"America's Greatest Homecoming Celebration" to be most interactive

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Oklahoma State University and the OSU Alumni Association are integrating SCVNGR, a Google-funded geo-location mobile gaming platform, into a number of campus initiatives beginning with Homecoming 2011: 'Where Your Story Began'. Users can participate in "treks" through a mobile app or via text messaging. The treks send users to different places to check in and complete challenges like answering questions about an event or tradition, posting images or sharing other related information. Users can access the university's treks at http://SCVNGR.com/OSU.
 
Similar to Foursquare, SCVNGR allows its users to check in and share their whereabouts with friends. What makes SCVNGR unique is the opportunity to create a virtual ‘game-layer’ over campus as participants are directed through each challenge. Points are awarded for completing each challenge and participants can win a variety of prizes for the most points received.

“SCVNGR offers a more interactive and engaging experience for any initiative. During Homecoming, attendees using SCVNGR will be guided through campus happenings and given challenges at each location,” said Chase Carter, Director of Communications for the OSU Alumni Association. “Our objective is to help attendees share their Homecoming experience with others but also create challenges that will instill even more school pride in both students and alumni."
 
This year's Homecoming theme, 'Where Your Story Began', has been incorporated into several treks catered to returning alumni and existing students, faculty and staff. Users who participate in the treks will have the opportunity to compete with others for prizes. The OSU Alumni Association will be giving away an iPad, a signed football by Cowboy Football Head Coach Mike Gundy as well as gift certificates to the University Store in the newly renovated Student Union. Users can get a head start on earning points by completing a challenge at their local OSU Alumni Chapter or Watch Club. Go to http://SCVNGR.com/OSU for more information.
 
Users have the option to share these interactions through their Facebook and Twitter accounts, expanding and amplifying their OSU Homecoming experience.
 
SCVNGR will be used for other initiatives at OSU including Research Week, New Student Orientation, campus tours, athletic events and more. In each case specific objectives will be identified and the platform will be leveraged to help achieve those objectives. Depending on the challenge, there might be rewards for those with the highest points or for answering a specific challenge question correctly.
 
“We are pleased to be the first university in Oklahoma to partner with SCVNGR,” said Megan Horton, OSU Manager of Web & Social Initiatives. “The world is mobile and it makes sense for us to engage our students and alumni through these devices to achieve mutual objectives. If we want to highlight a certain college, academic event or even important information related to an event, we can build a challenge around this and validate our objectives have been achieved.”
 
Higher education institutions have partnered with SCVNGR since 2008.