Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) commitment to learning, teaching and research in regional Australia has been strengthened with the announcement today that CSU is finalising arrangements with the University of Sydney for transfer of its Orange Campus to CSU from 1 January 2005. 

This follows the announcement last July that the Commonwealth would provide an additional 100 new commencing places to CSU at Orange, in addition to 240 continuing places, should the transfer of the Orange Campus proceed. 

After considering the interests of existing and prospective students, staff and the local community, the University of Sydney and CSU have reached agreement on the conditions under which about 100 staff at the Orange Campus, all the courses in the Faculty of Rural Management at Orange and infrastructure at the Campus will transfer to CSU from January next year.

Welcoming this development, CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter said the transfer is a natural fit for both the Orange Campus and CSU. 

“The Orange Campus will allow CSU to increase educational opportunities in western NSW,” Professor Goulter said.

“As a robust, leading regional university, CSU’s commitment to regional NSW is well recognised and demonstrated by the programs and graduates we are producing. Our presence in Orange consolidates our position in regional NSW, with a strong and cohesive network of CSU campuses at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.”

Professor Goulter said the success of CSU’s Dubbo Campus revealed a high level of unmet demand for tertiary education in the western corridor of NSW, so it was hoped the Orange Campus would also assist in responding to this demand. 

“The allocation of new places for the Campus is a great result for the city of Orange, which will continue to have the strong university presence it had enjoyed for many years. CSU will offer high demand courses of critical need for Orange and the rest of regional Australia, including pharmacy and nursing,” Professor Goulter said. 

Key points:

• Undergraduate students commencing study at the Orange Campus from 1 January 2005 will be Charles Sturt University students.
• From 1 July 2005, new postgraduate students at Orange will be CSU students. 
• Students currently enrolled at the Orange Campus will be able to continue their degrees, and graduate from the University of Sydney. 
• All courses currently offered by the Faculty of Rural Management will continue in 2005.
• In addition, CSU will teach pharmacy and nursing programs from the Campus. 
• CSU’s relationship with the University of Sydney will continue well past the transfer date, through the Centre for Regional Education Orange (CREO) and in a range of research activities. 
• Staff at the Orange Campus (around 100) will transfer to Charles Sturt University from 1 January 2005. 
• To meet the staffing needs for the increased places for pharmacy and nursing from 2005, Charles Sturt University has already commenced staff recruitment.