Coker University Alumni Oral History Project

The Project

The Coker University Alumni Association wants to hear your stories! With 10,000 alumni, it would take years to meet with each of you individually. As such, we’re excited to embark on a new project to collect the stories of our alumni as told by YOU. These stories will be collected in a book that celebrates Coker and the impact it has had on your lives. We’re excited to get started on this project today in partnership with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI)!

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 Coker in the future. 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 story will you tell?

Did a special faculty or staff member have a profound impact on your life?
Are you a Cobra Couple that met at Coker?
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?
Are you a Cobra 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 human beings who are excited to listen to what you have to share. PCI will also help collect and assemble the stories into a book that we can share with all Coker-nuts and Cobras. 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 Coker. The project is completely funded by the alumni who choose to purchase the 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 Coker University branded merchandise such as a blanket and pullover. You are welcome to purchase these items, but you are not required to do so to participate in the project or order the 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 hope to have the book distributed in 2022 after the story collection and editing phases are completed.

What to Look For

You will receive a postcard in the mail. This is an official postcard from the Coker University Alumni Association, 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 memories.

You will also receive an email in your inbox. Once you receive the email, please follow the instructions to update your information and set up an interview time to share your memories. If you do not receive it, please take this opportunity to call PCI at 1-800-982-1590 and update your contact information so we can stay connected.

FAQs

I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information and a story about my time at Coker. 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 Coker University Alumni Association (CUAA). 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 Coker to hear about your personal experiences and explain how the institution has helped shape your lives.
Does the Coker University 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 school.
How do I know my information will only be used for this specific purpose?
Coker has a contractual agreement with PCI that states:
- The names, addresses and information provided to PCI by Coker 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 Coker University. Upon completion of the project, PCI will return to Coker any and all electronic files that have been supplied by Coker 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 Coker. Your story will be recorded, and the sound clip provided to the CUAA 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.

Add the content…
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?

Coker University’s Oral History Project book is available for sale only to Coker University 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.
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 and they will take care of this for you.
Contact Information

If you have any other questions regarding the project, please reach out to PCI customer service desk at 1-800-982-1590 or the Coker University Office of Alumni Engagement at evaughn@cesametal.net.

Coker University Alumni Oral History Project