Academic libraries and the student journey: guest editorial

This themed issue of the New Review of Academic Librarianship is documenting the extended role of academic libraries (and their staff) in developing and supporting students across the entire student lifecycle – from pre-entry, to post qualification. The resulting innovative approaches mean working with a much wider range of stakeholders than previously, internally and externally and involving students more pro-actively. Whilst the predominant focus of the articles is undergraduate study, the approach of this themed issue – the student journey - can be applied to all kinds of learners and researchers

Student journey work: a review of academic library contributions to student transition and success

This review aims to capture projects, services and approaches that are being used to ensure student success and sustainability across the stages (or transitions) of the student experience of higher education where these extend the traditional role of the library, in the UK and internationally. The article examines why the student journey (and supporting it) has become a central part of the contemporary academic library's repertoire. Fundamentally, through a student lifecycle perspective, the author will attempt to show how academic libraries contribute to their university's bottom line. Finally, the article will reflect on strategic implications and areas for further investigation

A survey of curriculum methods in East and Middle Tennessee alternative education programs

In this thesis alternative programs in East and Middle Tennessee were examined for the rate of student recidivism, and teachers\u27 perceptions of these programs are discussed. Specifically, teachers\u27 perceptions were examined in connection with student recidivism rates in these programs. Data were gathered from surveys sent to twenty-four schools in East and Middle Tennessee. Survey respondents were divided into two groups: those who responded that recidivism in their school was 0 to 20% and those who described it as higher. The two groups\u27 answers to questions about curriculum and instruction were examined for differences and similarities and discussed

The challenges faced by reporting entities on their transition to international financial reporting standards:a qualitative study

This study explores the challenges of implementing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) at the organisational level. Based on interviews with experts with aggregated experience relating to the transition projects of over 170 reporting entities, this paper highlights the main challenges in delivering a successful implementation of IFRS. The findings show that the problems faced in implementation include lack of education and training, securing executive-level support, identifying and responding to the wider business-related implications of the transition, and issues with capturing the necessary information for reporting under IFRS.This paper complements the existing literature and offers a qualitative alternative to considering the transition to IFRS, offering insight into the organisational context of IFRS implementation. These insights are useful not only from a historic perspective, but also for organisations and regulators in the many jurisdictions where IFRS is permitted but not required, where more reporting entities will voluntarily move to IFRS-based reporting in the future. More broadly, they are also applicable to the challenges faced in implementing new and significantly revised IFRSs

Bandwidth and density for block graphs

The bandwidth of a graph G is the minimum of the maximum difference between adjacent labels when the vertices have distinct integer labels. We provide a polynomial algorithm to produce an optimal bandwidth labeling for graphs in a special class of block graphs (graphs in which every block is a clique), namely those where deleting the vertices of degree one produces a path of cliques. The result is best possible in various ways. Furthermore, for two classes of graphs that are ``almost'' caterpillars, the bandwidth problem is NP-complete.Comment: 14 pages, 9 included figures. Note: figures did not appear in original upload; resubmission corrects thi

Planning the Kitchen

Provides a brief discussion of new trends in kitchen planning

Records of the Higher Fungi of Minnesota

This paper, presenting an annotated list of 203 species of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes of Minnesota, is the first published report of the occurrence of many of the species in the state. The collections on which the list is based were made in five Minnesota counties and are deposited in the senior author\u27s herbarium at Faribault, Minnesota, and in the University of Michigan Herbarium at Ann Arbor, Michigan

Higher Fungi of Minnesota, ll.

This paper, an annotated list of 240 species of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes of Minnesota, is the first published report of the occurrence of many of the species in the state and is the second report presented by the authors. These collections were made in nine Minnesota counties

More than the sum of its parts: a university for Cumbria

Arising from the influential report by Sir Martin Harris in 2005, the University of Cumbria was created on August 1, 2007. It was formed from an amalgamation of St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire. The vision and mission of the new university is to widen access to higher education in Cumbria where traditionally there is low aspiration, socioeconomic disadvantage, and lack of opportunity. This article reflects on the process of merger from the perspective of one service department, Learning and Information Services (LIS), and discusses in brief the various integration projects and the impact on staff during the many changes. It benchmarks lessons learned against a similar library case study (of which there are few in the literature) and poses questions about the role of culture in such processes. Finally, the article reflects on the institution-wide response required in bringing about successful management of change through its leaders and concludes that effective communication and development of staff are essential ingredients in shaping the future of the university