The legacy of Carnegie Mellon University lives in our alumni. Your stories are the story of the university.
The Tartan Alumni Oral History Project will gather the stories of alumni like you in your own words. We will then preserve them in a book that celebrates the impact of CMU on our alumni and the impact alumni like you have on the world around you.
Updating Your Information
As part of this project, you also will have an opportunity to update your contact information, including email address and phone numbers, to help keep you in touch with your alma mater.
Sharing Your Story
What kind of CMU story should you tell? It’s really up to you! We would love to hear about:
- The impact of a special faculty or staff member
- An experience that was just “So CMU”
- Spring Carnival and Buggy fun
- Connections made on campus that led to love or lifelong friendships
- A moment that defined your career path
- The athletic team, Greek house or student organizations that shaped you
- The experience of international students finding a new home at CMU
- A creative or research project that challenged orinspired you
PCI Partnership
CMU is pleased to be partnering with industry leader PCI (Publishing Concepts). Their trained staff are excited to listen to what you have to share about your CMU experience. PCI will also be helping us to collect and assemble stories into a high quality Tartan Alumni Oral History Project book. Please note that 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. PCI will not use your information for any purpose beyond this Oral History Project.
Frequently Asked Questions
I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information and a story about Carnegie Mellon University. Is this a legitimate project or is it a scam?
It’s legit! We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an oral history publication for CMU. PCI is a family-owned business based in Dallas, Texas, that has published directories for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities and military organizations across the nation for almost 100 years. This project allows Carnegie Mellon to hear about your personal experiences and explain how CMU has helped shape your lives.
Does Carnegie Mellon University benefit from this at all?
Yes, in a few different ways:
- Updated Information: allows us to effectively communicate with and engage alumni
- Legacy: preserves the history of our university
- Revenue: generates donation revenue for CMU programs
- Participation: shows support and love for our school
Who can I talk to about this project at CMU?
If you have questions about the Tartan Alumni Oral History Project, you can reach out to AlumniOralHistoryProject@andrew.cmu.edu.
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. 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.
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 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 Carnegie Mellon. Your story will be recorded and the sound clip provided to CMU 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?
When you call to update your information, you can tell the representative if you prefer any of your oral history or information be excluded. You can also communicate your preferences to PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 800-982-1590 or 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 to share your story.
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 (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).
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.
Is this the same as the Carnegie Mellon University Oral History Program?
The CMU Oral History Program is an initiative of the University Archives in the CMU Libraries and was launched in 2016. These long-form interviews of students, faculty and alumni capture first-hand the stories and experiences of community members who lived historic moments, and are preserved in the University Archives and available to all for research and study. Learn more about the CMU Oral History Program. And if you’ve participated in the CMU Oral History Program in the past, we hope you’ll also consider sharing a story with the Tartan Alumni Oral History Project!
Can anyone purchase a book?
The Tartan Alumni Oral History Publication is available for sale only to Carnegie Mellon 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 800-982-1590 or customerservice@publishingconcepts.com and they will take care of this for you.
