UCLA soon to acquire own zip code, 90095
New Mail Services system will reduce misdirected letters
By Betty Song
As one of the nation’s largest university campuses, UCLA is
large enough to have its own zip code, and now it does.
Starting Jan. 1, 1995, the campus’ new zip code will be 90095
instead of the previous code 90024.
However, the old code will still be in effect for some UCLA
affiliated organizations.
UCLA’s students’ association, the Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Institute, University Extension, residence halls and the Unisys
building on Wilshire Boulevard will continue to use the 90024 zip
code and receive mail directly from the U.S. Postal Service.
Westwood residents will keep the previous code as well.
According to Mail Services Director Edward Meyers, UCLA has the
largest university mail operation in the country. Yet, it is one of
the only campuses without its own zip code. Meyers said that
problems resulting from sharing the 90024 zip code with the
surrounding area will be alleviated with the new code.
"Each day, Mail Services receives about 5,000 pieces of
misdirected mail (meant for others in the 90024 area) which adds up
to 1.6 million pieces each year," Meyers said. "This mail has to be
resorted by (our) staff. We can eliminate eighty percent of the 1.6
million pieces of mail which will improve our service to other
campus departments." he added.
The new zip code utilizes a box number which is similar to a
P.O. Box number. It is composed of the last two digits of the zip
code (95) plus the first four digits of the current campus mail
code. This new box number is added to the mailing address.
Mail Services can now use a new mail sorting machine that will
be able to sort approximately 18,000 pieces of mail per hour as
opposed to the 1,200 pieces with the previous equipment.
According to Meyers, the new system will eliminate the need to
manually correct mistakes on mailing addresses because the new
machine will be able to correct problems by reading the box
number.
Meyers said that the implementation of a new zip code will not
really affect UCLA students because neither the students’
association nor the residence halls will be affected. But campus
departments anticipate seeing a difference soon.
Jeanette Gilkison, office supervisor for the English department,
said she anticipated that mail will be delivered faster now that
they won’t be receiving mail from other 90024 areas, but that it
would take time to see any changes.
"It’s hard to answer because we’re at the tail end of all the
sorting, and we don’t know what happens between Step A to Step B to
our division," Gilkison said. "We’re just now learning how to give
out the new code and probably won’t see the changes for another
month."
For Caroline Sisneros, head of the technical services section of
the Management Library, having a unique zip code makes a lot of
sense, she said.
"I first thought about the buildings in New York that have their
own zip codes, and how they need it because they have so many
businesses within them," Sisneros said.
"The library receives less than 10 but no more than five pieces
of misdirected mail everyday, but we have a better mailing address
now, so that will help." she said.
Full implementation of the new zip code will take place within
the next two years. Officials advise all university departments to
use existing business cards and letters although any new stationary
orders should reflect the new letterhead.