The Higher Education Partnership is an advocacy group made up of the 15 four-year college and universities in Alabama. Created as then-Alabama Gov. Fob James was introducing drastic funding cuts to Alabama's higher education institutions, the HEP sought to reverse the trend and advocate the importance of higher learning in the state of Alabama.

STARS (Student Teams Advocating Realistic Solutions) was created in June 1997 as a way to involve students who attend any of the four-year institutions in Alabama. By 1999, 13 of the 15 schools had STARS programs on their campuses.

All schools with the exception of Auburn University had placed STARS as committees under their Student Government Associations.

Auburn University created their STARS organization as a separate entity from the Auburn University Student Government  Association. Chartered in June 1998, Auburn University STARS has a seven-member board of directors.

Auburn University STARS co-ordinates Higher Education Day, a media event at the Capitol in Montgomery every April. This day is set aside and students from all over Alabama meet with legislators and discuss the importance of higher education and higher learning to them.