By BSU Alumni & Foundation

Published 10:35 a.m. on March 22, 2024

A new initiative is coming to Bemidji State University, and all alumni are invited to participate for free by contributing their own slice of campus history.

Over the next six months, alumni have the opportunity to add their stories to a collection of Bemidji State memories for a new hardbound book. Alumni may be contacted by Publishing Concepts (PCI) regarding the Oral History Project. Please know that this is not spam or fraudulent, but rather a legitimate point of contact – one authorized by us.

The book, crafted into hardcover and digital versions, will be available to alumni for purchase around March 2025.

Here’s a little more information on what the Oral History Project is all about, and how Bemidji State will be using your stories:

What to expect

Here’s what you can expect as this program gets off the ground:

If you haven’t already, PCI will contact you by mail, email and/or phone, on our behalf, with two important invitations:

Update your information

An invitation to update and verify your contact info, which will strengthen the BSU alumni network and will keep you better updated on the latest happenings around campus.

Share your story

An invitation to share your experiences at Bemidji State. What are your fondest memories in the Northwoods? PCI has a dedicated team ready to record your stories.

What kind of story should you tell? It’s up to you! Some ideas include:

  • Lifelong connections made on campus
  • Your favorite adventure outside the classroom
  • Faculty or staff members who left a lasting impression
  • Student organization involvement that helped shape you
  • The impact of receiving or giving a scholarship
  • A career-defining experience or moment

You may have the opportunity to pre-order the book right away, but please know that you do not have to buy anything in order to get involved.

Here's how it will look

Here's a taste of how the finished product will come out, via Wagner College's publication for the same project.

Frequently asked questions

Still have questions? Here are some frequently asked questions about the Oral History Project:

We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an Oral History Publication for Bemidji State University. 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 over 100 years. This project allows us to hear about your personal experiences from your time at Bemidji 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.

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.
  • Pride – wearing apparel shows support and love for our school.

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. 

There are a few different ways, depending on your situation:

  • If you receive 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 Bemidji State University. Your story will be recorded, and the sound clip provided to Bemidji State University at the conclusion of the project.
  • If you receive an email with an embedded link, you may go to the online site to review your information and submit a story.
  • If you do not receive a postcard or email, you may call the Alumni & Foundation office directly at 218-755-2762.
  • If you are living internationally or are unable to call the update line, please email customerservice@publishingconcepts.com. PCI will send you a personalized link for you to share your written story and photo. 

If you would like to participate and are deaf/hard of hearing, please email customerservice@publishingconcepts.com. PCI will send you a personalized link for you to share your written story and photo.

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. You may revoke consent for your story and/or photo to appear any time before Sept. 20, 2024, by contacting PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 or customerservice@publishingconcepts.com.

You can call back at any time before Sept. 20, 2024, to share your story.

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

The Bemidji State University Oral History Publication is available for sale only to Bemidji State University alumni.

The total duration of the Oral History Project is about 12 months. Since we began the project in March 2024, the books will be distributed in March 2025.

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

We’re here to help! You can contact Angela Schmidt, our director of alumni relations, at angela.schmidt@bemidjistate.edu with your questions.

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