PCI Oral History Project
The project
Every Bear has a story, and the Missouri State University Alumni Association (MSUAA) wants to know yours. However, with over 130,000 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 project called Bear Stories to collect the stories of alumni like you in your own words.
These stories will be preserved in a book that celebrates the impact MSU has had on your lives and who you are today. Every time we don’t capture or preserve stories, it feels like another opportunity lost. We’re excited to get started!
Have you moved?
As part of this project, we are also using this opportunity to make it easier for you to stay connected to Missouri State. PCI will help us collect updated contact information from those of you who may have moved and inadvertently lost touch with your alma mater.
Telling your story
What Bear Stories will you tell?
- Did a special faculty or staff member have a profound impact on your life?
- Did you find your Bear sweetheart at Missouri State?
- Can you trace your career path back to a defining moment at Missouri State?
- Have connections made on campus turned into lifelong friendships?
- Were you on campus during a historical moment?
- Are you a Missouri State legacy?
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 humans who are excited to listen to what you have to share. PCI will also help collect and assemble the stories into the Bear Stories book that we can share with all Bears.
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 the MSUAA. The project is completely funded by the alumni who choose to purchase the Bear Stories 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 MSU branded merchandise such as a T-shirt and travel bag. You are welcome to purchase these items, but you are not required to do so to participate in the project or order the Bear Stories 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 February 2022. After that, they will enter a post-production phase editing the data. We hope to have the book distributed in September 2022.
We look forward to hearing from each and every one of you regarding the memories of your time on campus!
What to look for in the future
Watch this space! Soon we will add an example of a postcard you will receive in the mail. This is an official postcard from the MSUAA, 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 Bear Stories.
FAQs
For frequently asked questions from alumni regarding the Oral History Project, please visit our FAQs.