CIS 8020 Assignment 2 SR International Student Population

As Georgia State University seeks to serve a globally diverse student population, it is important to tailor academic offerings to meet the demands of the international student body. In particular, language and culture specific offerings are an excellent way to both welcome incoming students, as well as provide a forum for existing students to maintain cultural ties.
In order to begin to develop such a program, the university would first have to determine the major student populations. Given limited resources, it would be important to also measure the percentage a specific student population composes of the entire international student community.
Using a Google API, you can graphically illustrate the composition of the international student body. You can break out the population geographically (by continent, country, or major cities) or by language (Spanish, Russian, Cantonese, or Hindi). In this hypothetical scenario, we will illustrate the five leading countries from which international students originate.



http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=700x280&chd=t:15,20,25,30,30&cht=p3&chtt=Student%20Profile&chl=France|Germany|Brazil|China|India&chco=FF0000,00FF00,0000FF,800080,FFFF00

The pie chart is much more representative of the student population than would be the case with a line or bar chart. By representing each given student demographic as a portion of the pie chart, the viewer can instantly understand the ratio of the given population, as it relates to the entire international student body. By extension, the pie chart can also serve to illustrate a “benchmark” for resource allocation, to ensure funds are spent in proportion to the given student population demographic.
A line chart would be more effective for illustrating trends in student population over a specified period of time. This would allow the viewer to see growth patterns, and potentially anticipate future student needs. Additionally, using a line chart, or a bar chart, would give the viewer the opportunity to graphically illustrate growth in comparison to spending. Ultimately, the selection of chart type is largely driven by intended purpose. The pie chart was selected to represent student demographics a point in time, whereas the line/bar chart would be more effective to show trends.