Charles Sturt University (CSU) will honour former Prime Minister Mr John Howard OM AC during a graduation ceremony at Orange on Tuesday 16 December.

Australia's 25^th Prime Minister will receive the award of Doctor of the University (honoris causa) in recognition of his efforts to secure funding in the Commonwealth Budget to establish the University's oral health therapy and dentistry program in 2009.

The University's new Chancellor, Dr Michele Allan will confer the award on Mr Howard, who was Prime Minister from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007, making him the second-longest serving Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies.

Mr Howard will also deliver the Occasional Address to 142 CSU graduates and almost 400 guests attending the ceremony from 3pm at the Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said, "We are very pleased to present this honorary award which recognises Mr Howard's support for the work of Charles Sturt University during his lengthy term as Prime Minister.

"The decision by his government to fund an oral health and dentistry program in a regional setting demonstrated clear support for Charles Sturt University's on-going aim to address the workforce needs of regional and rural communities.

"It is appropriate that Mr Howard will receive the Doctor of the University before 33 new dental science graduates who are about to embark on their careers."

The first 32 students to complete the five-year Bachelor of Dental Science graduated from CSU last year.

The CSU School of Dentistry and Health Sciences  educates oral health therapy students in Wagga Wagga and dental science students in Orange. The University also runs Dental and Oral Health Clinics at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, and Wagga Wagga.