PCI Oral History Project
The Office of Alumni Relations has partnered with the company PCI to create the Roger Williams Oral History Project. PCI works with our office helping to collect stories from our alumni to memorialize the history of the campus experience through the years from when Roger was a College or now, a University to help build the Roger Williams Oral History Project. Your involvement with this project is at no cost to you.
PCI has worked with many institutions big and small like Clarkson and Texas Tech. This is a 12-month project to collect stories and updates from our alumni that we will be able to share with you and your classmates.
Over the spring and summer, keep an eye out for postcards and emails co-branded through our office and PCI. We can’t wait to share the outcome with you when the Roger Williams Oral History Book is complete.
Please take a moment to review our FAQ section to help answer common questions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information and a story about my time at Roger Williams. Is this a legitimate project, or is it a scam?
We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an Oral History Publication for the Roger Williams Alumni Association (RWUAA). PCI is a company located in Dallas, TX that publishes directories for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities and military organizations across the nation. This project allows the RWUAA to hear about your personal experiences and explain how it and Roger Williams has helped shape your lives.
Does the Roger Williams Alumni Association benefit from this at all?
Yes, in a few different ways:
- Legacy – Preserves the oral history of our school.
- Updated Information – Allows us to effectively communicate with and engage alumni.
- Revenue – Generates membership revenue for alumni programs.
- Pride – Wearing apparel shows support and love for our Roger.
What does this cost me?
This project is at no cost to you. However, you will get the opportunity to buy Roger Williams branded merchandise through PCI. Merchandise packages vary in size and you can also purchase the printed version of the Roger Williams Oral History Project when completed in Spring of 2024.
There are four purchase options:
1. BASIC- $169.98 + S&H Includes:
Printed Hardbound Oral History Publication including photos and stories Digital Publication (features links to audio clips of others’ stories) (both options include audio of personal story)
2. VALUE $259.98+S&H Includes:
Printed Hardbound Oral History Publication including photos and stories Digital Publication (features links to audio clips of others’ stories) (both options include audio of personal story)
3. PRIDE $349.98+S&H Includes:
Printed Hardbound Oral History Publication including photos and stories Digital Publication (features links to audio clips of others’ stories) Audio of personal story Sweatshirt and T-shirt (high quality with printed logo)
4. LOYALTY $449.98+S&H Includes:
Printed Hardbound Oral History Publication including photos and stories Digital Publication (features links to audio clips of others’ stories) Audio of personal story Sweatshirt and T-shirt (high quality with printed logo) Weekender Bag (with embroidered logo)
Additional Offers:
Weekender Bag With embroidered client logo $139.98 +S&H
Sweatshirt & T-shirt High quality with printed logo $89.98 +S&H
How do I know my information will only be used for this specific purpose?
The RWUAA has a contractual agreement with PCI that states:
- The names, addresses and information provided to PCI by the RWUAA for the publication of the Oral History Publication will be held confidential by PCI, except to the extent that they are utilized in, or in the preparation of, the Oral History Publication and except as required by court order or law.
- The Oral History Publication will be made available only to alumni of Roger Williams. Upon completion of the project, PCI will return to the RWUAA any and all electronic files that have been supplied by the RWUAA or produced by PCI in connection with the production of the Oral History Publication.
I would like to update my information and share a story. How may I do this?
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 Publication. 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 Roger Williams. Your story will be recorded, and the sound clip provided to the RWUAA 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 have questions, you may call PCI’s customer service desk at 1-800-982-1590.
I updated my information but need some more time to think about what story to tell.
You can call back at any time to share your story or schedule a call back with an agent.
I shared a story and the representative said I could send some photos. How do I do this?
You will receive an email with a link to upload up to two photos 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).
I’d like to add/remove info from my story.
You will receive an email prior to publication with a link to review your transcribed story and make any edits.
If I share a story, do I have to provide a photo? If I want a photo included, do I have to share a story?
You may share as little or as much as you’d like. Some people only want to share a story, others only want to share a photo and caption.
Can anyone purchase a book?
The Roger Williams Oral History Project book is available for sale only to Roger Williams alumni.
Can I choose some or all of my information not to be printed in the book?
When you call to update your information, you can tell the representative what information you prefer to have excluded. You may also communicate this information to the PCI customer service desk at 1-800-982-1590 or to the RWUAA at alumni@rwu.edu.
I ordered a book/package over the phone and would like to cancel my order. How do I do this?
Call the PCI customer service help desk at 1-800-982-1590 or email customerservice@publishingconcepts.com and they will take care of this for you.
The Roger Williams Oral History Project is a 12-month project that collects alumni stories, archiving them in a digital archive commemorative book.
The Roger Project
Every Hawk has a story, and the Roger Williams Office of Alumni Relations wants to hear yours. However, with over thousands of living alumni, it would take countless hours to reach you individually. That’s why we’ve decided to embark on a new project called Roger Williams Oral History Project to collect the stories of alumni like you in your own words. We will preserve and share these stories with you.
Roger Wants to Know if You Have Moved
As part of this project, we want to make sure you are able to stay connected with Roger Williams. PCI will help us collect updated contact information from those of you who may have moved and inadvertently lost touch with us.
Your Roger Story
What Roger Williams memory do you have?
- Did a special faculty or staff member have a profound impact on your life?
- Did you find you find your Hawk sweetheart at Roger?
- Can you trace your career path back to a defining moment at our alma mater?
- What was your favorite place to hang out on campus or in Bristol?
- Have connections you made on campus turned into lifelong friendships?
- Were you on campus during a historical moment (ex: when Roger changed from College to University)?
- Did another member of your family attend/attends Roger?
- Were you a part of a club/organization/sport?
The Roger Williams and 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 helps collect and assemble the stories into the Roger Williams Oral History book that we can share with you. **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 our alumni. The finished product will allow you the opportunity to purchase the Roger Williams Oral History Book that will be produced at the end of the project. Various book packages will be offered. No obligation to buy a 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. We are excited hearing from each and every one of you regarding your memories of Roger Williams!
What to Look For
See examples of postcards and emails you will receive. They are official postcards and emails from the Office of Alumni Relations, distributed by our partner PCI. Once you receive the postcard and/or, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your memories of your time at Roger Williams.