Every URI alum has a story—we want to hear yours!

Calling All Rams—Add Your Story to the URI Oral History Project

The University of Rhode Island Foundation is excited to partner with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) in creating a URI Oral History Project by collecting your most treasured stories and memories from your time at URI. By participating, you’ll contribute to a celebration of the diverse journeys of URI graduates and the vibrant history of the University.

How It Works

Participating in the project is simple and completely voluntary.

  • Keep an eye out for postcards and emails with a phone number to call
  • Call and share your story over the phone

During the call, we will also verify your contact information to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information in our system. Rest assured, all personal information will be kept confidential and used only for this purpose.

Alumni stories will be recorded in a beautiful bound URI Oral History Project book that will be available for purchase. When you call to record your story, you will have the option to order the book or digital publication, as well as a selection of custom URI-branded merchandise, but any purchase is 100% optional! You will be able to reconfirm your contact information and record your URI story; no purchase necessary.

What to Talk About

There are endless possibilities when it comes to sharing your URI memories. Here are just a few ideas to kickstart your story:

  • What was your favorite class? Who was your favorite professor?
  • Did you play any sports or were you active in any clubs or organizations?
  • Did you have any internships during your time at URI? How did you get them and what did they mean to you for your career and life after graduation?
  • How did studying in Rhode Island shape your education?
What Happens Next

Stories will be compiled into a special book available for purchase as well as a digital version. Along the way, participants will also have the option to purchase exclusive branded merchandise. Please note: No purchase is necessary; you can share your story and update your information without purchasing the book, digital publication, or the merchandise.

Questions?

Please contact the Director of Alumni Engagement, Kira Mudd at kira.mudd@uri.edu or 401.874.4434.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce an oral history publication for URI. PCI is a family-owned business based in Dallas, Texas, that has published books for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities, and military organizations across the nation for more than 100 years. This project allows us to hear about your personal experiences from your time at URI and how the University has 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 two ways, in particular:

    • A stronger legacy—sharing and collecting your stories preserves the history of URI.
    • Updated information—allows us to effectively communicate with and engage you and your fellow alumni.

  • We are committed to protecting your information. The names, addresses, and information provided to PCI for the publication of the URI 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.

    • 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 URI 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 URI. Your story will be recorded, and the sound clip provided to URI 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 URI update line at 1-800-238-0460.
    • If you are living internationally or are unable to call the update line, please email pciservice@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 pciservice@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 be used only to update your alumni record for URI. You may revoke consent for your story and/or photo to appear anytime before July 31, 2026, by contacting PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 or pciservice@publishingconcepts.com.

  • You can call back anytime before July 31, 2026 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 University of Rhode Island Oral History publication will be available for sale only to URI alumni.

  • The total duration of the URI Oral History Project is about 12-13 months. Since the project began at the end of January 2026, the books will be distributed in March 2027.

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