The University mailrooms merged this fall, as the faculty and staff mailroom that was located in Tolentine Hall was joined with the student mailroom in the basement of Kennedy Hall.

Before the mail area in Kennedy was expanded, the space housed archives belonging to the Office of Financial Assistance and the Bursar’s Office. The files were relocated to the Financial Services Building and Dougherty Hall to make way for the administrative mail.

The future of the old Tolentine mailroom has not yet been determined.

The new mailroom provides “more space and a nicer, more efficient setup,” Daniel Buonanno, Mail Services manager, said. Some aspects of the mailroom were updated, such as the UPS station and the flat sorter case, a way to neatly separate mail.

Planning for the new mailroom started at the end of 2001 and took over a year to gain approval and to work out logistical problems.

The costs due to the changes have been offset by improved services.

The move itself, which took two days during the second week of August, cost approximately $1,150, according to Michael George, director of Graphics and Mail.

Buonanno finds himself more effectively managing the mail system now that he is stationed in Kennedy. He is now able to direct the faculty, staff and student mail windows from the same location. The consolidation has “improved operating efficiency and allows us to cross-train our employees,” George said.

The University mail system is now in two locations — Kennedy and St. Mary’s halls — rather than three locations as it has been in the past.

All of the work for the relocation is complete; however, other ideas for new services geared towards faculty and staff are still being constructed, Buonanno explained.

George is planning to implement a “pack and ship” service, similar to that offered by Mailboxes, Etc. for students next spring.

George visited other college mailrooms in the area, and believes the University is on target with its services and operation.