Charles Sturt University (CSU) is ensuring communities of inland Australia have continued access to quality higher education by granting approval for the Sydney-based art-supply company The Art Scene to continue to deliver the Mitchell School of Arts (MSA) programs. CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Lyn Gorman, says the driving force behind this decision is to continue a long standing program that provides artistic, social and economic stimulus to the arts community, and to allow CSU to maintain focus on its core business of providing higher education programs. The Art Scene has been involved with the MSA program for many years and has the expertise to continue the program, according to its manager Mr Paul Malouf. “We are committed to continuing and further developing the excellent art programs that have been offered in the past by the University and retaining a reputation as the leading arts program of its kind in Australia,” he said. The Art Scene plans to offer the Henry Malouf Mitchell School of Art Scholarship and will continue to use facilities on CSU’s Bathurst Campus. Funds held in trust by CSU from the Friends of the MSA will be transferred to The Art Scene, enabling it to continue to offer scholarships to eligible participants in the program.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design graduate Emily Harris has won a national competition to create a new design for National Youth Week (NYW) 2008. Emily’s design features the slogan Shout, Share, Live, Unite. The pink, blue, white and black creation will be used on NYW 2008 promotional material, including websites and posters. Ms Harris, from the NSW inland city of Wagga Wagga, says she was "so happy, it was awesome". Ms Harris studied a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design at CSU Wagga Wagga Campus then began working for Melbourne design firm House Mouse in mid-2007. “It’s an industry that is tough to break into because it is so competitive”, she says, and her advice to prospective graphic designers is to "stick with it if it is your dream”. Emily relished the opportunity for creativity that the National Youth Week Design Competition offered, saying that it was an exciting "opportunity to express your own form of design".

The heads of intelligence agencies gathered in the New Zealand (NZ) capital of Wellington in August to hear from guest speaker and Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic Mr Patrick Walsh. Over 150 intelligence officers attended the inaugural conference of the New Zealand Institute of Intelligence Professionals. Mr Walsh, who addressed the intelligence officers after the conference was opened by NZ Prime Minister The Hon. Helen Clark, is a senior lecturer in criminal intelligence at CSU’s Australian Graduate School of Policing (AGSP) based in Manly, Sydney. He is also the course co-ordinator for the University’s intelligence program and  a vice-president of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO). “It was an honour to address this inaugural event,” Mr Walsh said on his return to Australia. “I talked about the history of AIPIO as a professional body for the Australian intelligence community and the role tertiary education can play in collaboration with intelligence agencies in delivering industry-relevant intelligence education programs”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has appointed its first Professor in Communication. Dr John Carroll, a long-serving academic in the School of Communication at the Bathurst Campus, has been welcomed to his new role by Head of the School of Communication, Associate Professor Rod McCulloch. “This professorial appointment rightfully acknowledges the huge contribution that Professor Carroll has made and will continue to make to the School, through his academic leadership, in the growth of our research and higher degree programs, and in the continued progress and growth of the School in the burgeoning digital communication environment,” Professor McCulloch said. “The School finds itself in the enviable position of being a sought-after destination for higher research and professional studies. This is due in no small way to John’s efforts and commitment to course development, direction and supervision. His knowledge and skills will be essential for the School’s continued success.”

In conjunction with the final Charles Sturt University (CSU) Council meeting for 2008, to be held in Bathurst on Thursday 18 December, representatives of the University, Bathurst Regional Council (BRC) and Orange City Council (OCC) will celebrate the continuing success of collaboration between these key regional organisations. CSU Chancellor Mr Lawrie Willett, AO, and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, will host an end of year catch-up at the University on Wednesday 17 December for members of the CSU Council with local government partners including the Mayor of Orange, Cr Reg Kidd, the Mayor of Bathurst, Cr Paul Toole and Bathurst Regional Councillors, as well as BRC General Manager, Mr David Sherley, and other senior staff.

Final year advertising and advertising/marketing students at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Communication will benefit from a fourth scholarship offered by OMD Media. Announcing the $2 500 scholarship, the Head of the School and advertising course co-ordinator, Associate Professor Rod McCulloch, said, “This scholarship augments three existing scholarships from OMD Media, OMD Digital and DDB Advertising. It provides monetary recognition to the student and a guaranteed internship at OMD that could lead to the offer of a full-time position. It’s classic win-win; the School is able to offer support to our best students, and OMD gets the first opportunity to employ them.” OMD is one of Australia’s largest media agencies, and the scholarship, which is endowed on behalf of its new strategic media planning company PHD, will be available from 2009.

Entries in a short film competition sponsored by the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Marketing and Management will be screened on Wednesday evening, 12 November, at the CSU at Bathurst. The CSU Flix - M&M Short Film Awards focus on the topic ‘Life as a business student with the CSU School of Marketing and Management’. There are three prizes valued at $2 000 for the winners, chosen from three categories which focus on the experience of students enrolled in distance education, on campus or postgraduate studies. The short film entries will be used on CSU websites for prospective students wanting an insight into student life. Admission on the night is by donation to Headspace, a charity for young people with mental health problems in Bathurst.

The tapping sound of typing is replacing the rustle of paper and scratching of pens across lecture theatres in regional Australia as students purchase laptop computers though Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) rebate scheme. CSU is offering a $300 rebate to on campus undergraduate students who purchase a laptop for their studies. Lecturers welcome the rebate scheme. Head of CSU at Dubbo, Mr Gary Shipp, said “The scheme is designed to encourage and assist students make the most of accessing university online systems when visiting and studying on campus. Distance students can take advantage of the scheme when required to attend compulsory residential schools on campus. I hope it will make note taking and assessment writing easier for our students."

An initial survey of NSW households by a Charles Sturt University researcher has found most householders are looking at ways to become more energy efficient by using less electricity. However, while environmental concern is one reason people aim to reduce their usage, according to CSU postgraduate student Ms Jodie Kleinschafer it is the “larger than expected electricity bill” that is the more immediate motivator. “When ‘average’ householders get larger than expected electricity bills, they start to look for ways to reduce the electricity they use,” said Mrs Kleinschafer, who is undertaking a three year, $100 000 research project funded by Country Energy. So far, Mrs Kleinschafer has surveyed 80 households, and in conjunction with Country Energy will survey a further 4 000 regional NSW households in the next two months. She said the findings of her research would enable electricity retailers to manage increasing electricity demand in a way that still satisfies the needs of residential electricity consumers.