Higher School Certificate (HSC) students in the Riverina are fine tuning their chemistry skills at Charles Sturt University (CSU) this week. The annual HSC Chemistry Days will see 200 students make use of the specialised equipment in the CSU laboratories over four days. Senior lecturer in chemistry at CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Dr Paul Prenzler, said the event is an opportunity for students to undertake experiments they wouldn’t normally be able to complete at their own schools. “By having the students come to Charles Sturt University, we hope to inspire the next generation of chemists, by showing that chemistry is fun and has applications in everyday life,” Dr Penzler said. The program runs from Monday 13 to Thursday 16 February and is an initiative of the University’s Chemistry Group and the Eastern Riverina Science Teachers Association. Read more about the Chemistry Group at CSU here.

A team of 50 students will return to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga a week early to help make Orientation Week (O Week) 2012 a success for new students from Monday 20 February. Approximately 1 000 new on-campus students are due to participate in a range of academic, social, cultural and sporting events during the week-long event at CSU in Wagga Wagga. Five Orientation coordinators and 45 Orientation leaders – all current students easily identifiable in purple t-shirts - will help ease them into university life. The week starts with the official Commencement Ceremony in the University’s Joyes Hall from 10am to 11am on Monday 20 February, with a welcome from the Head of Campus in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner. The annual market day, showcasing a range of information and services for new students, will follow near the Hall from 10am to 1pm. A highlight will be the staff and O Week leaders who have volunteered to cool-off in a dunking booth. Details of other academic and social events, including all-age activities, can be found in the program here. Funds raised from O Week 2012 across the University will be donated to the charity, Youth off The Streets. The theme of O Week is ‘Equipping you for success’.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) comes alive on Monday 20 February when the annual Orientation Week commences on the University’s Thurgoona site. “It’s a mix of the serious and the fun for students new to tertiary education,” said Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Ms Sue Moloney. “We have organised a five-day program that eases new students into university life, mixing official welcomes and compulsory enrolment days with free barbeques, social nights, learning skills, health awareness sessions, and even a CSU version of ‘The Amazing Race’.” Around 500 new students are due to commence their studies during the week in undergraduate degrees varying from business, environmental and health sciences to information technology, education, and sports sciences. They will be joined by postgraduate research students from around Australia and as far as Africa and Asia. Ms Moloney will officially welcome all new students on Tuesday morning, 21 February, in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre. Around 1 100 continuing students are do to return to the Albury-Wodonga Campus on Monday 28 February for the start of the 2012 academic year.

Approximately 1 000 new students, many accompanied by parents and supporters, will start to arrive at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on the weekend in the lead-up to Orientation Week 2012  from Monday 20 February. The Head of CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said, “This is an exciting time for everyone at Charles Sturt University as we welcome new students and their parents. We will pay particular attention to helping the students settle into university life so they can enjoy their time here and make the most of the opportunities higher education offers.” The students will register between 12noon to 4pm on Saturday 18 February at the CD Blake Auditorium (building E1, the gymnasium) for their on-campus accommodation. After the accommodation check-in, all are invited to attend a 4.30pm information session about student life on-campus at CSU, followed by a barbeque. Later that week, approximately 1 800 continuing students will return to CSU in Bathurst. Many will check-in to on-campus accommodation on Friday 24 February for the start of Session One of the new academic year on Monday 27 February. For its first intake this year, the University expects about 3 000 new domestic students and 260 new international students on its NSW campuses, and a further 5 000 new domestic distance education students.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo is readying to welcome approximately 80 new students for the start of Orientation Week (O Week) on Monday 20 February before the start of Session One of the new academic year on Monday 27 February. Dr Bev Moriarty, the Head of CSU in Dubbo, said, “We are delighted and excited to welcome new students, many of whom will be accompanied by parents, when they arrive at the University this weekend for registration and allocation of on-campus accommodation. All staff aim to make the students’ tranistion to university life as smooth as possible so they can enjoy the challenges and opportunities that tertiary study offers.” The students will register between 12noon to 4pm on Sunday 19 at the Multipurpose Hall (building 920) for their on-campus accommodation. An accommodation information session for students and parents is scheduled at 4.30pm, to be followed by a barbeque. The University expects about 3 000 new domestic students and 260 new international students on its NSW campuses for its first intake this year, and a further 5 000 new domestic distance education students.

The Equine Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will be a hive of activity in the coming week with two separate high profile horse clinics at the facility’s indoor arena. The first clinic will be conducted from this Sunday 29 to Tuesday 31 January by Harry Whitney, a horseman from the USA. With a motto of ‘from the horse’s point of view’, Harry Whitney will visit Wagga Wagga as part of his Australian tour. On Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 February, the Double Dan Horsemanship Clinic and Evening Show will be held. Featuring Australian horsemen, Dan James and Dan Steers, Double Dan Horsemanship appeared on Channel 7’s Australia’s Got Talent in 2011.  The Evening Show will be open to the public from 7.30pm on Wednesday 1 February. Held in the Centre’s 3 000 square metre indoor arena, Double Dan Horsemanship entertain crowds with their liberty horses which celebrate the freedom and beauty of the animals and the relationships they have with these horses. The Harry Whitney Clinic and the Double Dan Horsemanship Clinic will attract a total of approximately 25 riders from throughout the Riverina with their horses stabled at the Equine Centre.The Centre is part of the University’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, providing facilities for equine science, veterinary science and animal science students as well as for the regional community.

Fresh into his new job, the new Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU) Professor Andrew Vann is clocking up the kilometres as he familiarises himself with the institution and its staff. During informal visits hosted by the Heads of Campus, Professor Vann will meet staff at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga in coming weeks. Professor Vann joined the University this month from James Cook University in Townsville, where he was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. He will meet with CSU staff in Dubbo this Friday 27 January, Bathurst on Thursday 2 February, Wagga Wagga on Monday 6 February, and Orange on Friday 24 February. Read more about Professor Vann on CSU News here.

A small group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will soon gain an insight into the challenges and rewards of working with farmers in a developing country. The four students from the CSU School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences will spend a month in Pakistan as part of a project to help the country’s 8.5 million small dairy farmers improve milk production. The CSU students will visit farms, work with field officers and co-ordinate a workshop for Pakistani university students.  They will also take part in a ‘Farmer Festival’ combining farm extension services with cricket coaching, cooking and other activities for the local villagers. Bachelor of Veterinary Science student, Ms Caitlin Mack said the tour is a chance to go beyond the tourist routes. “This project offers a chance to develop my diagnostic and communication skills as we will have to negotiate many language and cultural barriers,” she said. “There is so much to learn in a country that is not as well-resourced as ours and I’m sure it will add a unique dimension to my studies.” The tour is supported by CSU Global, a University initiative to increase the number of students undertaking international experiences as part of their studies.

The CSU Media team wishes you a safe and Merry Christmas. We look forward to working with you in the New Year.