Abstract

Interactive Alumni Mapping at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Track: Education
Authors: Lisa Theo, Ben Overholt

This session describes an alumni mapping application at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The alumni office had a database of 70,000+ records, but no way to understand the spatial distribution/concentration. Alumni are a significant source of revenue for the university tapped through direct mail, but also from alumni receptions and local alumni groups. Geography students used standard ESRI tools including Model Builder, and Flex web mapping. The Alumni Office provides a database including ZIP, graduation year, and degree college. A Model Builder routine geocodes records by ZIP centroid. Points are aggregated to 3-digit ZIP, county, and CBSA into graduated circle maps for each level. Point level pop-ups provide bar graphs of degree colleges and graduation year. The alumni office uses the map to identify significant clusters for alumni fund raising events; alumni use the interactive map to explore the numbers and characteristics of fellow alumni in their area.