A new charter has been designed by Charles Sturt University (CSU) to articulate what it means for students to be members of the wider CSU community. The Student Charter has been publicly released after being endorsed by the University’s Academic Senate on Wednesday 3 December. The document outlines the University’s values, ranging from intellectual independence, to the dissemination of knowledge, social justice and economic, social and environmental sustainability. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect of CSU and the University’s expectations of its student body. These expectations include respect and tolerance, honesty and integrity and positive participation in teaching, learning, professional and research activities. “The purpose of the charter is to promote engagement between students and the broader CSU community, and to help students and staff of the University understand the expectations they may have of each other,” said CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Lyn Gorman. “The introduction of the charter is a welcome move as it clearly outlines how the University and students can work together productively to benefit all,” said Mr David Atkinson, President of the Student Senate. Read the CSU Student Charter here.

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.

The changing communication needs of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) multi-campus environment have led the institution to secure the services of global company, Interactive Intelligence. The firm, which provides contact centre and IP telephony products and services, has won the contract to deploy a unified communications platform across CSU by the end of 2009. . In a competitive tender process, the Interactive Intelligence all-in-one IP communications software suite, Customer Interaction Center® (CIC), was selected. “The aging PABX platform is increasingly difficult to maintain and unable to scale with the University’s changing communications requirements,” said Mr Phil Roy, Director of Operations at CSU’s Division of Information Technology. “The new unified communications solution will be implemented by Interactive Intelligence partner, CallTime Solutions. It is unique in Australia in that it is a single software platform with several features. In addition to all campuses, the University will roll out the new IP telephony system to the University’s new student residential accommodation under construction at CSU at Bathurst, Thurgoona and Wagga Wagga, It will also be deployed for the University’s new dentistry and oral health therapy program.”

Ten Indonesian national sports coaches are undertaking intensive training for an Advanced Certificate in Sport Conditioning at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Bathurst this week following the success of the Indonesian team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Dr Stephen Bird from the CSU School of Human Movement Studies said, “The Olympics success has led to CSU signing a contract for the University to provide expertise to the Indonesian national team in the lead-up to the South-East Asian Games in 2009. CSU will provide coaching and technical support, particularly for strength and conditioning, for all athletes across 25 sports that include fencing, boxing, taekwondo, canoeing, track and field and badminton.” The Indonesian coaches conclude their CSU training on Friday 19 December, and then in January 2009 Dr Bird and colleague Mr Benjamin Barrington-Higgs will travel to Indonesia to launch the Physical Preparation Unit for 227 athletes in the Indonesian National Elite Athlete Program.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Nursing and Midwifery and Greater Western Area Health Service (GWAHS) have entered into a partnership to offer the CSU nursing degree by distance education to Enrolled Nurses to commence study in February 2008. Residential schools for the students will held be at the Dubbo campus with students able to undertake clinical placements in GWAHS, reducing personal and financial cost to the students. Heather Latham, CSU nursing course manager, says that the University and GWAHS recognise this partnership is important in addressing the critical shortage of Registered Nurses in rural hospitals. “This partnership model provides additional support for Enrolled Nurses to upgrade their knowledge and skills to Registered Nurses while continuing to live and work in their local communities,” Ms Latham said. “GWAHS has allocated a Nurse Educator to support the students during the four year course and this person will work closely with the School of Nursing and Midwifery.”

The Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Ian Goulter, announced the appointment today of Mr Ian Macintosh, AM, as the first Pro-Chancellor of the University. The Pro-Chancellor is a newly created position that will act as an ambassador for the University in the Bathurst and central western communities, including deputising for the Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor at ceremonies. Mr Macintosh is a former Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council and Deputy Chancellor of CSU. He served as a member of the University Council for eight years, including four years as Deputy Chancellor. “Ian is a wonderful servant of the community and a great advocate of Charles Sturt University, and the unanimous endorsement of his appointment by the University Council to this important position reflects the esteem in which he is held within the University,” Professor Goulter said. “It is a great opportunity to continue my connection with one of Australia’s most progressive Universities and to support its development as the national University of inland Australia,” Mr Macintosh said. Mr Macintosh will hold the position for a period of 2 years until December 2010.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the University of Delaware in the United States will reaffirm their commitment to agricultural education on two continents when 18 students spend 10 days at CSU at Wagga Wagga in the New Year. Located in farming country between New York and Washington DC, the University of Delaware has one of the largest Study Abroad programs in the USA. “This will be the fourth group of students to travel to CSU since 2004,” said Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe, from the CSU School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences. The students, who are due to arrive in Wagga Wagga on Monday 5 January, will study local animal production issues and leadership opportunities through hands-on experiences, farm visits, field trips and local sightseeing. “We gain international insights from these visitors – international exchange is important for CSU students and academics, as well as for the community groups, local agribusiness and agricultural institutions that are assisting CSU to develop a global perspective,” said Professor Wolfe. During their four-week stay in Australia, the US students will participate in lectures and visit agribusiness firms and farms around Wagga Wagga, before moving on to sightseeing in Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney.

At its final meeting for 2008 on Thursday 18 December, the University Council of Charles Sturt University (CSU) congratulated Associate Professor David McKinnon and Dr Lena Danaia from the School of Teacher  Education for winning a prestigious 2008 Australian Award for University Teaching. The Chancellor of CSU, Mr Lawrie Willett, AO, said “The Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) award reflects the dedication and expertise of Professor McKinnon and Dr Danaia, and that of their School, the Faculty of Education and the whole University. We are proud of their contributions to the education of the professions for our regions and the nation. This award reflects Charles Sturt University’s mission to provide education and research to national and international standards, for the people of inland Australia.” Read more about the ALTC award here.

CSU Media wishes all our readers a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year. The team says a big ‘thank you’ for your support of CSU News during 2008. CSU Media is looking forward to an exciting 2009 when CSU will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Charles Sturt University will be closed from 12.30pm Wednesday 24 December until 9am Monday 5 January 2009.