University Council meets in Dubbo

The 15-member University Council of Charles Sturt University (CSU) will meet at the campus in Dubbo on Thursday 18 September. The University Council, which is akin to a board of directors with the Chancellor as chairperson, meets on a CSU campus six times a year. The visit of Council to the campus will also provide an opportunity for staff and students to farewell the Chancellor, Mr Lawrie Willett, AO, before he retires from his 12-year role at the end of 2014. It will also be the last meeting for retiring Deputy Chancellor, Ms Kathryn Pitkin. Mr Willett has presided over a significant era of growth for the University and was instrumental in establishing the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, and in the push to establish a rural medical school at CSU. The University Council will consider matters to refresh the University strategic plan (2011-2015) in light of the recent regulatory reform to NSW universities legislation to cut red tape and the federal government's higher education reform agenda.

Rugby talk in Orange

Head of Campus at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew will take her love of rugby to Orange on Friday 19 September. She will attend the inaugural Orange Rugby Business Network (RBN) event from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at the Union Bank Wine Bar in 84 Byng Street. Ms Dayhew will address the event along with Randwick Rugby Club patron Mr Jeff Sayle, OAM and the CSU NSW Country Eagles President Mr David Carter. Ms Dayhew will also attend the top of competition table clash between the CSU NSW Country Eagles and Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) from 3pm at Wade Park in Orange. In August, CSU announced a two year partnership with the Country Eagles in the new NRC.

CSU students sleep out for street swags

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga will put comfort aside in sleep outs during September to raise money for the not-for-profit organisation, Street Swags. Supported by CSU's Office for Students, the students are supporting Swagtember and the purchase of street swags for people unable to find accommodation. Students are being encouraged to register with Swagtember and get sponsored to spend a night away from home. A range of activities have been organised to keep students entertained throughout the night including music, karaoke, movies, a pillow fight tournament and a barbecue breakfast. The sleep outs will be held from 7.30 pm to 7.30 am starting:

- Thursday 18 September, HeBrews Cafe, Munster Street, CSU in Port Macquarie. An outdoor cinema will show three movies during the sleep out.

- Thursday 18 September, The Hub, building 20, CSU in Wagga Wagga.

- Tuesday 23 September, Learning Teaching Hub, building 754 at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. A free soup dinner will be provided by the Uniting Church group from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm followed by a guest speaker from Youth Emergency Services to talk about local youth homeless. A Zumba class will be held on Wednesday 24 September from 6.30 am followed by a barbecue breakfast.

Threads of Time exhibition at Chifley Home

An exhibition of history-inspired collaborative art works by Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will be officially opened at the Chifley Home and Education Centre in Bathurst on Saturday 27 September. Dr Donna Mathewson Mitchell, a senior lecturer in the CSU School of Teacher Education in Bathurst, said the Threads of Time exhibition is the result of collaboration between Bathurst Regional Council (BRC) and the CSU Faculty of Education. The exhibition will feature artworks that explore connections with history through the interpretation of objects related to Australia from the 1930s to 1950s and the Chifley Home site. "The artists are all distance education students from around Australia who are studying secondary visual arts teaching at the Faculty of Education," Dr Mathewson Mitchell said. "The exhibition is the culmination of a 10-week project in which they collaboratively created artworks as artists and co-teachers in a practice-based virtual classroom. The approach is an innovation in online teaching and learning at Charles Sturt University, and has been presented at a number of national and international conferences. This is the second year of the project. The first exhibition, titled Distant Connections, was shown in 2013."

50 year reunion for Wagga Ag College graduates

It will be a chance to reminisce and see how study has changed over the past 50 years when former students from the Wagga Agricultural College visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 19 September. Head of CSU's School of Agriculture and Wine Sciences Professor John Mawson will welcome the class of 1964 before they tour the School, University farm and Winery Cellar Door. Reunion co-organiser Mr Neil Sowerby said most of the 32 graduates went on to successful careers in agriculture. "The broad foundation of practical and theory provided balance for those farming or serving the agricultural industry. Apart from the Diploma we also learnt how to communicate and get along with others, while the beer consumption was a side benefit," he said. "We're looking forward to catching up as many have retained strong friendships developed at the College during those formative years." The Wagga Agricultural College was formed in 1948 at what is now CSU in Wagga Wagga and is one of the preceding institutions to the University.

CSU students donate to local school and mental health group

Five Charles Sturt University (CSU) male students have sported smooth legs for a good cause.

Students living on campus at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga have raised $1 200 for The Rock Central School following a fire in its main administration building in April.

Bachelor of Social Work student and Head Resident Mr Angus Stead will present the cheque to Principal of The Rock Central School, Ms Donna Rockley at 10.30am on Monday 15 September.  

The money was raised during a 'Friday Unwind' event at the University's Crow Bar on Friday 16 May when five CSU students and Residential Advisors (RAs) had their legs waxed.

The money is being donated by the CSU students to help the School replace equipment damaged in the fire. The blaze followed flood damage in floods in December 2010 and again March 2012.

At the same time Mr Stead will donate $2 500 to the not-for-profit organisation Riverina Bluebell to help support its mental health awareness work. The money was raised by CSU students living on campus during 2014.

The University's Residence Life employs the student RAs to provide pastoral care and support to students living on campus. Read more about the Residence Life Support Scheme here.

Making university research count

The impact of public-funded university research on communities will be explored in the latest 2014 Explorations Series lecture on Wednesday 17 September, hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU). Professor of Information Studies Lisa Given will use 'real world' case studies and examples to show the economic, social and environmental impact of research on society. Professor Given recently completed a report for the federal Government exploring the implications for the use of research impact case studies. Her project included a public workshop in Sydney with researchers, university administrators and research office staff as well as interviews with key stakeholders involved in university-based research. Professor Given said, "We do so much research in our universities and we want to ensure that our results are used in practice, to change the lives of people in our local communities, and worldwide. Ensuring that our research is useful and taken up by the community is something we all do, but often quietly and behind-the-scenes. It's important for us to talk about the changes that we've seen as a result of our research activities." Professor Given's report, Qualitative Research Practice: Implications for the Design and Implementation of a Research Impact Assessment Exercise in Australia can be found here.  Professor Given is Acting Sub Dean (Research) with University's Faculty of Education and a member of CSU's Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE). The public lecture is free and will be held from 6pm in the Wal Fife Theatres, building 14, near car park 4, Tooma Way, CSU in Wagga Wagga.

CSU students sleep out for street swags

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will have the support of Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann and Dean of Students Professor Julia Coyle during a sleep out on Tuesday 16 September for Swagtember. The sleep out in the University's Multi Purpose Centre will be held from 7.30 pm to 7.30 am with approximately 20 students expected to raise money for the not-for-profit organisation, Street Swags.  Similar events will be held by students at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga throughout the month. Supported by CSU's Office for Students, the students will raise money for Street Swags to purchase swags for people unable to find accommodation. A range of activities have been organised to keep students entertained during the sleep out including music, movies and a barbecue breakfast.

Bike Week at CSU

A series of events have been organised at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga to celebrate 2014 NSW Bike Week from Sunday 13 September to Sunday 21 September. Organised by CSU Green, the free events include daily Movie Showings and Rides to Campus at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 16 September, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Orange and Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 17 September and CSU in Dubbo on Thursday 18 September. Free breakfasts will be held on campus following the rides. Read the full program of events on the CSU Green site. Further information is available from Ms Nicola Smith from CSU Green on (02) 6933 4863 or email csugreen@csu.edu.au. NSW Bike Week is held annually to celebrate the joys of cycling.

25 Days of CSU competition

To mark the 25^th anniversary of Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 2014, social media competitions are being held for students and Alumni. The student competition runs over 25 days from Monday 15 September till Thursday 9 October when the University will host a 25^th Virtual Birthday Party. Students have the chance to win prizes valued at over  $2 000 by following the CSU Daily Tasks on the CSU Facebook page and being inspired to post photos. Winners will be named weekly on CSU Facebook page. In the Alumni competition, people are urged to share their best CSU story or image and post it on the CSU Facebook Alumni page where daily winners will also be named. Read more about the competitions and the 25th anniversary at CSU here. Ms Gael Evans-Barr, Senior Officer, Alumni and Donor Relations in the CSU Division of Marketing and Communication, said, "Charles Sturt University wants to celebrate its 25^th anniversary with students, both past and present. We want to know where the graduates are and where our students aspire to go in the future. For this reason, the 25 Days of CSU competition is encouraging students and Alumni to share their photos and stories, to show and tell their Charles Sturt University experiences."