Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in Port Macquarie will soon have access to two medical imaging laboratories as the University expands its facilities on the Mid North Coast. The expansion will see an existing building in Munster Street turned into a CSU campus after a development application for the work was approved this week. Port Macquarie Campus Director Dr Muyesser Durur says the new campus allows for a boost in student numbers and would expand the course profile already offered through CSU's Grant Street campus. "By 2015 CSU in Port Macquarie will welcome students into Education and Communications and Creative Industries. We will also offer extra Social Science courses," Dr Durur says. "On top of this, the Munster Street campus will have two medical imaging laboratories with advanced x-ray equipment and image viewing stations."

Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are looking for people with high blood glucose levels to take part in a clinical trial based in Wagga Wagga. The research through the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga is investigating whether olive leaf extract can help prevent pre-diabetic patients from developing this debilitating disease. "Evidence shows that antioxidants may slow the development of Type 2 diabetes, and olive leaf extract shows very high levels of some antioxidants," said CSU PhD student Mr Muhammad Kamran, who is hoping to recruit people to take part in a three-month clinical trial beginning in January. "We need people who have high blood glucose levels but have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes. It's also important that these people are not taking diabetes medication," he said.  People interested in taking part in the trial can contact Mr Kamran by email.

Charles Sturt University's (CSU) 2009 Reserve Sparkling has ended 2013 on a high by winning yet another award. It has won a Gold Medal in the Sparkling Wine Class at the Sydney International Wine Challenge in December. The wine won the Best Sparkling Trophy and Gold Medal at the 2013 Boutique Wine Awards in September and the Best Sparkling Trophy at the 2013 Cowra Wine Show in August. The 70 per cent Pinot Noir, 30 per cent Chardonnay blend is bottle fermented in the traditional method and made from fruit grown in the cool climate of Tumbarumba. Read more about the award-winning sparkling here. The 2009 Reserve Sparkling is available from the CSU Winery Cellar Doors at Orange and Wagga Wagga or online here.  You can reach the University's Cellar Doors here.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Media team would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and safe New Year. The University is closed from 12.30pm Tuesday 24 December and re-opens on Thursday 2 January 2014.

The first major renovations in more than 30 years to the football sheds on Peter Hastie Oval, at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga, are now complete. More than $150,000 worth of funding through the CSU Student Services and Amenities Fee was dedicated to the project. All facilities in the home and away change rooms have been upgraded, extra security measures have been installed and the canteen has been upgraded. "Clubs are a major part of the student experience at CSU. The CSU Australian Football and Netball Club mean a great deal to many past and present students of CSU and its predecessor institutions. It's a real pleasure to see targeted student funding make such a significant contribution to this great student-based project," Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Ken Dillon said. "These upgrades ensure that the Club prospers well into the future and will be able to continue to provide an enjoyable social experience for CSU students." Football Club president Jeff Angel said, "the upgrades mean a lot to the club and gives new life to the place. Being a student based club we don't have the big membership base or financial supporters to undertake projects such as these renovations. The club looks forward to working with CSU on further projects to upgrade sporting facilities at the Wagga campus to benefit all the University's clubs."

Charles Sturt University will bestow the University Medal on a paramedic graduate, and distinctive honours on two academics and a leading researcher at graduation ceremonies in Bathurst this week. At the CSU Faculty of Science graduation ceremony at 9.30am Wednesday 18 December, Ms Angie Bulic will be awarded the University Medal for her outstanding and sustained academic record throughout the course of her three-year undergraduate degree. The University will confer the honour of Emeritus Professor on Professor John Tulloch and Professor Bill Green, in recognition of their distinguished academic service, above and beyond the level of academic service normally expected of a professor, to the scholarly community and the University. Professor Tulloch will receive his award at the CSU Faculty of Arts graduation ceremony at 1.30pm Wednesday 18 December, and will deliver the Occasional Address at the end of the ceremony. Professor Green and will receive his honour at the CSU Faculty of Education graduation ceremony at 3pm Thursday 19 December. Professor Green will also deliver the Occasional Address. At the CSU Faculty of Business graduation ceremony at 9.30am Friday 20 December Mr Tom Murphy will receive a Doctor of Business (honoris causa) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the University, and to regional development and economics in NSW. Mr Murphy was the long-serving Director of the Western Research Institute at CSU in Bathurst, and retired at the end of 2011.

An academic procession down the aisle of St Paul's Anglican Church will begin the formal graduation ceremony for Charles Sturt University's (CSU) School of Theology in Canberra on Monday 16 December.  Doctorates, degrees, diplomas and certificates will be awarded to 50 graduates in front of 140 guests. "This is a milestone event in which the achievements of all graduates are celebrated and we give thanks for the support of families and friends," said Associate Head of School, Dr Heather Thomson. "Graduates are encouraged to continue in the path of wisdom, truth and goodness, as they make their contributions to the church and the wider world." The Occasional address will be delivered by CSU Executive Dean of Arts Professor Jennifer McKinnon. Read more about Professor McKinnon on CSU News here. During the ceremony Mr Paul Baker will be presented with the University Medal, the highest honour for academic achievement at CSU, when he is awarded a Bachelor of Theology (Honours). Mr Baker is a mediator in Alice Springs and studied part-time by distance education.

Four students from Albury High School (AHS) have taken out the overall and Border prizes, worth $2 500, in the 2013 Game On competition for Years 10 and 11 students enrolled in commerce, economics, legal studies, and other related subjects. The AHS students built and operated their own 'virtual' business in a computer simulated market for the competition, hosted by Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Faculty of Business. Local Game On coordinator Dr Abhishek Dwivedi said, "The exercise aims to help students develop skills in finance, human resource management, marketing, and operations that are relevant to the real world. Game On complements the Stage 6 NSW Business Studies curriculum." The simulation ran from May until September 2013 with eight rounds of competition between over 550 students from 23 NSW high schools from Port Macquarie to Albury. It enables students to learn through hands-on experience and encourages students to apply these key business principles to their own 'virtual' smart phone business.

Participants can hear and discuss spirituality expressed by three religions - Bhuddhism, Islam and Christianity – in a public meeting to be held on Thursday 14 August at Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Thurgoona site. Speakers are Greg Sneddon, teacher of Lam Rim Bhuddism, The Reverend Bryn Jones, chaplain at Trinity Anglican College, and CSU postgraduate researcher and Muslim, Bugi Sumirat. The meeting, titled ‘An Interfaith Dialogue: The Road to Discovery’ and hosted by CSU Student Services and the CSU students’ Murray Campus Council, will be held at The Gums Café, Thurgoona Campus, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive. An afternoon tea will be provided to enable listeners to discuss issues further with the speakers.