Psi Upsilon 2023 Oral History Project
What do we take away from our fraternity experience? Lifelong friends, leadership skills, and most importantly – stories. The Psi Upsilon Fraternity and Foundation has partnered with Publishing Concepts (PCI) to undertake a massive Oral History Project. This project will let us hear the unique experience from members across the country, but also help update information and ensure your connection to Psi Upsilon remains strong.
The stories will be packaged in a book that is available for purchase and will live on forever in the history of our organization. Can you attribute your success to Psi Upsilon? Did a brother leave a lasting impact on you? What tales of leadership and camaraderie that brought the chapter together can you share with our younger brothers? All of these moments make up Psi Upsilon, and we want to hear them.
We understand that it’s not everyday that you receive a post card or an email asking you to call a number to verify your information and share your Psi U story – so to put you at ease, we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions below that should help to clarify the process.
To call and share your story use this toll free number: 855-376-5979
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Submissions for the Oral History Project will open March 31. You can ensure your contact information is up-to-date with Psi U, by checking your Member Planet account or contacting Jonathan@psiu.org
How does Psi U benefit from this project?
We benefit, in several important ways:
- Alumni engagement – prompts our alumni to reflect on their Psi U experience and strengthen their affinity to the Fraternity
- History – provides an avenue to record the stories of Psi Upsilon brothers across the country and from every decade
- Updated information – with over 28,000 living PsiU alumni, it’s critical to keep our data updated so we can share important updates about the Fraternity with our members
- Book sales – provide resources needed to provide life-changing Psi Upsilon programs for undergraduates
- Access to audio recordings of our brothers describing their experiences in their own words
I ordered a book/package over the phone and have a question about my order or would like to cancel it. How do I do this?
Contact PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590.
I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information and a story about my PsiU experience. Is this project legitimate?
Yes! Psi Upsilon has partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an oral history publication to chronicle the history of our Fraternity and further engage our alumni. PCI is a family-owned business based in Dallas that has produced publications for Greek organizations, colleges, universities and military organizations for almost 100 years. Psi Upsilon has partnered with them in the past on several of our alumni directories.
What can I expect when I call in?
You will speak with a representative at PCI and be asked to verify your contact information so Psi Upsilon can stay in touch with you. With 27K+ living alumni, keeping our records up-to-date is an important priority! Then, you’ll have the opportunity to share your PsiU story and talk about what your membership in the Fraternity has meant to you. Your story will be considered for inclusion in the Oral History Publication. The PCI representative will then provide you with several options to purchase the Oral History Publication book and other PsiU-related merchandise. Note that, while the final publication will be a unique memento of our Fraternity’s history, there is absolutely no obligation to make a purchase.
Can I send my story to International Headquarters directly?
To ensure your story is recorded for the publication, please call the phone number listed on your postcard or email. PCI will record, transcribe and edit your story to consider it for inclusion in the final publication. Please don’t send stories directly to a Headquarters staff member as PCI is collecting thousands of alumni stories in order to produce the book.
How do I know my information is secure?
PCI and Psi Upsilon are 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 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. Psi Upsilon handles your information with the utmost care in accordance with our privacy policy.
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 with Psi Upsilon. Your story will be recorded and the sound clip provided to Psi Upsilon 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 did not receive a postcard or email, you may call the dedicated PsiU Oral History Project line at 855-376-5979.
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 information be excluded. You can also communicate your preferences to 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 through September 29, 2023, 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) and 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 to be printed (note: photos will be returned if you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope).
Can anyone purchase a book?
The Psi Upsilon Fraternity Oral History Publication is available for sale only to PsiU members.
I ordered a book from PCI during the project. When will I receive it?
The total duration of the Oral History Project is about 12-14 months. Since we began the project in March 2023, the books will be distributed in March-May 2024.
What is the Digital Publication exactly, since it isn’t a download or installed program?
Access to the Digital Publication is sent via email and the buyer creates a password to view it. It’s basically a secure website archive that allows the buyer to listen to and read many of the stories that we collect throughout our project. Because it is not limited by physical space, it contains more stories than can be included in the physical book and allows the buyer to LISTEN to the stories as told. Attached below is a brief tutorial example showing the interface and capabilities of the digital publication.
