Young people’s access to educational opportunities can be adversely affected by drought, according to new research that will be presented at a national conference soon. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor Margaret Alston and Dr Jenny Kent will present the final report on their research at the conference which will be hosted by the Federal Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), the Foundation for Regional / Rural Renewal (FRRR) and CSU. Former Deputy Prime Minister and conference convenor Ian Sinclair will join with members of the Myer family, who are the major donors to the FRRR, at the official welcome starting at 2pm on Tuesday 17 April at the Nowik Auditorium, CSU Albury City site, Guinea St, Albury.

Prospective students are investigating the hundreds of course options at Charles Sturt University (CSU) as part of the 2007 mid-year intake. Tuesday 1 May is the mid-year deadline for enrolling to study nursing fulltime on the University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus or performing and visual arts on its Wagga Wagga Campus. More than 200 courses are available at undergraduate and post-graduate levels through distance education, including courses in business, theology, communication, information technology, applied science, health science, paramedic and rural studies. CSU nursing student Jessica Roennfeldt, from CSU’s Albury-Wodonga Campus, said: “I’m glad I applied for the 2006 mid-year intake because it’s been a great way to start my professional training. There was no need to wait another six months.”

As many universities embrace a closer association with the social aspect of student lives, due to voluntary student unionism introduced last year by the Federal government, Charles Sturt University (CSU) has helped establish the Orange Campus’ first soccer team, who won their debut game last weekend. CSU Rangers, a new team in the local Division One soccer competition, made a bright start to their season with a 1 – 0 win over last season’s semi-finalists, Kinross Wolaroi. Team member and third year Pharmacy student Tim Denham was thrilled with the outcome. “Considering we only had one training session and no trial games, we did pretty well. It’s great to have another sporting option at the Campus and with both Pharmacy and Rural Management students in the team and it’s a good way to meet some new people.”

Academics and other professional staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are being introduced to the next wave of online change. Associate Professor Marian Tulloch, the Director of the Centre for Enhanced Learning and Teaching (CELT), will introduce the new online learning and teaching environment CSU Interact at a series of seminars on CSU’s campuses between 7 May and 16 May. “In early 2008 CSU Interact the new online collaborative scholarly environment will be rolled out across the University for learning and teaching,” Professor Tulloch said. “As part of CSU’s flexible learning strategy it will provide an integrated, enhanced and evolving learning environment for on and off campus students. Because it is a complex and collaborative process, these seminars will provide an opportunity for staff to hear more about the development of CSU Interact, to ask questions, and make suggestions.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Chancellor Lawrie Willett, AO and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter witnessed the first two graduates from CSU Orange Campus accept their degrees last Friday 16 March 2007. Amity Ballantyne Latham received her Master of Sustainable Agriculture degree and Malgorzata Bronicka graduated with honours with a Bachelor of Land Management (Ecological Agriculture) degree. “This has been the best research experience I’ve had,” said Malgorzata of her Honours year. Her thesis studied soil fungi in saline and non saline soils in Gumble, NSW. “After completing my Masters, I plan to move back to the country and work in town planning with a focus on natural resource management.” Results from her research will soon be published in Sydowia, an European journal dedicated to studies on fungi.

Industry leaders have collaborated with Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Rural Management to give students a hands-on look at how successful livestock businesses are run. More than 20 students attended a three-day study tour to the Riverina as part of the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management degree. “By giving students involvement with leading industry managers we hope to influence young peoples’ attitudes and interest in agriculture,” says tour leader Rod Cox. The tour visited large pastoral company holdings such as ”Jemalong Station” at Forbes, and ”Benerembah Station” at Darlington Point. The students returned to the University with a renewed passion for the industry with one student saying, "When I first heard of the tour I had reservations because I thought I would be out of my depth. However, as the trip progressed I've realised how much I really know and could contribute. This has given me a real boost, and allowing us to mix with leading managers has helped us gain knowledge while supporting what we have already learnt.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Jessica Quick is putting bridles to the test this week in a project that compares the relatively new Bitless Bridle™ to the traditional bridle. “I’m interested to see the horses’ response to the different types of bridle to discover which is the most affective,” Jessica says. “I am using horses that are not yet broken-in and haven’t spent much time with a bridle.” A third year student majoring in equine business management, Jessica will test horse responses throughout the “breaking-in” process. “I’m hoping that the results will give me a clear indication of just how affective the new bridles really are. This is the sort of research horse trainers would love to know the answers to but just don’t have time to conduct themselves.” Jessica’s findings will be published on the CSU Rural Management website and in scientific literature.

Orange is getting greener with a grant worth $11 000 for tree replanting on the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Orange Campus and two neighbouring properties. Lecturer in Environmental Management and conservationist Cilla Kinross explained she was excited to receive the donation to fence the creek banks and plant native vegetation in the Summer Hill Creek catchment. “The funding is part of the Central West Catchment Management Authority’s Vegetation Incentive Program and the money is going to be channelled through the Summer Hill Creekcare. This is a local Landcare/Rivercare community group, of which CSU is a corporate member.  I’d love to see more local people join the Rivercare group – it’s fun and a learning experience at the same time. Activities include learning about the flora, fauna and history of the creek, as well as hands-on working bees to help improve the habitat of the creek.  We are also growing native trees, shrubs and grasses from locally collected seed, which is immensely rewarding.”

Mr Doug Stewart of the Bush Children’s Education Foundation of NSW will be attend his first Charles Sturt University (CSU) scholarship ceremony in Orange this Friday 18 May. He will pay special attention to the recipient of the inaugural scholarship, Emily Clapham, a Bachelor of Clinical Science student from Ilford, NSW, whose award recognises her top academic performances in the past year. Students from CSU’s School of Clinical Sciences will also be acknowledged at the ceremony with four scholarships awarded by GPlogic, an organisation supporting doctors in rural and regional areas. The 2007 ceremony will be one of the largest Orange has seen, with over 70 scholarships and awards being handed out on the day to students studying biomedical sciences, business and rural management.