More than 5,700 first-year students are due to begin study at Charles Sturt University this year with orientation week activities beginning Monday 14 February.

Over 2,500 students will start on-campuses courses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga, with 120 students commencing full-time postgraduate courses.

A further 3,500 students will begin distance education studies, both undergraduate and postgraduate, when formal classes resume on Monday 21 February.

Albury-Wodonga Campus

Around 450 students will commence full-time and part-time studies on the Albury-Wodonga Campus this year. Orientation Week activities offering good media opportunities include the official welcome by Wiradjuri elder Pastor Cec Grant and the new Head of Albury-Wodonga Campus, Professor David Battersby, in the Nowik Auditorium on Monday 14 February starting at 11am; Market Day held at the Student Association building on the Albury City Campus on Monday 14 February, between 9am and 5pm; and the arrival of first students at the new Thurgoona student cottages.

Bathurst Campus

Around 1000 first year students, including 70 international students, converge for the annual O'Week activities 14-21 February on the Bathurst Campus. With a CalypsO theme and a host of day and night events, students will be officially welcomed in an official ceremony on Monday 14 February at 3pm, on the library lawn, hosted by Head of the Bathurst Campus Dr Peter Hodgson. This will feature a Koori welcome by a local Wiradjuri elder and a performance from an Aboriginal dance troupe. Supported by CSU's Student Services division, events include an outdoor cinema on the library lawn on Wednesday night, a dag night, campus tours, enrolment days and a chance for students to join the host of CSU sporting and special interest clubs.

Dubbo Campus

O'Week activities on the Dubbo Campus, Myall Street, are set to be the biggest yet with some 150 first year students beginning courses in 2000. These include 26 students from the newest Dubbo course, the Bachelor of Nursing. The O'week program gets under way on Sunday 13 February with barbecue and information sessions for distance education and on-campus students. From Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February students will attend short courses in academic writing, accessing on-line learning and using the University's library services. Specialist staff from Students Services and the Divisions of Information Technology and Library Services will be on-hand during the week to support the new students.

Wagga Wagga Campus

More than 900 new students are expected at the Wagga Wagga Campus over the next week. The formal program begins with a welcome by Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Wagga Campus, Professor Kath Bowmer, in Joyes Hall at 1.30pm on Monday. All new students and their families coming from throughout NSW, interstate, and overseas are invited to attend this 2000 Commencement Celebration. Enrolling students should also attend one of the two main information sessions in the Swan Theatre (Lecture Unit 2) at either 12 noon or 4pm. Activities scheduled day and night throughout the week include: campus and library tours; course advice, technology and study skills sessions; and a host of social events run by Rivcoll Student Union to welcome new cohorts. For details contact CSU Student Services on (02) 6933 2140, or Rivcoll on (02) 6933 2030.

Last year, there were nearly 28,000 students enrolled with the University.