Alumni Oral History Project
New Jersey City University Oral History Project
The Project
Every Gothic Knight has a story, and the NJCU Alumni Association wants to hear yours. However, with over 50,000 living alumni, it would take many years to meet with each of you individually. That's why we've decided to embark on a new Oral History Project to collect the stories of alumni like you in your own words. These stories will be preserved in a book that celebrates the impact New Jersey City University has had on your lives and who you are today. Every year we don't capture and preserve these stories feels like another opportunity lost, so we're excited to get started today!
Have You Moved?
As part of this project, we are also taking this opportunity to help make it easier for you to stay connected to New Jersey City University. PCI will help us collect updated contact information from those of you who may have moved and inadvertently lost touch with your alma mater.
Your Story
So what NJCU memory will you tell?
- Did a special faculty or staff member have a profound impact on your life?
- Did you find your Gothic Sweetheart at NJCU?
- Can you trace your career path back to a defining moment at our alma mater?
- Have connections you made on campus turned into lifelong friendships?
- Were you on campus during a historical moment?
PCI Partnership
With our limited resources, we'd never be able to tackle a project like this. By partnering with PCI, we're able to access their trained staff of real, live human beings who are excited to listen to what you have to share. PCI will also help collect and assemble the stories into the NJCU Oral History book that we can share with all NJCU alumni. Please note, we have only shared your contact information with PCI in conjunction with this project. We have NOT sold your contact information, or otherwise used it for outside marketing purposes.
Do I Have to Buy Something?
No. This project is being done at NO COST to New Jersey City University or the NJCU Foundation. The project is completely funded by the alumni who choose to purchase the Oral History Project book that will be produced at the end of the project. Various book packages will be offered. PCI will also offer you the option to purchase other NJCU branded merchandise, such as a NJCU-branded Adidas polo shirt. You are welcome to purchase these items, but you are not required to do so to participate in the project or order the NJCU Oral History Project book. Again, we'd never be able to embark on a project like this without the support of our amazing alumni and the partnership with PCI. We sincerely thank every person that participates and chooses to purchase the book.
What's Next?
Soon you will be receiving email and postcard communications from the PCI team with instructions on how to participate. We'd like to invite you to share one of your stories with us and take part in this first of its kind project to honor the experiences and voices of our alumni. The PCI team will collect stories until August 2021. After that, they will enter a post-production phase editing the data. We hope to have the book distributed in December 2021.
We look forward to hearing from each and every one of you regarding your memories of New Jersey City University.
What to Look For
You should receive a postcard in the mail. This is an official postcard from New Jersey City University, distributed by our partner PCI. Once you receive the postcard, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your NJCU memory.
You will be sent an email as well. Once you receive the email, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your NJCU memory. If you do not receive it, please take this opportunity to call PCI at 1-866-571-1803 and update your contact information so we can stay connected.
Contact Information
If you have any other questions regarding the project, please reach out to PCI customer service desk at 1-866-647-3130 or Jane McClellan at jmcclellan@njcu.edu or by phone at 201-200-3568.
Project FAQs
It’s legit! We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an Oral History Publication for New Jersey City University. PCI is a family owned business based in Dallas, TX that has published directories for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities, and military organizations across the nation for almost 100 years. This project allows New Jersey City University to hear about your personal experiences and explain how New Jersey City University has helped shape your lives.
Yes, in a few different ways:
- Updated Information – allows us to effectively communicate with and engage alumni
- Legacy – preserves the history of our school
- Revenue – generates non-dues revenue for alumni programs
- Pride – wearing apparel shows support and love for our school
PCI is committed to protecting your information. The names, addresses and information provided to PCI for the publication of the Oral History Project will be held confidential by PCI, except to the extent that they are utilized in, or in the preparation of, the Oral History Project and except as required by court order or law. Upon completion of the project, PCI will redact PII (Personal Identifiable information) from any and all electronic files that we have supplied or were produced by PCI in connection with the production of the Oral History Project.
- If you have received a postcard or an email with a telephone number, you may call the number to speak with a dedicated representative for the Oral History Project. The representative will verify all the information we have on file for you, make any updates where needed, then ask you to share your story about your time at New Jersey City University. Your story will be recorded and the sound clip provided to New Jersey City University at the conclusion of the project.
- If you have received an email with an embedded link, you may go to the online site to review your information and submit a story.
- If you did not receive a postcard or email, you may call the dedicated New Jersey City University update line at 1-866-571-1803
When you call to update your information, you can tell the representative if you prefer any of your information be excluded. You can also communicate your preferences to PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 / customerservice@publishingconcepts.com or to the Alumni Association directly.
You can call back at any time to share your story.
You will receive an email with a link to upload up to two photos (black and white or color) plus captions.
If you have also purchased a book but do not have an email address on file, you will be sent a photo mailer to send physical photos in to be printed (note: photos will be returned if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope).
You will receive an email prior to publication with a link to review your transcribed story and make any edits.
The New Jersey City University Oral History Publication is available for sale only to New Jersey City University alumni.
The total duration of the Oral History Project is about 10 months. Since we began the project in March 2021, the books will be distributed in January 2022.
Contact PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 and they will take care of this for you.