The University mail system underwent changes in its relationship with the U.S. Postal Service when the school year began, and Barry Olson, associate director for Housing Facilities, said these may have made it less efficient.

“I think it’s become a little bit slower,” Olson said. “Whenever you add a step to an already involved process [it will be].”

Prior to August, the Postal Service delivered mail to mailrooms in University buildings, and in about half the buildings, a USPS employee would sort the mail into individual mailboxes, according to Jim Pappenhagen, associate director for University Housing and Greek Life.

But with the arrival of a new postmaster in Raleigh, Pappenhagen said, rules were enforced that made the USPS deliver all University mail to the Sullivan Mail Services in Sullivan shops.

“We were told in July that beginning in August we were going to have to post our own mail,” Olson said.

After its arrival, he said, University employees must sort through the mail, deliver it to the buildings and place it individuals’ mailboxes.

The mail arrives Mondays through Fridays, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and University employees divide letters and packages by their destination, Pappenhagen said.

But according to Olson, it is not always on time.

“We sometimes don’t get it until 11 or 12,” he said. And after unloading every piece of mail, if it arrives late, it may not get out until 4 or 4:30 p.m.

With the changes for this year, Pappenhagen said the University had to hire between 10 and 13 student mail clerks and purchase a van to use to transport the mail.

According to Olson, it has been difficult training employees with the legality of how to handle mail.

“We were able to adapt, but it’s a steep learning curve,” Olson said.

Gavin Humphrey, a sophomore in economics, said he has had many issues with the mail service this year.

“I rely on a subsistence check that my parents send me once a month,” he said.

He lived in University Towers last year, he said, and received the check on time all year, but he said this year it has been consistently late or has never come.

“The last one was supposed to come Nov. 15, and [the check] hasn’t gotten here,” he said.

Pappenhagen said anything with money should be sent in accountable mail through the USPS, because those have attached tracking numbers.

“Did it get lost here? Or did it even make it here?” he said.

Accountable mail is logged in by University staff when it arrives; so if something is lost, it can be known if it was lost between its origin and the University, or after it arrived on campus.

Olson said an advantage of the new system is that if a piece of mail is lost through delivery, it is easier to track it without having to rely on the post office.

“The postal service washes their hands of any responsibility at the Sullivan shops,” he said.

And while Humphrey said he has had issues with receiving mail this year, Derek Quinzani, a freshman in engineering, said he has not had these problems.

“I’ve gotten my mail on time,” he said.

Olson said if students have problems with their mail, they should contact Housing Facilities.