For some people, temporary means a few days, or perhaps a few weeks.
For the Hilltop Campus post office, temporary meant more than 20 years.
In the mid-1980s, the post office was moved to the “trailer” adjacent to Forest Park Parkway as a temporary home.
Now, two decades later, the post office is moving again, this time to a hopefully permanent location in The Village Student Mail Center, 6985 Snow Way, near Big Bend Boulevard in The Village House.
The post office will be open for business in its new location Jan. 31, and there will not be any interruption of service during the move.
“The Hilltop Campus post office is permanently moving to The Village Student Mail Center to provide U.S. postal services to the University community, and to operate the existing mail center for the students assigned to The Village area,” said Peggy Smith, mail services manager.
“This is also an opportunity to save the University some operating expenses by consolidating mail services in the student Village with postal services provided for years at the campus building.”
In September, Campus Mail Services relocated its sorting and metering functions to North Campus on Rosedale Avenue, but aside from changing locations once again, not much is expected to be different following the latest shift.
“This is the final phase of the Campus Mail Services move,” Smith said. “The University community can expect to receive the same postal services during the same hours as presently offered.
“The students living in The Village area will receive the same student mail services, but also have available a full-service postal service operation in their area.”
The hours of operation will remain the same: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with express mail available from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Money orders and registered mail are processed from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and only cash or checks will be accepted — no credit cards.
There are extended hours of operation for the students, but postal services will be restricted to the above hours. The service center is open during the academic year at The Village until 7 p.m. on Monday and until 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, as well as 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for students on Saturday.
Also anyone renting a mail box at the trailer location, will be notified of a new box that will be assigned to them at The Village House. Any questions may be directed to Smith at 935-6369 or the Post Office at 935-5635.