UofSC Postal Service to offer passport application services
Posted on: July 26, 2016; Updated on: July 26, 2016
By Augusta Bauknight, mrassist@mailbox.sc.edu
The University of South Carolina Postal Service will begin offering passport application services Aug. 1 at its 1600 Hampton St. post office and at the student mail center in the Russell House University Union.
That’s good news for the more than 400 university faculty and staff and approximately 1,500 students who travel or study abroad each year. It also gives all Columbia residents additional sites to apply for a passport.
University Postal Service director Barry Meyers said the hard work to become designated as a U.S. passport acceptance facility by the U.S. State Department paid off.
“It required persistence, but we are the first university in South Carolina to have passport acceptance facilities on campus,” Meyers says. “This will allow us to continue to expand living up our Gamecock motto of ‘no limits’ by offering another vital service to the Carolina community.”
Passport photo services also will be available at both university locations, making passport applications a one-stop process. Passport application services will be available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hampton St. location and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the student mail center located on the lower level of the Russell House. In addition, Carolina Passport Fairs will be held throughout the academic year to better meet peak travel demand.
While faculty, staff and students may use either location, Columbia residents are encouraged to visit the Hampton Street location for easy access.
“We are very excited about this development, which will be a great convenience for our many international travelers,” says Allen Miller vice provost and director of Global Carolina.
Miller says the new passport service fulfills a growing need as the university’s faculty and staff increasingly engage in research, teaching and professional activities around the world and as more students study abroad.
Meyers takes pride in knowing that his team works hard to partner with every department and unit on campus.
“We are an active part of admissions, academics and athletics,” Meyers said. “Whether it’s getting time-sensitive mail out, mailing season football tickets to faculty and staff, delivering care packages to students or helping faculty, staff and students with U.S. passport applications, we know that we are adding value to the campus community.”
For more information about passport information, forms, documentation requirements, fees and travel information, visit the State Department website.
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