Syracuse University’s Kimmel and Marion Halls are piloting an experiment that would change how students receive package notifications: through email.

Jessica Mohr, assistant resident director at Booth Hall, and Kimmel and Marion Halls, said this new initiative will improve efficiency in handling packages by repacking the paper logs and slips. Similar programs are already in place at colleges nationwide including Princeton University, Boston College and the University of Miami, according to each university’s website.

“It is the Office of Residence Life’s hope that this will be a more efficient process for both the residents and the student staff — main desk assistants and resident advisers — working at the main desks,” Mohr said in an email.

In the electronic package logging system, when a package arrives, it is scanned with a barcode scanner into an electronic database, which determines the recipient from the university directory. The students then receive an email notifying them that a package has arrived at a main desk for them.

The system automatically generates reminder emails twice more throughout the following seven days to remind students to pick up the package.

When the students come to pick up the package, they need to present their SU ID and use the ID card swipe as an electronic signature. This process verifies a student’s identity as well as verifying that the student accepts the package.

Mohr said the Kimmel-Marion complex was chosen as the site for testing because she is the leader for this project for the Office of Residence Life and oversees the hall.

“A few assistant residence directors have been working with the Division of Student Affairs Technical Services for a few months to develop this program to meet our needs and we are very excited to see how it works out,” Mohr said.

Eduardo “Eddy” Castillo Gomez, residence director for Booth, Kimmel and Marion Halls, said he is not yet sure what students think of the system since it began operating on March 9 during Spring Break and there are less than 300 residents in the hall.

“It is difficult to assess right now just because we haven’t had enough people testing these systems out yet,” Castillo Gomez said.

Mohr said initiating the testing during break was deliberate so that the staff “could become comfortable with the new equipment.”

She said there will be assessment later in the semester to see what the residents think about the program, but she also hinted that the staff members are fond of the new process and the equipment.

Castillo Gomez said he and Mohr are expected to present the system to professional staff at the Office of Residence Life on Wednesday. Mohr added that there is a good possibility that the email notification system will be expanded.

“If the program is successful, we do hope to implement it in all of the North Campus residence halls and Skyhalls in coming years,” Mohr said.

Published on March 17, 2015 at 12:01 am

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