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Loyola Opts To Ditch Traditional Mail System

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Call it a sign of the times. Loyola University Maryland has thrown out the traditional mailroom.

Tracey Leong has the details on the new and improved system.

To match their students' demands, Loyola University Maryland decided to get rid of their old mail boxes.

"Students weren't checking their mail boxes. We put stuff in the beginning of the semester and it was still there at the end of the semester," said Director of Campus Services Jennifer Wood.

Since the beginning of the school year, around 5,000 letters have been sent, compared to 12,000 packages.

"Right now, I have ordered clothes 'cause it's getting colder but usually I order books," said student Andrea Quincha.

"I got two books for my philosophy class here," said student Aidan O'Hara.

These days, students order almost everything online.

"Supplements for working out. I am on the swim team here, actually, so I order those," O'Hara said.

By removing the old mailboxes, the school was able to create a more high-tech mailroom. Students enter their information and mailroom workers are immediately alerted. Packages are ready in just a couple of minutes.

Loyola didn't get rid of their snail mail; they replaced it with a high-density mail system, similar to what you would find in a doctor's office. Now, when students get their mail, it goes into a folder, workers scan it and an email is instantly sent to their system and they find out they've got mail.

"It's made everything more convenient for me and I haven't had to wait as long so it's nice," O'Hara said.

A more efficient mailroom that takes up less space.

"It has created less frustration with students. It has just been a much better system," Wood said.

Loyola has seen their package delivery increase by about 15% each year. It's a number they say is only going to go up.

The mail services are available for all undergrads. There are about 4,000 students.

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