Faculty and Staff Mail Information
Resource
The Mail Center is responsible for the distribution, collection, and processing of the Institute’s mail and overnight letters.
Additional Services Provided:
∙ Inter-Office Mail Tracking Services
∙ PB SendPro Enterprise System Support
∙ Bulk Mail Addressing Support
∙ Mailing List Management
∙ Domestic Presorted bulk mailings Support (First-Class and Non-Profit) ∙ Mail piece Design Assistance
∙ Business & Courtesy Reply mail design
Mail Services Job Order Form
We ask that you please notify us at least 2 weeks in advance of scheduling large mailings to ensure there are sufficient funds in the account to complete the job. Last-minute job requests may result in a delayed distribution to the post office.
INBOUND MAIL & PACKAGE DISTRIBUTION
The daily distribution of general campus mail through the Mail Center is limited to official communication intended for Institute departments. Pratt Mail Services is not responsible for internal campus mail that is intended to be used for personal gain, commercial advertising for organizations, or individuals who are not affiliated with the Institute.
ADDRESSING INCOMING MAIL & PACKAGES
Up to 33% of the inbound US Mail, packages, and inter-office mail that we receive are incorrectly addressed, most commonly missing the department’s name.
Incoming mail/packages that are received with a name only must go through a research process, which will delay delivery. If addressed with the Institute’s name only, we will send it to the department that we determine is most appropriate (e.g., if it appears to be a bill we will send it to the Accounts Payable department). This complicates the delivery process, and at times may result in a failure to deliver mail to its intended destination.
To ensure proper and timely delivery, please use the following address formats:
LETTERS AND OVERNIGHT MAIL:
Recipient’s Full Name
Department Name (No abbreviations)
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
Do not address any mail to 536 Myrtle Ave. This is not a valid Pratt mailing address. Mail for Myrtle Hall should be addressed as indicated above.
DEPARTMENTAL INTER-OFFICE MAIL:
Recipient’s Full Name
Department Name (NO abbreviations)
Building Location (Include floor and room number)
PACKAGES:
All work-related packages should be addressed to the Receiving department as follows:
Recipient’s Full Name
Department Name (NO abbreviations)
Pratt Institute
379 DeKalb Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
NOTE: Incorrectly addressed packages will be investigated and distributed as time allows.
INTER-OFFICE MAIL ADDRESSED TO STUDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS:
Student’s mailing addresses are different from their dorm address. Do not address any mail to their dorm address.
Student’s Full Name
Unit # – plus 4
TRACKING A LETTER OR A PACKAGE
The only way to trace a letter or package that was sent via US Postal Service is if it is sent via registered, insured, certified/return receipt or delivery confirmation. Private Couriers such as UPS, FedEx, etc. can also be traced.
NOTE: All correspondence that requires tracking must be processed through our SendPro system. Letters/packages with postage only (metered) cannot be traced.
See Inter-office tracking services for sensitive inter-office mail.
OUTBOUND, INTER-OFFICE MAIL, AND PACKAGES
OUTBOUND AND INTER-OFFICE MAIL PROCESSING Properly prepared outbound First-Class mail collected during the day (excluding mailings of 50 pieces or more) will be processed and delivered to the US Postal Service (USPS) office by the end of the day. Outbound mail must be in the Mail Center before 4 PM for same day delivery to the USPS. If you miss the cut off time, your mail will be sent out the next business day.
Note: summer cut off time is 3 PM.
Inter-Office mail collected during the day will be delivered the next business day. However, any campus mail that is handed to the Mail Center before 11 AM will be delivered on that day.
INTER-OFFICE MAIL TRACKING SERVICES
The Mail Services department is now offering Interoffice Tracking Services (ITS).
To assist the departments in tracking the delivery of essential interoffice goods or documents, we created Interoffice Tracking Services. We log any requested interoffice items into our inbound-outbound tracking system, and a signature is required upon delivery.
Some of the benefits of using this service are,
∙ Tracking the transfer or delivery of essential documents.
∙ Being able to track the change of custody of high-valued items. ∙ A digital proof-of-delivery will be available upon request.
To use the service, follow this LINK to access the ITS site, complete the form, print it, and attach it to the mail piece. Once the form is complete, we create a traceable tag and link it to the item when we pick it up or receive it. If you have further questions, please contact the mail center at ext. 3417 or via email: mailctr@pratt.edu.
PREPARING OUTGOING US POSTAL MAIL AND
ADDRESSING
The following guidelines are to ensure that outgoing mail is processed efficiently:
∙ US Postal mail should be separated from campus inter-office mail. ∙ Domestic mail should be separated from international mail and must have a customs form attached if necessary.
∙ International mail addressed to Mexico, or Canada should be separated from other countries.
PREPARING OUTGOING PACKAGES
All outbound packages must be processed through PB SendPro Enterprise Shipping System (PB SendPro). This software enables us to ship and shop rates through UPS, USPS, and FedEx.
PB SendPro will be used to ship all packages, express mail, priority mail, international express/priority, and any correspondence that requires a tracking number. You will not be able to track any metered mail or package. SendPro system is an online shipping software that enables us to shop rates through UPS, USPS, and FedEx.
It works in the following way:
∙ Create your shipment through the “ship request” portal ∙ Print the resulting barcode and attach it to the outgoing package ∙ Place the package near the outgoing mailbox
∙ Mail Services staff will pick the item up if it is a flat (large or express envelope). Receiving will pick it up if it is a box (please note, you may have to call Receiving to request a pick-up).
∙ The web address to the system is
Please email us at mailctr@pratt.edu for access/training to SendPro Enterprise.
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR METERED MAIL
∙ All mail should be stacked with the address facing the same direction. ∙ All flats (large envelopes) and overstuffed letters must be sealed prior to pick up for metering.
∙ Please notify the Mail Center in advance for mailings that contain 50 pieces or more.
∙ Glossy cards cannot be metered; they must be pre-stamped instead. ∙ Please use white or light-colored envelopes. The US Postal Service optical character readers do not recognize or read an address block if there is not enough contrast between the background color of the envelope and the ink used to print the address.
∙ All mail processed by Pratt Mail Services must relate to business within the Institute. Personal mail cannot be processed through the Mail Center.
US POSTAL SERVICE CUSTOMS FORMS
International mail generally requires a customs form. Exceptions include First-Class Mail International and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes that weigh less than 13 oz., are no more than 3/4″ thick, and contain only documents. The forms are required to depend on the service being used and the declared value of the mail. Every country has unique requirements; to learn about country-specific customs requirements please visit www.usps.com/ship/customs-forms.htm.
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE (UPS) DROPBOX
A UPS Express mail drop box is located at the main gate, next to the security booth. Their pickup time is at 6:30 PM. Items that do not fit in the dropbox may be brought to the Mail Center two hours prior to closing time. Be advised, Pratt Mail Services does not offer a package pickup service. The Receiving department can be contacted for those services.
USEFUL LINKS