Mail and Packages
When you live on campus, you can pick up mail 24/7 at your own mailbox in your residence hall. We'll email you if you receive a package. Stop by your front desk to pick it up.
How Mail and Packages Work
- Mail and packages arrive at your hall. Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday (except holidays) while classes are in session.
- We put any mail into your mailbox in the lobby of your hall. If you receive a package, a perishable item or something else that doesn't fit in your mailbox, you'll receive an email notification from us at your student email address saying that a package is ready to pick up.
- Use your room key to open your mailbox or stop by the front desk and present your NIU OneCard to pick up any packages waiting for you.
- We will only put mail or register packages that are in your name as the resident of the room. Mail or packages missing your last name or addressed to another name will not be placed in your mailbox or registered. If you have a preferred/proper name, please make sure you have made the necessary changes through MyNIU.
- We will make 10 attempts to notify you if you have a package. If you do not pick up your package within 45 calendar days, we will attempt to return your package to the sender or donate to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
When you move out of the residence halls, mail and any packages from private delivery services like UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon will be returned to sender or donated to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Look Up Your Mailing Address
Your Address
[Your Name] [Hall] [Room] [ Street Address] DeKalb, IL 60115
Example
John Doe
Patterson East 114G1
501 North Annie Glidden Rd.
DeKalb, IL 60115
Items Not Accepted
- Mail or packages not addressed to current residents. (Mail and packages will be returned to sender.)
- Postage due letters or COD packages.
- Personal deliveries of packages.
- Personal items to be "held" for a resident, like coats, bags or keys.
- Letters or flyers that do not come through the U.S. Postal Service.
- Political materials.
- Commercial advertisements.
- Advertising co-sponsored by a student organization.
- Items received for commercial use purposes that are contrary to residence hall policy.
Mail Delivery During Break Periods
Mail Arriving Shortly Before Move-in Day
- If it arrives on or after the Friday prior to move-in day: Mail and packages addressed to fall residents will be delivered to mailboxes in each residence hall.
- If it arrives before the Friday prior to move-in day: USPS mail addressed to fall residents and packages from services like UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon will be returned to sender.
Summer
Summer mail and packages are delivered to current summer residents. Front desks may have limited hours during breaks. Contact your hall's front desk for hours.
If mail or packages received during the summer are addressed to a former resident:
- USPS mail sent to a former resident during the summer will be forwarded to the permanent address on file in MyNIU.
- Packages from services like UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon that are addressed to former residents during the summer will be returned to sender.
Winter Break
USPS mail will be distributed daily in the halls that are open during winter break except on Sundays and official holidays. Front desks in these halls will have limited hours for package pickup and we will only allow package pickup during these hours. Private delivery services like UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon will not typically make deliveries during winter break.
Thanksgiving and Spring Break
USPS mail will be delivered to current residents. Delivery from private services like UPS, FedEx, DHL or Amazon may be impacted. Front desks may have limited hours during breaks. Contact your hall's front desk for hours.
Sending Mail
To send mail, you can go downtown to the DeKalb Post Office, visit the postal center inside the Resource Bank or you can visit one of several blue USPS collection box locations on and near campus. Packages must be sent through the DeKalb Post Office retail counter if more than one-half inch thick or weighing more than 10 oz. (Larger packages dropped in a blue collection box or in the post office lobby mail slot will be returned to sender.)
To purchase stamps, visit either the DeKalb Post Office or go the postal center inside the Resource Bank. The DeKalb Post Office accepts cash and most credit/debit cards. The postal center at the Resource Bank takes cash only.
Lost Mail or Packages
If you believe that you have mail or a package that was sent to your residence hall and you did not receive it, please login into Roompact with your NIU credentials and fill out the Package Inquiry Form. You will be asked to provide as much information as possible including any tracking information that you might have. Our hall staff will contact you and work with you to attempt to locate your missing item.