The Averett University mailroom is an active department that processes campus mail and packages each day. From student letters to faculty research materials, the mailroom plays a vital role in the university’s operations. The staff consists of Supervisor Robert Jenkins, and a team of student workers including senior Asia Williams and junior Jordan Jonson, who are taking their responsibilities seriously.
A typical day in the mailroom begins at 8:30 AM opening up and getting ready for the day and the incoming flow of mail and packages.
“We use an alphabetical system,” Jenkins said. “to put mail, packages, and certified mail in the correct mailboxes so it can be distributed efficiently.”
The mailroom plays a crucial role in providing services to hundreds of students and faculty members who await their packages to be delivered.
“We use Sendpro Packing and Shipping software,” Jenkins stated. “That will send an email when we receive a student or faculty member’s package.”
Multiple letters and packages come through the mailroom every day from different shipping companies.
“The average amount of mail and packages we receive is 100 letters, 30 UPS, 35 USPS, and 35 Amazon packages,” Jenkins said. “Which is about our daily volume of mail and packages.”
With the many tasks that the mailroom has it is important to have well-trained employees to complete several tasks that the mailroom has.
“Training consists of several different things priority mail, certified mail, library mail, mail delivery routes, mail pick up procedures, and shipping labels Send pro Software program training,” Jenkins said. “Understanding the law and procedures of the different protocols I am proud to say we have a 99.4 accountability rate of getting packages to students and faculty.”
A dedicated student worker, Williams is from the Bahamas and is majoring in sports medicine. He maintains a balance between his schoolwork and his mailroom responsibilities.
“Being a student always comes first with balancing work and school the workload is not that much with the five courses I’m taking this fall semester.” Williams said. “ I work in-between classes during my downtime working up to twenty hours per week while having enough time to study for my classes”.
Jonson is from Yanceyville, North Carolina majoring in biomedical science. In the mailroom or any other department, each student worker will face different challenges or issues that they must solve.
“Students wanting their letters and packages when it hasn’t been delivered is a constant issue that we have almost every day due to several different shipping companies sending out false notifications saying that packages and letters have been delivered,” Jonson stated. “ That student’s most common question and request is how long will it take for a package to get here and can you check my mail.”
In summary, the Averett University mailroom, led by Supervisor Robert Jenkins and supported by a dedicated team of student workers, including Asia Williams and Jordan Jonson, is a vital hub for communication and logistics on campus. With a well-organized system for sorting and tracking incoming mail and packages, the team ensures that essential documents reach students and faculty promptly. Despite the challenges posed by shipping discrepancies and the demands of student life, the commitment to maintaining a high accountability rate demonstrates their dedication to efficiency and service. As they navigate the busy daily operations alongside their fellow student workers, the mailroom staff exemplifies the spirit of teamwork and responsibility, playing a crucial role in the university’s success.
