Almost 1 700 Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduands will gather this week in Bathurst for six ceremonies over three days commencing Wednesday 9 May. The graduands will receive their degrees, diplomas and certificates from CSU Chancellor Lawrie Willett, AO.

2.30pm - Faculty of Commerce

2.30pm - Faculty of Education

2.30pm – Faculty of Arts

Stories of interest include:

A Charles Sturt University distance education psychology student will be awarded four separate University prizes as well as the University Medal when he graduates with first class honours at the graduation ceremony on the Bathurst Campus on Friday morning 11 May. The University Medal is the highest honour that the University Council can confer on a graduand in undergraduate courses of the University. It is awarded for outstanding academic performance. There is one University Medal being awarded at the Bathurst graduation ceremonies this year.

Charles Sturt University will honour the achievements of Ms Gail Kelly, the Chief Executive Officer of the St George Bank, the fifth largest bank in Australia. Ms Kelly will receive an honorary Doctor of Business for her contribution to the financial services and banking industries, and to the promotion of women in leadership on Friday morning 11 May. Ms Kelly was also this month named one of Australia's ten most powerful women by the Australian Woman's Weekly.

Does the race of an accused person influence the jurors’ decision of guilt or innocence? The answer is ‘no’ if the accused is of Asian ethnicity, according to a Charles Sturt University researcher. Pamela Henry will receive her doctorate for her PhD study Race and Juror Decision at CSU Bathurst Campus graduation on Friday morning 11 May.

A Charles Sturt University researcher says the Australian public is still clinging to damaging stereotypes in regards to the victims of domestic violence, despite public campaigns such as the Federal government’s Violence Against Women Australia Says No. Trea Sanson-Fisher will collect her doctorate Public perception of domestic violence: an examination of the variables which impact on attributions of personality at CSU’s Bathurst graduation on Friday morning 11 May.

Canadians Marlene Mackey and Donna Leafloor will be collecting their Master of Health Services Management on Wednesday morning 9 May. Marlene and Donna studied via distance education from their homes in Canada and are travelling across the world to attend their Bathurst graduations.

The first students from CSU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery Partnership with Area Health Services program will graduate on Wednesday morning 9 May. The program was set up to help overcome the critical shortage of Registered Nurses in rural, regional and remote areas.

Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, will confer his Teaching Excellence Award for 2006 on Ms Deborah Clarke, lecturer at the School of Human Movement, at the University’s Bathurst Campus postgraduate students’ graduation ceremony on Thursday afternoon 10 May. Ms Clarke’s ability to engage her students and develop them into critical thinkers and life-long learners was central to her success.