Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) sound financial position has been demonstrated in the NSW Auditor-General’s report tabled in State Parliament yesterday, Wednesday 18 May.

The report showed that CSU assets compared to debt in the year ending 31 December 2004 or CSU’s liquidity ratio was well within the sector’s good practice.

Despite growing financial challenges facing Australian universities, CSU continued to post an operating surplus, which in 2004 was $4 million.  During this same period Commonwealth Government grants as a percentage of operating revenue, fell by 6 per cent to 31 per cent, well below the NSW average. 

“The University’s financial performance as reported by the Auditor-General shows that we are well placed to grasp research and teaching opportunities within the higher education sector,” said CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter. 

“We are disappointed that the figures in the Auditor-General’s report sourced from the Federal Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), do not accurately represent the true student staff ratio at CSU.  The figures are highly inflated.” he said.

The DEST statistics do not take into account CSU’s unique student profile including the high numbers of students, largely arising from our distance education capacity, who are taught by local and overseas partners, including NSW Police. 

The DEST figures do not include academic staff who are teaching through those partners and the ratio is further inflated because a large number of staff, who assist in the academic support of students, are not included in the calculations. 

Taking into account these factors, internal CSU figures show the student to staff ratio for 2003 was 26.9: 1, improving to 24.3:1 in 2004. These figures compare favourably with the NSW average of 26.9:1 for 2003.

“However, improving student staff ratios remains a priority for this University as CSU continues to find ways to further enhance teaching quality. This is demonstrated by a recent decision to invest additional funds in 2006 into academic programs to improve the ratios,” said Professor Goulter.