Parkes residents have been invited to learn more about Charles Sturt University (CSU) at an information event on Wednesday 27 February. The event will feature talks by staff from CSU’s Future Moves in Schools program, which aims to inform students from primary and secondary schools, and their parents, about the benefits of further education. The team will hold interactive workshops for Parkes High School on Wednesday 27 February and Thursday 28 February, as well as speak to Parkes residents at the community information session on Wednesday evening. Staff from the University’s Regional and Remote Learning Support team will also be in Parkes to host an orientation session at the Parkes University Study Centre for students studying early childhood education by distance. The team will then attend the community information session to explain how CSU can assist and support all distance education students to achieve their education goals.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will welcome approximately 155 new students when Orientation Week begins on Tuesday 26 February before the start of the 2013 academic year the following Monday. Dr Bev Moriarty, the Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, said, “On behalf of students and staff I extend a very warm welcome to all our new students. We are very excited to be part of this next very important part of their lives and I hope they find the campus to be very friendly. There are also many organisations and individuals in the community who wish them well and look forward to them completing their studies successfully. I trust they will enjoy being part of the University community and find their own special way of contributing to it as they take their journey with friends and colleagues.” There will be an official welcome at 11am Tuesday 26 in the campus courtyard, followed by a barbeque, with a general meet and greet for students at 6pm. Information sessions for students in the faculties of Arts, Business, Education and Science will continue daily for the rest of the week, and there will be social events in the evenings.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has acknowledged the important contribution made to its establishment by Sir Charles Cutler who has died aged 88. Sir Charles was the leader of the NSW Country Party (now the NSW Nationals) from 1959 to 1975 and Deputy Premier in the government of Sir Robert Askin from 1965 to 1975. In his role as MLA for Orange (1947-75) and as Minister for Education and Science (1965-72), he was instrumental in the setting up of Mitchell College of Advanced Education (MCAE), which eventually became the Bathurst Campus of Charles Sturt University. CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter expressed condolences on behalf of the University. “Sir Charles made an enormous contribution to education in New South Wales, not least as the Minister who oversaw the foundation and early growth of MCAE.” Sir Charles was born at Forbes in 1918, served in World War II and was elected to the NSW Parliament in 1947.

Three Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences have completed a month-long meat and livestock industry tour of the United States. Mr Isaac Allen, Ms Vanessa Campbell, and Ms Jordan Hoban were named in the five-member Australian team to compete at three meat judging competitions in the US. As a team, the Australians placed fourth at two contests and received fourth place in all categories of their final contest in Fort Worth, Texas. Individual award highlights included Mr Allen winning the lamb judging at the National Western competition in Denver, and Ms Campbell securing ninth place overall in the South Western contest at Fort Worth, Texas. Professor of Animal Production Peter Wynn, said, “Three representatives from Charles Sturt University in the national team to compete in the USA is a great honour. The dedication of our coaching team, led by veterinary students Ms Katelyn Braine and Ms Bronte Doughton working with staff from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Ms Jen Clulow and Dr Bindi King, certainly gave the students a flying start”. Professor Wynn also praised the support of Teys Australia, Junee Lamb and Knights Meats for providing access to their product and facilities for training.  CSU student Mr Allen said the group benefitted from its exposure to different aspects of the red meat industry in the US. “It was an invaluable experience because we learnt so much about different producing methods and processing systems. We met so many great people who were all very willing to share so much with us and this will help to expand our knowledge and expertise.”

The Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Andrew Vann, will officially open the new Cellar Door at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Valentine’s Day, Thursday 14 February. Located in a new building overlooking CSU’s commercial winery and vineyard, the Cellar Door opened for business late last year in its expanded location near the University’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre. In addition to the official opening from 3pm, guests will have an opportunity to taste newly released CSU wines, including the 2009 Cellar Reserve Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay and the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc. Read more about the new venue on CSU News here. The Cellar Door is located in building 413, near car park 11 in McKeown Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga and is open from 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 4pm on weekends. To place a wine order, telephone 02 6933 2435 or send an email.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will host a training day on Thursday 21 February for high and primary school teachers and pupils from across the Riverina to help them prepare to compete for the first time in the regional 2013 RoboCup Junior Challenge to be staged at the University in mid-June. RoboCup Junior Challenge coordinator, Mr Allen Benter, a PhD student and researcher at the CSU Centre for Research in Complex Systems (http://charybdis.mit.csu.edu.au/crics/ ) (CRiCS) in Bathurst, said RoboCup Junior Australia is a project-oriented educational initiative that supports local, regional and international robotic events for school students. “The focus of RoboCup Junior is the development of cooperative teamwork and technical skills in an environment of participation, fun and excitement. Teams choose to take up the challenge at their own skill and interest level. RoboCup Junior offers three distinct robotic building challenges - Dance, Rescue, and Soccer. The workshop from 9am to 3pm will assist teachers and students through the process of constructing and programming a robot using Lego to compete in one of three events at the competition in June. The winners of the regional competition will then advance to the state competition.”

Orientation Week begins on Monday 25 February for approximately 1 200 new students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst, a week before the start of the 2013 academic year. CSU student support officer, Ms Alex Leis said, “O Week is a busy and exciting time for students and staff at the University. A lot of preparation has gone into making the new students’ transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible. We are assisted by a raft of continuing students, five of whom work as O Week coordinators and about 40 others as O Week leaders”. The schedule of events for O Week includes a Commencement Ceremony at 10.30am Monday 25 at the CD Blake Auditorium (building E1, the gym), followed by a morning tea for parents and supporters hosted by the Head of Campus, Mr Col Sharp; a market day and welcome barbecue on the library lawn; tours of the campus, and information sessions. On Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 there are compulsory School and course information sessions for students, with a special orientation for international students on Friday 22. A range of entertainment is scheduled for the evenings and at various times during the week.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and current students will welcome about 200 students commencing their studies at CSU in Orange in 2013. They join more than 500 students already completing their courses in Orange. O Week coordinator and student support team leader, Mr Nik Granger, said the first week on campus was a chance for students to get a feel for university life. “O Week allows students to become familiar with their surroundings, staff and other students,” he said. “Charles Sturt University staff are ready to respond to queries about courses, subjects and services available in Orange, and student O Week leaders who have already spent a year or two on campus are on hand to help the new students make the transition”. New students living in the on campus residences will arrive on Sunday 24 February, with the first formal events commencing on Monday 25 February, including an official welcome, with academic procession.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff and current students are laying out the welcome mat for over 500 students commencing their studies at CSU in Albury-Wodonga in 2013. They will join over 1 200 students currently enrolled in courses on the Albury-Wodonga Campus. The new students, hailing from across the Border region, around Australia and the world, have accepted the challenge, and fun, of university study at CSU. “It’s not all good times – they will need to knuckle down to some hard academic work to complete their degrees, and we have people and resources in place to help them,” said Orientation Week coordinator and student support officer, Ms Kerry Read. New students living in one of the on campus residences will start arriving on Saturday 23 February, with the first formal events commencing on Monday 25 February. All students will receive an official welcome, with academic procession, on Tuesday 26 February. “The new students are embarking on an exciting phase of their lives, and we at Charles Sturt University are here to assist them in their journey to a university degree,” said Head of CSU in Albury-Wodonga and acting Dean of Studies, Professor Julia Coyle.