Finding the time to mail that important package can be difficult for students and faculty.

The opening of a new post office on campus may make that task easier.

Central Michigan University opened a new post office Wednesday in the Combined Services Building Room 105, located in the Central Mailroom.

The Combined Services Building is located next to the CMU Police Department on East Campus Drive.

The post office will remain in that location until the planned Bovee University Center renovation is complete in December 2010, according to Linda Slater, director of plant engineering and planning.

Central Mailroom Office Manager Linda Richter, who is running the post office, said it is a great addition to campus, especially for students.

“It came to my attention that what students would like to see is an on-campus postal service,” she said. “It gives students and faculty a chance to ship packages without having to leave campus.”

The impetus to open an on-campus post office came from student surveys, in which the university asked what students they would like to see in the UC renovations. An on-campus post office was a frequent response.

After seeing the support for a post office, the original goal of the university was to open another satellite post office, similar to the one located in the Student Book Exchange, 209 E. Bellows Road.

That request was denied by the city of Mount Pleasant, according Tom Trionfi, director of contracting and purchasing services.

The post office, which has been in the planning stages for the past four to six months, is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office offers most services of a normal post office, including shipping packages and selling stamps. The only service it does not provide is selling money orders.

Richter said that the staff processes the packages and letters dropped off and transports them to the Mount Pleasant Post Office, 813 N. Main St.

“The office will be more of a service, more of a convenience,” he said.

university@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Joe Martinez