A ceremony to honour the significant contributions eight individuals have made to Charles Sturt University (CSU) and its predecessor institutions will be held in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 17 December. The honorary naming ceremony of student residential accommodation at CSU in Wagga Wagga is part of the University’s 20th Anniversary celebrations in 2009. Similar ceremonies have been held at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, and Orange throughout 2009. Those to be honoured at the ceremony in Wagga Wagga include Mrs Jane Asimus, Mrs Anne Brassil, Mr Peter Gissing, Professor Richard Johnstone, Mr John Mahon, Emeritus Professor Bruce Mansfield, AM, Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe and Mr Rodney Parsons, OAM.

One of Australia’s largest architectural practices has been appointed as principal Design Consultant for the National Life Sciences Hub planned for Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. BVN Architecture has been selected by the University for the $41.67 million dollar project. In the Federal Budget in May 2009, the Commonwealth announced $34 million in new funding for CSU for the construction of the National Life Sciences Hub. CSU is contributing a further $7.67 million towards the project. The new facility will include a Learning and Teaching Laboratory Complex, Research Laboratories, Glasshouse Complex and Controlled-Environment Facilities, Field Laboratory, and support and office facilities. “BVN Architecture was appointed to the project after a significant tender process that attracted more than 20 high quality submissions,” said Mr Stephen Butt, the Executive Director of the Division of Facilities Management at CSU. “With a strong history in tertiary education construction projects, BVN Architecture has a firm understanding of laboratory design and construction as well as the design considerations for university teaching environments.” Read more about the National Life Sciences Hub here.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, The Hon. Mark Butler, MP, will officially open the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences building at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga from 10.30am on Wednesday 16 December. The Vice-Chancellor and President of CSU, Professor Ian Goulter, will also attend the opening, which will include a tour of the new teaching, research and academic facilities in the two-storey complex. The building houses a 24-chair Dental and Oral Health Clinic; a patient waiting room; reception and patient counselling/liaison room; academic offices; research facilities; a 20-place simulation laboratory with practise models for teaching pre-clinical skills; and teaching areas including a specialist science teaching laboratory, lecture theatres, and seminar and scenario rooms. Read more about the award winning building at CSU in Wagga Wagga here.

Final year high school students around Australia are receiving their final results and making big decisions about their futures - What do I want to do? Do I study or work next year? Where do I study? Charles Sturt University (CSU) is helping these students make informed decisions with a series of Change of Preference Information Sessions on all campuses next week. CSU Market Development Manager Ms Cheryl Howell says these sessions will help students and their parents think about study options for 2010 at CSU, with academics and support staff available for discussions. "If prospective students want to discuss our courses, preference options, school results or living and learning at CSU, they can attend one of these sessions being run throughout the University's region," said Ms Howell. Victorian students can call CSU on (02) 6051 9962 or 1800 334 733 to discuss their options before their change of preference period closes.

Having worked diligently to ensure Year 12 students had access to the best possible resources, the Charles Sturt University (CSU) NSW HSC Online website  team has taken time out to congratulate students who worked hard to receive notable results in their NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) last week. "While creating this website, the NSW Department of Education and Training and Charles Sturt University were keenly aware of the crucial information this website delivers to students studying for the HSC," said NSW HSC Online coordinator and CSU senior lecturer Dr Deb Clarke. "It’s wonderful to know our resources helped students gain the marks they wanted in the HSC.” The NSW HSC Online developers are now reviewing the site to ensure the next group of students studying for the HSC can access quality education resources for 50 HSC subjects in 2010. “Each month the website delivered up to 1.65 million pages to students, teachers and parents and we believe this will increase in 2010.”

Around 20 Riverina high school students will take time out from their holidays to experience the joy of science at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. The Science Experience, a three-day event from Wednesday 13 to Friday 15 January, is run annually by the Science Schools Foundation, hosted by CSU and sponsored by Rotary. Students entering Year 10 in 2010 will participate in science activities including practical workshops. Topics include Oral Health, the Science Behind Putting Food on the Table, Chemistry Everyday, Psychology of Everyday Life, Speaking with Animals, and Careers In Science. The Dean of the Faculty of Science at CSU, Professor Nick Klomp, will welcome the students from 9.15am in the Wal Fife Theatre at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 13 January.

Five days into the start of the new academic year and on campus students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga are being asked to consider  and sign-up for a variety of social and sporting activities for 2010. The annual Clubs Day will be held from midday until 5pm on Friday 5 March at CSU in Wagga Wagga. Organised by the Rivcoll Student Representative Committee (SRC) and the Division of Student Services at CSU, Clubs Day will showcase over 40 social and sports clubs  ranging from equestrian, hockey and rugby union groups, to clubs focusing on animation, pharmacy and wine. Clubs Day, including an array of tents, stalls, giveaways and a barbeque, will be held in the quadrangle near the student canteen in building 20, near car park 2, Darnell Smith Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga. Read more about sports clubs at CSU in Wagga Wagga here, and read more about social clubs at CSU in Wagga Wagga here.

One is a veteran of the triathlon and another is a novice but both men will spend the next few weeks in final training for the Wagga Wagga 'Come and Try Triathlon’ to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Sunday 31 January. Dr Bruno Holzapfel, a researcher with the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) at CSU, runs 10 kilometres and swims one kilometre each week “just to keep fit”. He is looking forward to his first ever triathlon at the end of the month and believes the event is a “great idea to encourage all types of people to take up sport”. Research technician at the NWGIC and member of the Wagga Cycle Club, Mr Mark Wilson, believes the CSU course is suited to all comers, including those undertaking their first triathlon. “Charles Sturt University will be a great venue for the short course - fast and technical,” said Mr Wilson, who trains four times a week and is a regular in the Tour de Riverina and Tour of Two Rivers bicycle road races.

Starting school can be exciting and, perhaps, a little scary – and that’s just for parents. Two senior education researchers at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have developed guidelines to help parents, teachers and children as they start school. “Starting school is an important milestone in the lives of children and families. If children have a successful start to school, they are likely to stay connected to school and regard it as a positive place to be,” says Professor Bob Perry from CSU. Drawing on over 15 years of research, Professor Perry and Professor Sue Dockett, who research and teach at the University’s Murray School of Education, have led the way for parents and teachers on how to help all involved feel competent and confident when children start school.