CUMSA

College and University Mail Services Association (CUMSA)

CUMSA began as the brainchild of Ralph Yates of Appalachian State University.  Ralph invited several schools in North Carolina to meet with him at North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, NC to discuss an organization statewide for college and university mail services employees.  There was a need for an organization that would establish standards, promote ethics, and foster professionalism for campus mail personnel. Campus mailrooms had been “in the basement” too long.  These educational institutions were represented at the organizational meeting:  Appalachian State University, Campbell University, Davidson College, Duke University, Durham Tech, Fayetteville State, Johnson C Smith, Lees-McRae, North Carolina A & T, North Carolina State, Pembroke, Saint Augustine, University of North Carolina – at Asheville, at Chapel Hill, at Charlotte, at Greensboro, at Wilmington, and Wake Forest University.  In July of 1988, North Carolina Educational Postal Personnel Association was born.  The very next year it became apparent that NCEPPA would be no more.  The reason was very simple – schools outside of North Carolina wanted to be members.

During the business session of the annual meeting in 1989, the by-laws were amended and NCEPPA became CUMSA.  College and University Mail  Service Association resolves that membership is open to all educational institutions involved with mail service.

CUMSA’s purpose and objectives are “to promote, develop and unite educational postal employees… to facilitate cooperation between its members, and to provide a means through which their knowledge and experience may be pooled…… to promote and maintain high professional standards, to develop and improve training and educational opportunities, to collect and distribute information of value to it members, to render assistance when requested, and to generally further the interests of postal personnel.”

Meetings occur annually at volunteer host schools.  At one of our conferences someone after receiving an invitation to become a member, asked “Why CUMSA?" Glen Hulme of Texas Christian University, responded, I will be brief.
Caring Unselfish Mentors Serving All.  They just happen to a great bunch of unassuming good people who would improve the quality of your life if you visited with them once a year.

CUMSA was the first regional organization to be allowed to provide certification exams through IPMA for the designation of Certified Mail Manager.   CUMSA is proud to recognize members who have attained the CMM designation.

Dave Pitts, Wake forest University Baptist Medical Center
Thom Clark, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Lea Holt, formerly of East Carolina University
Connie Lawson, Wake Forest University
Tommy Brickhouse, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
David Weeks, Washington & Lee University
Lori Stephens, Kennessaw State University
Edward Smalls, College of Charleston
Chuck Sparks, Elon College
Rob Feilner, University of Missouri
Jan Biggerstaff, Davidson College
Tammi King, Berry College
Derrill Young, North Carolina Sate University
Carson Rasnake, Southwest Virginia Community College
Jack Broach, University of West Florida