following if they are unusual to your unit (see Suspicious Mail or Packages under Related Documents, located at the bottom of this page).

• No return address or a strange or unexpected return address.
• Postmark does not match the return address.
• Mail directed to persons who no longer work for your unit.
• Mail marked “Personal” or “Confidential.”
• Postmarks from a foreign country or the use of excessive postage.
• Misspelled words, improper addressing. Mail addressed to a title or office only, or to an incorrect title or office.
• Items that are oversized, lopsided or uneven.
• Items that are rigid or bulky.
• Items with a strange odor, stains, discoloration, leaking substance (powder, oil, etc).
• Protruding wires.
• Excessive tape.

If you are uncomfortable about a package or letter:

• Do not open it.
• Do not shake it or empty out its contents.
• Place the item in a box or plastic bag (an airtight plastic storage container is suggested).
• If a container is not available, cover the item and leave it covered.
• Leave the area and keep others away from the item.
• If possible, clean your hands with an antibacterial product.
• Notify your supervisor about the item.
• Prepare a list of persons in your area that may have handled the item.
• If your supervisor has concerns about the safety of the item, they will contact DPS.

If you open an envelope or parcel and encounter an unidentified substance:

• Do not panic, remain calm.
• Do not touch, smell, taste or try to analyze the substance.
• Carefully put the item down and step away.
• Do not carry the item to another location.
• Remain in the immediate area to minimize the spread of the substance.
• Alert others to keep away from your area.
• Turn off any circulating fans, air conditioners or heaters.
• Notify DPS: 213-740-4321 (Emergency), or 213-740-6000.
• Do not touch, handle or attempt to clean up the substance.
• If you touched the substance with your hands, do not touch your face.
• Wait for trained emergency personnel to arrive.

Be ready to inform emergency responders regarding who has had contact with the substance.

---

Related Documents

Mailing Services Delivery Schedule

UPC Collection Box Locations

HSC Collection Box Locations

Suspicious mail or packages

USC Internal Tracking

USPS Tracking

FedEx Tracking

UPS Tracking