Search

The Invited Panel Session at the inaugural STARS Conference concluded the formal presentations for the event. At this session, invited STARS from the tertiary sector shared with delegates their personal thoughts concerning the messages and insights gained from the conference experience. The Panel Session also provided delegates with the opportunity to respond and share their views in order to consolidate learnings. Delegates were challenged to give thought to their intended activities and actions in their own settings based on their experiences at the conference. For the purposes of this feature, the editors have summarised and edited the transcript to present the key points of each discussion, including questions and comments from delegates. Panel members have approved the authors’ interpretations of their comments.

This issue is our third Students, Transitions, Achievement, Retention and Success (STARS) Conference special issue held in July this year in Adelaide, Australia. As is customary, this issue of the journal publishes the top research papers selected via a peer review process and the top Emerging Initiatives selected by the Conference Committee. We are delighted to feature in this special issue —Reflections on Student Persistence—prepared by Advisory Board member Professor Vincent Tinto, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at Syracuse University, USA. Vincent is a long-time friend and supporter of STARS and its predecessor FYHE Conferences and Journal. In his article, Vincent explores the case for motivation to be considered as a significant aspect of the tertiary student psyche by drawing on theoretical frameworks, research and practical experiences related to the issue.

Welcome to the first issue of Student Success for 2017. Following the tradition initiated in Volume 7, this editorial has two parts: The first part continues our objective of creating awareness of good practice in scholarly publishing in an Open Access (OA) forum. Future editorials will briefly discuss other aspects and issues pertaining to the evolving scholarly publishing landscape that this journal adheres to, such as: Creative Commons Licencing; Considerations of new peer review models and importantly; Measuring research impact in OA publishing. The second part presents the usual editorial summary of the content of this issue.

The continuing interest and commitment to improving the student experience in the tertiary sector was reflected in yet another successful Students, Transitions, Achievement, Retention and Success (STARS) Conference recently held in Perth, Western Australia (June 29-July 2, 2016). As is customary, this issue of the journal publishes the top research papers selected via a peer review process and the top Emerging Initiatives selected by the Conference Committee. As well, a Good Practice Report was selected for this issue. The Invited Feature in this issue republishes an article from Professor Sally Kift, President of the Australian Learning and Teaching Fellows (and one of the Editors of Student Success). The statement draws on and is representative of the national reaction to the closure of the OLT, highlighting the substantial role it has played in developing and disseminating innovation and good practice in tertiary teaching and learning.

Welcome to Volume 7 of Student Success. This editorial has two parts: The first part maintains the “doing things differently” tradition, making readers aware by chronicling the publishing of the journal in an open access (OA) forum. Future editorials will briefly discuss other aspects and issues pertaining to the new scholarly publishing landscape that this journal adheres to, such as: Creative Commons Licencing; ORCID IDs; considerations of new peer review models and importantly; measuring research impact in OA publishing. The second part presents the usual editorial summary of the content of this issue.

Welcome to the newly titled Student Success: A journal exploring the experiences of students in tertiary education