Almost 3 000 new students are expected to descend upon Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) six Campuses on Monday 19 February for the beginning of Orientation Week. At CSU’s Dubbo Campus, O Week starts on the Monday and new head of campus, Mr Gary Shipp has invited indigenous leaders to join new students at the welcome ceremony between 1pm and 1.30pm. This will be followed by a BBQ for students and family.  As well as social events, the week will include information sessions about courses, enrolment and living on and off-campus. New students can learn about CSU’s online services, electronic communications, library and student services. Student coordinators and leaders will wear orange shirts with paw and claw prints to reflect the 2007 Safari theme and, to compliment the theme, new students will visit Western Plains Zoo on Friday 23 February. Paul Shaw, Senior Program Coordinator said CSU staff look forward to a busy week. “It is a very mad week - in a good way.”

Almost 3 000 new students are expected to descend upon Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) six Campuses next week for the beginning of Orientation Week 2007. At CSU’s Albury-Wodonga Campus 500 new students will arrive on Monday 19 February. They will check into Thurgoona accommodation cottages and tour the campus and library. On Tuesday 20 February from 9am new students will meet with community services, government agencies, local businesses and University student clubs at the annual Market Day on the Thurgoona site. Official welcomes will also be held on the Thurgoona site for new education students at 9.30am, followed by health students and 11.30am and all others at 1.30pm. Academic advisory sessions will be held on Wednesday 21 February on Albury City and Thurgoona sites, as well as enrolments and library tours. Activities on Thursday 22 February include information sessions about study and library skills, student services and personal well-being for the new students. Paul Shaw, Senior Program Coordinator said CSU staff look forward to a busy week. “It is a very mad week - in a good way.”

One thousand new faces are expected to converge on the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus from Monday 19 February for Orientation Week activities. New students will attend information sessions about courses, enrolment and living both on and off-campus. New students will learn about CSU’s online services, electronic communications, library and student services. Students will be given a formal ”Welcome to Country” by Wiradjuri elders at Joyes Hall from 2pm on Monday. An estimated 600 students will get a taste of CSU life at a huge barbecue on Tuesday from 2.30pm outside the Dining Hall. Social activities include a ’Dive-in Movie’ on Thursday night at the CSU Wagga Wagga Pool. For the first time Wagga Wagga City Council will provide Wagga Wagga City bus tours for new CSU students, running all day Friday.

A new initiative within the NSW Ambulance Service (NSWAS) has seen 22 Charles Sturt University (CSU) Paramedic graduates begin a one-year internship. Peter O'Meara, Associate Professor in CSU’s School of Public Health said previously the CSU graduates had to train all over again within the NSWAS three-year entry program. “This recognises our students’ skills and knowledge and it means they get out into practice more quickly. It is excellent for CSU and we hope to see it expanded in the future, with the ultimate aim of all entry into the NSWAS being by university degree.” Professor O’Meara explained that other states have phased out their own training programs altogether in favour of university graduates. And, he added: “We understand anecdotally that the students are doing very, very well and have made quite an impression.”

Prime Minister John Howard announced last month that “the existing Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs will become the Department of Immigration and Citizenship” adding that the new title better reflected “the pathway to becoming an Australian inherent in a vibrant immigration program”. In the UK, multiculturalism has been described by Tory leader David Cameron as a “wall of division that must be torn down”. Dr Rabiul Islam, lecturer in Psychology at Charles Sturt University (CSU) has a special interest in people’s perceptions of the word ’multiculturalism’. He agrees that multiculturalism can be seen to divide society into ethnic groups. “The concept of multiculturalism has been misinterpreted. I think a better word is diversity, as it conveys a purpose to unite the nation. It is important that different ethnic groups mix with mainstream Australians and understand Australian values,” said Dr Islam.

Almost 3 000 new students are expected to descend upon Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) six Campuses on Monday 19 February for the beginning of Orientation Week. At CSU’s Bathurst Campus, O Week starts on Monday and Tuesday with information sessions about courses, enrolment and living both on and off-campus. New students can learn about CSU’s online services, electronic communications, library and Student Services on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are Meet The Staff and learning skills workshops days. At CSU Orange Campus, Orientation Week begins on Tuesday 20 February. As well as the usual welcome ceremonies and information sessions, there will be a special ’meet and greet’ for students beginning the new Clinical Sciences degree on Wednesday 21 February. Student coordinators and leaders will wear orange shirts with paw and claw prints to reflect the 2007 Safari theme. Paul Shaw, Senior Program Coordinator said CSU staff look forward to a busy week. “It is a very mad week - in a good way.”

A two-day conference to start on Wednesday 16 November at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga will look at the transformation of university education in recent years, and how to develop a culture of collaboration, integration and sustainability. The conference, titled Transforming University Education: Developing a culture of collaboration, integration and sustainability will include a panel discussion of CSU students, graduates and industry representatives who receive the fruits of CSU education, moderated by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, and small group discussions and lectures for the 190 participants from all CSU campuses from Dubbo to Albury. Participants can also take part in a tour of CSU’s award-winning environmentally sensitive site at Thurgoona. Keynote speakers for the conference include vocational education Professor Steven Billett from Griffith University and educational researcher Dr Maggie Hutchings from Bournemouth University, UK. The conference will be held in the Learning and Teaching Hub, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

As part of the EH Graham Centre seminar series, Dr Leslie Weston from Cornell University, USA will present a seminar about allelopathy, or using a plant’s natural defences to beat weed infestation. A leading agricultural scientist, Dr Weston is seeking to use no artificial chemicals to control weeds in crops. She is now looking at weed suppression in turf grasses and ornamentals, as well as studying resveratrol, a natural fungicide produced by grape plants which also lowers the incidence of arteriosclerosis in consumers of grape products. The seminar will be held on Wednesday 14 February at 12noon in the Agricultural Institute Conference Room, Pugsley Place, on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus. The E H Graham Centre is a collaborative alliance between CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is certainly a family affair for the Hogan girls. All five siblings have chosen to study at CSU. The youngest, Kieron, started her Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) yesterday at the Bathurst Campus. The family tradition began with Carlie who completed her Bachelor of Arts (Communication Journalism) in 2000. Hannah Hogan, who also graduated from the Communication degree and now works at CSU,said the University was a natural choice. “In the end it came down to which university could offer me exactly what I wanted and CSU seemed the obvious choice. It is highly regarded in my chosen area of study with many successful CSU Communication graduates scattered throughout the industry – fondly referred to as the ‘Mitchell Mafia’. On top of that it had a friendly, fun campus atmosphere which is always great.”