Oral History Project

USC Upstate family, we want your stories!

In anticipation of our 60th anniversary, we want to hear your story.

At the University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate), the Spartan experience is defined by passion, resilience, and meaningful achievement. Every Spartan, Rifle and Bantam has a story—one of triumph, grit, and a commitment to serving others.

The Office of Alumni Relations invites you to share your unique connection to USC Upstate through our USC Upstate Oral History Project. This is your chance to tell your Upstate story in your own words. Once the collection is complete, we’ll curate these narratives into a commemorative coffee table book that celebrates our alma mater and the legacy Spartans are building across the Upstate, our state, and beyond. These will be showcased during our 60th Anniversary celebration.

This opportunity is made possible through a partnership between the Office of Alumni Relations and Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI). In addition to recording stories, PCI will also assist us in confirming and updating alumni contact and biographical information so we can stay better connected with Spartans everywhere. Participation is voluntary, and there is no obligation to purchase anything to be part of the project. We want to hear from you!

Alumni, retirees, faculty, staff, friends and fans will be receiving a yellow postcard and email from PCI with more information on how to share their story. Stories will be collected via a phone call with a trained member of the PCI team. If you did not receive a postcard or email, you may call in your response via this telephone number: 1-855-376-0581.

What to Look For

PCI has currently been sending yellow postcards and emails to our alumni and friends. Simply follow the steps to update your information and set up a time to share your story with one of their staff members.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on plus button at the bottom of this Accordion BLOCK (not accordion tab) to create a new tab. Select Accordion TAB block to edit tab headline. Select nested blocks within accordion tab to edit content.

Does University of South Carolina Upstate benefit from this at all?

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

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.

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 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 University of South Carolina Upstate. Your story will be recorded, and the sound clip provided to University of South Carolina Upstate 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 University of South Carolina Upstate update line at 1-855-376-0581.
If you are living internationally or are unable to call the update line, please email [email protected]. PCI will send you a personalized link for you to share your written story and photo.

How can I participate if I am Deaf/Hard of Hearing?

If you would like to participate and are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, please email [email protected]. PCI will send you a personalized link for you to share your written story and photo.

Can I choose what information prints in the publication?

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/alumni association. You may revoke consent for your story and/or photo to appear any time before 05/01/2026 by contacting PCI’s customer service helpdesk at 1-800-982-1590 / [email protected].

You can call back at any time before 05/01/2026 to share your story.

I shared a story and the representative said I could send a photo. How do I do this?

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

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 1-800-982-1590, and they will take care of this for you.