Share Your Story

Your Story...Our History

The SJSU experience is one of passion, perseverance and stellar achievement. Every Spartan has a story, a story of triumph and unwavering commitment to being a change agent and a servant at heart. The Alumni Association wants to give you an opportunity to share your unique connection to San José State. This oral history project provides alumni the chance to tell their Spartan story in their own words. After the collection is complete, these unique stories will be compiled into a book that celebrates our alma mater and our illustrious history.

This opportunity is possible thanks a partnership between the Alumni Association and Publishing Concepts, Inc., (PCI). In addition to collecting stories, PCI will be assisting with collecting updated biographic information from alumni to ensure we have the best information available to stay connected with Spartans across the nation and beyond.

How to Share Your Story

Alumni will be receiving a postcard and email from PCI with more information on how to share their story. Stories will be collected via a phone call with a trained member of the PCI team. If you did not receive a postcard or email, you may call in your response via this telephone number: 800-735-5993

Postcard Example

• I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information and a story about San José State. Tell me more about the project.

  • We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an Oral History Publication for San José State 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 over 100 years. This project allows us to hear about your personal experiences from your time at San José State University and how the school helped to shape your life since then. And, while we have you on the phone, we want to make sure your contact information is up to date.

• Does San José State University benefit from this at all?

  • Yes, in a few different ways:

    Updated Information – allows us to effectively communicate with and engage alumni

    Legacy – sharing and collecting stories preserves the history of our school

    Revenue – generates donation revenue for alumni programs

    Pride – wearing apparel shows support and love for our school

• How do I know my information will only be used for Oral History Project purposes?

  • 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.

• I would like to verify or 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 Project. The representative will verify the information we have on file for you, make any updates where needed, and then ask you to share your story about your time at San José State University. Your story will be recorded and the sound clip provided to San José State 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.

• Can I choose what information prints in the publication?
  • The only information that is included in the publication is your name, class year and degree, along with your story and photo. No contact information is printed. When you call to update your contact information, it will only be used to update your alumni record for the school/alumni association. You may revoke consent for your story and/or photo to appear any time before 06/09/2024 by contacting PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 / customerservice@publishingconcepts.com.
• I updated my information but need some more time to think about what experience to share.
  • You can call back at any time before 06/09/2024 to share your story.
• I shared a story and the representative said I could send a photo. How do I do this?

  • You will receive an email with a link to upload one photo (black and white or color) plus a caption.

    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 a physical photo in to be printed (note: the photo will be returned if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope).

• Can anyone purchase a book?

  • The San José State University Oral History Publication is available for sale only to San José State University alumni.

• I ordered a book / package over the phone and would like to cancel my order. How do I do this?

  • Contact PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 and they will take care of this for you.