Student and Family Information

Mail and packages are received from all service carriers Monday–Friday and must be logged into our tracking system. Email notices are sent out daily for all items received. The Mail Center Annex is open for student package pickup from 9:00 am–5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Name of student
Bowdoin College
#### Smith Union
Brunswick, ME 04011

• Mail dropped off at the mail center by 10:00 am will be processed and included in the daily pick-up email notification sent to students, usually by 2:00 pm.
• Mail picked up at departments around the campus will be part of the email notification process for the next business day.

The Mail Center accepts shipments from all major shipping carriers including, USPS, Fedex, UPS, and DHL. 

Perishable Goods
We can receive perishable goods. However, we cannot guarantee fridge space for all items that require refrigeration. It is your responsibility to pick up packages in a timely manner after they arrive. If you have concerns about a perishable good, contact the mail center staff as soon as it arrives.

Alcohol
We refuse all shipments of alcohol to students.

Same-Day Shipments
The Mail Center does not receive same-day shipments from apps such as Instacart or Shipt. If you order through one of these carriers, it is your responsibility to meet the delivery driver in an outdoor location when they arrive on campus. Please be aware, these drivers are often unfamiliar with Bowdoin addresses and if they can not reach you, they may leave your items unlabeled near a building entrance where it is likely to become lost or damaged.

Prohibited Items
Packages that clearly contain items prohibited per the Residential Life Policies in the Code of Community Standards should not be shipped to the college. If a prohibited item is received by Bowdoin, it may be returned to sender and the Office of Residential Life may be notified.

Mail is forwarded for up to twelve months after a student has graduated or left the college.   We also forward mail for students during the winter and summer breaks and for longer periods when away (i.e. student is away but still enrolled).

• Unless an alternate address is provided, mail is forwarded to the permanent home address on record with the Office of the Registrar.
• If you are not returning to Bowdoin, please be sure to update your permanent address with service providers (banks, credit card companies, magazines, etc.), notify your family members and fill out an on-line change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service.
• After twelve months of forwarding, received mail will be returned to the sender.

To change your forwarding address, update your mailing address on the Biographical Change Form at the Bowdoin Registrar's webpage. During winter and summer breaks, this is the address your mail will be forwarded to. 

If you are on campus during winter or summer break and would like to continue receiving items at the Bowdoin Mail Center, update your mailing address to your Smith Union address. Expect 2-3 days for the address change to take effect.

To change your forwarding address after graduation, update your mailing address with the office of Development and Alumni Relations.

Mail will only be forwarded for 1 year after graduation.

The Mail Center has three hand trucks available for use by students and departments.  Hand truck use guidelines:

• Hand trucks may be checked out on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for 30 minutes at a time. If you need more time please speak to the Mail Center supervisor in advance.
• Residence hall and contact information is required as part of the check-out process.