Distance education students with Charles Sturt University (CSU) can take part in orientation sessions, group workshops, and individual meetings when a CSU support team embarks on its next round of visits to towns across NSW.

 

The newly-established CSU Regional and Remote Learning Support Team will visit Parkes on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14, Jindabyne on Wednesday 14, and Cooma and Mudgee on Thursday 15 March.

 

Team manager, Mr James Brann, said the team members know what it’s like to study by distance education as they have done it, and they aim to enhance CSU distance education students’ experience of their courses and their prospects for successful completion.

 

“The Regional and Remote Learning Support program provides students who may never visit their campus with access to support and information that students studying on campus may take for granted,” Mr Brann said.

 

“The visits will help to orientate new students to the University to ensure that students studying by distance education have access to the necessary information and support to succeed in their studies.

 

“The sessions, which are also open to continuing students, provide group presentations as well as the opportunity for students to make individual face-to-face appointments with University staff to get some personal support with whatever they are studying.

 

“We encourage all students to attend sessions to meet staff and other students because studying by distance education can be an isolating experience for some. We aim to help students meet others studying in their area and to develop important support networks.”

 

Mr Brann said the team has previously visited Parkes, Jindabyne and Cooma, and future visits will be based on student uptake and feedback to ensure the University continues to meet the needs of students.

 

Dates and venues for the coming visits are:

 

Parkes - Tuesday 13 March at the Western Institute of TAFE, Room D9; two sessions at 1.30pm-3pm, and 5pm-6.30pm.

 

Parkes - Wednesday 14 March at the Western Institute of TAFE, Room CG5; at 10.30am-12 noon.

 

Jindabyne - Wednesday 14 March at Jindabyne Central School, at the Wendy Farmer Memorial Library; at 5.30pm-7pm.

 

Cooma - Thursday 15 March at the Illawarra Institute of TAFE, Block 7 Room G20; two sessions at 1.30pm-3pm and 5.30pm-7pm.