Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and student cyclists will gather for a group social ride to the University in Bathurst on Wednesday 19 September as part of NSW Bike Week activities. Bike Week event coordinator at CSU, Ms Nicola Smith, from CSU Green,  said events were planned for all CSU campus towns. “We encourage the University’s staff and students to cycle-to-work as a fun, healthy and low carbon means of transport which is gaining in popularity,” Ms Smith said. “The group ride during Bike Week also promotes safety and economic savings, as fuel prices and motoring costs continue to climb.” There will be a Bike Ready Event on the library lawn at CSU on Tuesday 18 September from 12pm to 2pm for cyclists to check and prepare bikes ahead of the group ride the following day. Cyclists will meet at 8am on Wednesday 19 September at Banjo’s café, William Street, Bathurst, for a free breakfast before departing at 8.30am to ride to the University.

Researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are seeking post-treatment cancer survivors in the Bathurst area to participate in the CanLift research and exercise program. The research-based resistance exercise program has been developed by Ms Danielle Girard, a PhD student at the CSU School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst who is an accredited exercise physiologist. Ms Girard said, “The purpose of the CanLift research and exercise program is to provide post-cancer patients an opportunity to participate in a supervised resistance training program that will assist in managing some of the long-term effects of cancer and/or its treatment. It will also provide research data that will help to develop evidence-based guidelines for the prescription of resistance exercise post-cancer.” The program seeks disease-free cancer survivors aged 40 to 70 who are non-smokers and have ceased receiving cancer-related treatments for a minimum of six months. People experiencing post-cancer fatigue are particularly encouraged to become involved, and healthy participants are also required as a comparison group. All exercise sessions will held in the Exercise Physiology and Functional Rehabilitation Clinic at CSU in Bathurst.

Public health advocate Mr Tony Kolbe from Charles Sturt University (CSU) has welcomed the High Court’s rejection of a challenge to plain packaging laws in Australia. The High Court today ruled in favour of federal government legislation to put cigarettes in olive green packets without trademarks. The ruling could see the plain packs in retail outlets by December. As Director of the University’s Centre for Inland Health (CIH), Mr Kolbe said, “Not only is this a win for the health of Australians, it sets a welcome precedent for other countries contemplating plain packaging laws. Tobacco companies can no longer use their packaging as a branding tool to sell cigarettes in Australia.” Read more about Mr Kolbe’s views on the High Court challenge by major tobacco companies on CSU News here. The CIH is a research centre at CSU, focussed on improving the health of inland communities. Read more here.  

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is continuing to make tertiary education more available in regional Australia when it opens its latest Regional University Centre in collaboration with Goulburn Ovens TAFE (GOTAFE) in 2013. Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Ms Sue Moloney, will formally announce the expansion today, Thursday 3 May, during the release of the Rural City of Wangaratta's South Wangaratta Urban Renewal Strategy at 10am during a Special Council meeting at the Council Chamber, Wangaratta Government Centre. “This initiative recognises the complementary and combined strengths of Charles Sturt University and GOTAFE, particularly in agriculture. Initially, students undertaking a GOTAFE diploma in dairy management can continue their studies with credits from their GOTAFE course to gain a CSU degree in agricultural business management. We are also looking to offer further opportunities for CSU courses through the Wangaratta centre, including postgraduate agriculture studies as well as nursing,” Ms Moloney said. The CSU Regional University Centre at Wangaratta will be established by CSU in collaboration with GOTAFE with the support of a Commonwealth Structural Adjustment Fund grant of over $7m.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and students affected by recent flooding are being reminded to look after their emotional wellbeing.  The University is providing counselling to students both in person and via the telephone. Student Counsellor, Ms Katie Murrell-Orgill said she is expecting a demand for services once people are able to return to flood affected homes.  “It’s normal to experience a range of emotions in these kinds of situations and it can be really helpful to seek support to help process what has occurred,” she said. “With much of southern and central west NSW and northern Victoria affected by floods, the service is available to all students including those studying by distance education.”  Students can make an appointment for counselling by calling Student Central on 1800 275 278 while after hours support is available by phoning Lifeline on 13 11 14. Staff and members of their immediate families can access CSU’s Employee Assistance Program, which offers free short-term professional counselling services. Information is also available on the CSU 2012 flood website here.

Approximately 1 000 new students, many accompanied by parents and supporters, will start to arrive at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on the weekend in the lead-up to Orientation Week 2012  from Monday 20 February. The Head of CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said, “This is an exciting time for everyone at Charles Sturt University as we welcome new students and their parents. We will pay particular attention to helping the students settle into university life so they can enjoy their time here and make the most of the opportunities higher education offers.” The students will register between 12noon to 4pm on Saturday 18 February at the CD Blake Auditorium (building E1, the gymnasium) for their on-campus accommodation. After the accommodation check-in, all are invited to attend a 4.30pm information session about student life on-campus at CSU, followed by a barbeque. Later that week, approximately 1 800 continuing students will return to CSU in Bathurst. Many will check-in to on-campus accommodation on Friday 24 February for the start of Session One of the new academic year on Monday 27 February. For its first intake this year, the University expects about 3 000 new domestic students and 260 new international students on its NSW campuses, and a further 5 000 new domestic distance education students.

Fresh into his new job, the new Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor Andrew Vann is clocking up the kilometres as he familiarises himself with the institution and its staff. During informal visits hosted by the Heads of Campus, Professor Vann will meet staff at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga in coming weeks. Professor Vann joined the University this month from James Cook University in Townsville, where he was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. He will meet with CSU staff in Dubbo this Friday 27 January, Bathurst on Thursday 2 February, Wagga Wagga on Monday 6 February, and Orange on Friday 24 February. Read more about Professor Vann on CSU News here.

The CSU Media team wishes you a safe and Merry Christmas. We look forward to working with you in the New Year.

One of the special moments during graduation season at Charles Sturt University (CSU) took place when CSU academic, Dr Colin Boylan presented his daughter to the Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett AO on Tuesday 13 December. A senior lecturer with the School of Education at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Dr Boylan was clearly delighted when he announced his daughter, Amy as she was awarded her double degree, a Bachelor of Exercise Science/ Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) by Mr Willett in Joyes Hall. After four years of study at CSU in Bathurst, Ms Amy Boylan will take up a new position as Student Support Officer at Junee High School in 2012.   Ms Boylan from Coolamon was one of 200 graduates from the Faculty of Education to attend two ceremonies on Tuesday 13 December. “After being at Charles Sturt University for four years, the graduation ceremony was such an exciting event. I realised that I had done it and passed. It was such a surprise to have my Dad present me to the Chancellor, but it was a very special moment and it is definitely a graduation ceremony I'll never forget," said Ms Boylan. Dr Boylan said, “It was a tremendous privilege to present Amy to the Chancellor. I will always remember the special day".