Representatives of schools, sports, and arts and cultural organisations will receive Charles Sturt University (CSU) Community-University Partnership (CUP) grants at a ceremony in Bathurst on Monday 1 December. The Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, will welcome recipients to the presentation. Recipients have been asked to briefly share details about their successful project application and will then receive a grant presentation certificate from Mr Sharp, followed by morning tea. "Charles Sturt University has restructured its campus-based community support arrangements this year to achieve greater equity and transparency in its contributions to external groups," Mr Sharp said. "The resulting Community-University Partnership (CUP) program has allowed us to make a financial contribution to many locally-based individuals and groups. This contribution is typically to assist a one-off event or project, or to help kick start an activity that will continue and provide value into the future. I am happy to say that the University in Bathurst was able to contribute to most of the applications it received in at least some way, and as a result many community-building activities will be assisted. This ceremony is about putting faces to names and projects, and building relationships rather than just giving money."

Senior Indigenous students will attend the 2014 ABC Indigenous Career Links Camp at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst from Tuesday 25 to Thursday 27 November. Approximately 15 students in Years 10 and 11 from high schools and central schools partnered with the Future Moves program will attend the three-day residential camp to stimulate their interest in university study linked to careers in film, television, theatre, and communications, in particular with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Mr Ben Morris, Program Coordinator with CSU Future Moves, said, "This exciting concept and partnership with the ABC will lead the students through the process of conceptualising, researching, writing, developing, producing and promoting media for film and television. It will give the students a taste of what university study and life is like, as well as connect, network and explore a future career model for working in the film, television, communications, and creative industries." Future Moves staff and volunteer undergraduate leaders will support and coordinate the activities for the students with the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries during the three days.

Students who studied the Diploma of General Studies with Charles Sturt University (CSU) in 2014 will attend a farewell afternoon tea at Chifley Home Education Centre in Bathurst on Wednesday 19 November. Ms Sandra Fisher, Pathway Program coordinator in the CSU Office for Students, said, "These students complete their studies too late to attend a University graduation ceremony at the end of the year, so this event celebrates and recognises their achievements. The Pathway Program has been increasingly effective in preparing students for university studies, and provides guaranteed entry into most Charles Sturt University degrees in 2015. This event has been organised by Mr Sam Malloy, who is currently teaching in the Diploma of General Studies and was the former manager of the Chifley Home in Bathurst." The students will tour the Chifley Home at 3pm to be followed by a farewell celebration at 4pm. Senior representatives of CSU and Western Institute of TAFE, stakeholders in the course, have also been invited to attend.

Long serving staff members at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will be presented with service medallions at a ceremony today, Tuesday 11 November. The Vice-Chancellor of CSU, Professor Andrew Vann, will present the medallions to two staff who have worked at the University for 30 years (another is unable to attend), and to 11 staff who have worked at the University for 20 years (four others are unable to attend). "I have remarked previously that while Vice-Chancellors come and go, it is the long-serving staff who outlast them who really drive the University forward," Professor Vann said. "I commend and thank these staff members for their dedication and contribution to the development of Charles Sturt University." Recipients for 30 years service include Ms Sarah McCormick, Ms Dale Smith, and Ms Susan Theobald. Recipients for 20 years service include Dr Barbara Hill, Dr Joy Wallace, Mr Grant Brunton, Ms Lynnette Flynn, Ms Sue Jones, Ms Sandra Martin, Ms Dianne Thurling, Ms Robyn Waddell, Ms Ronda Tester, Mr Peter Morgan, Ms Karin Smith, Mr Graeme Lasky, Ms Catherine Newell, Ms Anne-Maree Hill, and Ms Kylie Bennett.

A new program designed to support the individual exercise needs of the Bathurst community has started at Charles Sturt University (CSU). The newly-developed Active Lifestyle Education Program (ALEP) is free for people of all ages to engage in community spirit and cooperation, and participate in exercise programs designed for each individual's needs. Professor Robert Robergs, the Research Professor in Exercise Science at the CSU School of Human Movement Studies, said, "The scientific evidence is enormous and clear; one of the best ways to live a long, healthy life is to improve your physical fitness. There are no magic cures, no secret diets, no miraculous exercise contraptions, and no short cuts. The ALEP will assist people to improve their understanding of the importance of being physically fit to benefit their overall health and well-being, and will provide support, based on individual needs, to become more physically active." The CSU component of the ALEP will commence at 8am Tuesday 18 November, and sessions will run from 8am to 9am each Tuesday and Thursday. Interested individuals should contact the CSU School of Human Movement Studies on shms@csu.edu.au or phone 6338 4064 to gain further information and inform their likely participation.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host the 'Small Schools Gala Sports Day' today, Friday 7 November. Head of Campus, Mr Col Sharp, will welcome 166 students from public schools at O'Connell, Perthville, Meadow Flat, Wattle Flat, Sofala, Black Springs, Rockley, and Burraga. "It is great to have the community coming onto campus and using our fantastic facilities," Mr Sharp said. "The University facilities - a lecture theatre for assembly, three sporting fields, netball and tennis courts - are being provided at no cost. The Community-University Partnerships' (CUP) 'Healthy, Active, Sporting Regions program' is funding a barbeque lunch and all children will go home with a CSU water bottle." Mr Sharp will welcome the students and their teachers to the campus at their assembly in lecture room 223, building 1292, at 9.30am Friday 7 November.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) information technology (IT) students have designed and constructed robots to compete in a unique race. The race was staged on Tuesday 7 October in the Mining Research Lab at the CSU School of Computing and Mathematics in Bathurst around a track layout similar to the Mount Panorama motor racing circuit. Researcher and PhD candidate Mr Allen Benter said, "The robotic cars were programmed to respond to sensor input and make autonomous decisions to navigate around the track and avoid obstacles such as other cars, without any driver control. The prize for the winning team was a visit to V8 Supercars motor racing legend Dick Johnson Racing at the Pits at Mount Panorama on Thursday 9 October prior to the 2014 Great Race. There they learned how modern race cars collect data and how that data is analysed to improve driver and vehicle performance." The School of Computing and Mathematics would like to thank the sponsors for assisting with the running of the competition this year:  XMOS Semiconductor (UK), Dick Johnson Racing Team, and LEGO Australia. For more information please contact Mr Allen Benter at the School of Computing and Mathematics on (02) 6338 4225 or 0425 399 468.

A free Charles Sturt University (CSU) Explorations series public lecture will explore the science of cultural heritage in Bathurst on Tuesday 28 October. CSU Faculty of Science Executive Dean Professor Tim Wess , will present the lecture. Professor Wess has a background in biophysics and international research in historical and archaeological artefacts, including the change in molecular structure of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Domesday Book. He says the documents, objects, artwork and remnants of everyday life that have defined our society and culture are at risk of being lost due to the continual molecular changes that occur with ageing. "The study of these changes, and what we can and need to do to protect our future, form the basis of cultural heritage science," Professor Wess said. "This discipline also can tell us more about the provenance, history, and origin of artefacts that goes beyond the surface and visual information from objects such as paintings, sculptures and manuscripts. In the lecture I will describe the new and exciting techniques, projects and challenges of understanding the changes that pose a threat to keeping our history, and how information can be retrieved from documents which were thought to be lost to the ravages of time."

Six pupils from Bathurst South Public School impressed a large audience of teacher education students and lecturers with three-minute public speeches at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Monday 13 October. Dr Lena Danaia, lecturer at the CSU School of Teacher Education in Bathurst, said, "The event was the culmination for first-year teacher education students of the transition to university program which covers topics such as academic literacy, numeracy, referencing, and so on. "The Bathurst South Public School students from Years 4, 5 and 6 were finalists in a recent school public speaking event, so we asked them to deliver their speeches to our students who have been working on their own public speaking skills. We thought it would be good for our students to see what primary students are capable of, given they will be teaching them in a few years. "The primary school public speakers were all outstanding and each delivered confident, humorous and entertaining talks on topics that included 'Cleaning my room' and 'Why my mother should do more work'." At the conclusion of the event the Head of the School of Teacher Education, Professor Tara Brabazon, presented gifts to the primary school students and program completion certificates to the CSU students.