A deed of agreement has been signed by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald and Charles Sturt University (CSU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter over a series of land transfers to boost agricultural research in Orange. The agreement will eventually see the Orange Agricultural Institute transferred to a purpose-built facility in a new agricultural science and research precinct at CSU in Orange. “The new centre would be physically located on the CSU precinct, meaning Institute staff will be able to work shoulder-to-shoulder with CSU agricultural research teams,” said Mr Macdonald.Highlighting a number of key partnerships between DPI and the University, Professor Ian Goulter said, “this deed is not just for CSU, not just for the Orange community but it is important for NSW agriculture and for Australia”. ABARE forecasts export earnings for farm commodities in 2005-06 will reach $27.2 billion.

An informal arrangement which has existed for over 15 years between library services at Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Goulburn Police College was today made official at a signing ceremony in Bathurst. CSU Executive Director Library Services Shirley Oakley said this is a significant step forward in what has already proved to be a successful and productive relationship, "The relationship we have is a really good one, but we wanted to make sure it didn’t just rely on goodwill from the personalities, that it was a robust relationship. This new Service Level Agreement is more collaborative and future looking, so as the requirements of the students change we can evolve our services to meet their needs." Tony Stephenson, Manager at the Goulburn Police College Library agrees, "the formal partnerships between the NSW Police and CSU for police education do impact on our libraries, so this agreement will officially cover all library arrangements". Shirley Oakley said the time was right to also look at expanding the relationship. "The agreement also establishes a partnership between the library staff, so that we will exchange skills and keep each other up-to-date on what’s happening in each other’s libraries, which is important for staff development," she said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Council has welcomed its newest member, Mr Chris Hancock, who brings more than twenty years’ experience in leadership and senior executive positions to the University and is a graduate of CSU. He is also Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s Academic and Research Network (AARNet). “I completed a Bachelor’s degree at CSU and I’m very fond of the University, but more importantly I’m excited about what the University is doing from a regional perspective," said Mr Hancock. “I’m delighted by the appointment of such a distinguished graduate to the CSU Council, the University's governing body. Mr Hancock’s background and skills will enable him to make an outstanding contribution to the University,” said acting Vice Chancellor Professor Ross Chambers. The University also welcomes the reappointments of Ms Susan Benedyka, Dr Geoffrey Wise and Ms Patricia Murphy. "The re-appointments are pleasing because their distinguished record for Council has been recognised,” added Professor Chambers.    

 Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) long-standing association with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has received a boost at a contract signing in Canberra on Tuesday 31 January. Under the new agreement, CSU will maintain and expand current training initiatives especially developed for the ADF. The University provides postgraduate training in a three stage program, with many officers then enrolling in CSU’s Master of Arts (Communication – Organisational Communication). “Through its strong training focus, ADF is always trying to do things better, and we can work with them to develop that, and to continue to grow our relationship,” said coordinator of CSU’s postgraduate program for Defence, Zoe Hibbert. “I found the CSU academic staff always supportive and was grateful that they readily recognised the demands placed on students who had to juggle employment and a high study load,” said ADF Strategic Communication Adviser and CSU graduate, John Anderson. “Another benefit to me as a student was that most of my lecturers had been previously employed in the corporate or public sectors, so they were able to demonstrate their professional and practical experiences within an academic context,” he added.

 A Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer with a passion for providing support and guidance to first year students studying via distance education has been named the winner of the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award for 2005. Dr Mir Rabiul Islam, from the School of Social Sciences and Liberal Studies on the University's Bathurst Campus, is course coordinator of the largest undergraduate psychology course, Bachelor of Social Science – Psychology. Including Education/Psychology double degrees, he is coordinating courses for over 450 students. In his online teaching, he strives passionately to use “online strategies” that empower students to be self-sufficient and adaptive to the ever changing needs of life. Student evaluations of his teaching of research methods are extraordinarily high, no mean feat in the area of Advanced Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology unit, a course often regarded as difficult and complex. He considers learning from students as a unique opportunity to assess and re-assess his own professional integrity. Each year the University recognises and encourages excellence in teaching through the presentation of this award. The award will be presented to Dr Islam in May at the Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony.

The Corporate Communication and Media team at Charles Sturt University wish all the media a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year and thank you all for your support and work with CSU over the past year. The University will be closed from 12.30pm Friday 23 December 2005 until Tuesday 3 January 2006.

A member of the Charles Sturt University staff in Bathurst has been named the winner of the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Performance Excellence, for General Staff 2005. Gail Wotton, Food Services Officer at Café Mitchell on CSU’s Bathurst Campus, has been honoured by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter for her dedication to her position and the University. Ms Wotton said she couldn’t believe it and offered her thanks to all staff who had supported her. “Everyone in our team is excellent and I’m honoured to be rewarded in this way; it’s the best Christmas present,” added the CSU employee. The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Performance Excellence, for General Staff recognises outstanding contributions by individuals or teams for sustained high level performance. “CSU staff continue to excel in areas such as client service, support for teaching and learning and regional engagement and this award has been established to acknowledge this dedication and commitment of general staff,” said Professor Goulter.

Through one of its leading research centres, Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) has formed an alliance with four leading international theological institutions.  CSU”s Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre or PACT has played a key role in the formation of the Global Network for Public Theology. “The group will encourage research collaboration and connections with key international civil society networks, whilst CSU will take the lead in developing student exchanges and cooperation within the network,” said Director of PACT, Reverend Professor James Haire.  The principal members of the Network include Charles Sturt University; Beyers Naude Centre for Public Theology at South Africa’s University of Stellenbosch; Centre of Theological Inquiry, Princeton University, USA; Centre for Theology and Public Issues at University of Edinburgh and Manchester Centre for Public Theology at the University of Manchester, UK. PACT is an innovative CSU strategic research centre with a focus on issues in contemporary Australian society.

The respect and affection which staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) hold for retiring Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Bob Meyenn is apparent in their unique choice of retirement gift, a cow and calf. Retiring after 19 years of distinguished service as Dean, a farewell function will be held on Friday, 9 December from 4pm in the James Hardie Dining Room, Centre for Professional Development, CSU, Bathurst. Professor Meyenn will receive a second creative gift from the University at the farewell function. The cow and calf, a gift from Professor Meyenn’s Faculty of Education colleagues, will be delivered to his property in the NSW central west to enjoy during his retirement.