A new charter has been designed by Charles Sturt University (CSU) to articulate what it means for students to be members of the wider CSU community. The Student Charter has been publicly released after being endorsed by the University’s Academic Senate on Wednesday 3 December. The document outlines the University’s values, ranging from intellectual independence, to the dissemination of knowledge, social justice and economic, social and environmental sustainability. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect of CSU and the University’s expectations of its student body. These expectations include respect and tolerance, honesty and integrity and positive participation in teaching, learning, professional and research activities. “The purpose of the charter is to promote engagement between students and the broader CSU community, and to help students and staff of the University understand the expectations they may have of each other,” said CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Lyn Gorman. “The introduction of the charter is a welcome move as it clearly outlines how the University and students can work together productively to benefit all,” said Mr David Atkinson, President of the Student Senate. Read the CSU Student Charter here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has consolidated its commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation with the establishment of the CSU Green Office on Monday 8 December. Mr William Adlong has been appointed the inaugural manager of CSU Green, and starting on the same day is the new CSU Energy Manager, Mr Edward Maher. Both officers are committed to reducing the University’s energy and water use in line with CSU targets. “The University wants to reduce its energy consumption by 10 per cent and reduce its water use by 25 per cent by 2011. CSU Green aims to bring together staff and student efforts for the environment to help us reach these targets,” said Mr Adlong, who has worked and studied extensively in this area. Mr Maher draws on years of experience with Sydney Water, including the management of the Every Drop Counts Business Program.

For the first time, Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Regional Bonus Point (RBP) scheme is available to school leavers in regional areas across Australia. “The scheme has been open to school leavers who studied their tertiary entry exam in regional or remote schools in NSW, Queensland and Victoria,” said CSU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Ian Goulter. “Now school leavers from other states and territories will automatically receive the Regional Bonus Points.” The RBP program is an equity program targeting regional youth. The program offers an additional five points to the university admission score. “CSU recognises that higher education participation rates are quite often lower in regional, non-metropolitan areas so the RBP program gives regional students easier access to courses at any of our campuses.” More information on the RBP scheme is available here.

With the launch of his new book Nurse Managers, A Guide to Practice (2nd Edition) on Thursday 11 December, Charles Sturt University (CSU) Associate Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, Dr Andrew Crowther, is thrilled that the United State Joint Commission has already ordered 500 copies. The Joint Commission is the predominant body for standard setting and accreditation in health care in the USA. “The text offers nurse managers practical advice and tools in order to work effectively, so it’s rewarding when a group like this verifies your work by ordering so many copies,” Dr Crowther said. A collaboration of experienced international authors has produced this innovative resource to address the range of problems facing nurse managers. “The book offers contemporary perspectives on the variety of daily issues that confront the nurse manager during the early stages of his or her managerial career.”

Ms Kate Lewis, who was one of two Charles Sturt University (CSU) photography students to be short-listed in the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009, has been honoured by having a second portrait short-listed in another major national competition. Ms Lewis’ portrait entitled ‘Paul’ has been listed as a finalist in the 18 years and over category for the 2008 Australian Human Rights Commission Photo Competition. The winner will be announced on Wednesday 10 December. Ms Lewis this year completed the Bachelor of Arts (Photography)  in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at CSU at Wagga Wagga. The 2008 graduating class of the photography program are currently showcasing their works in the exhibition Solo at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.

The success of new student accommodation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga has led to a decision to build more student facilities. The University has appointed Joss Construction to develop an additional 60 rooms at CSU at Wagga Wagga later this year. The beds will be on top of the 200 new rooms which have been under construction by Joss since the middle of 2008. “The additional beds will help CSU meet the additional demand from dentistry and oral health students for accommodation,” said Executive Director of CSU Division of Student Services, Mr Andrew Callander. In the current project, 10 modular concrete and corrugated iron buildings are being built to provide self-catered accommodation, with open plan kitchens and living areas, dedicated study facilities and high quality data networks. The work is part of a large scale project for 600 new beds on CSU campuses. Eighty beds will be ready for Orientation Week, 40 rooms will be completed three weeks later and the remainder will be occupied in the following weeks. “Temporary accommodation arrangements will be made for the students who have been allocated the new rooms,” said Mr Callander.

A recently launched NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) Nursing program will see high school students from Orange, Bathurst and Oberon step on Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Orange as enrolled university students this week. The HSC Board Endorsed Nursing Course, in collaboration with the Health e2 Schools, CSU and TAFE, is a link for HSC students interested in pursuing a career in nursing at CSU. “The HSC Nursing program allows Year 12 students to complete two subjects in CSU’s Bachelor of Nursing,” says Susan Bragg from the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. “Upon successful completion, students will gain entry to the Bachelor of Nursing and be given credit for the two subjects.”

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student will experience the razzle-dazzle of ‘Bollywood’ when she heads to Mumbai, India, in August for work experience in the sub-continent’s filmmaking capital. Ms Zoe Kelly, a theatre/media student at the School of Communication on the Bathurst Campus, won a scholarship to take part in the India Study Abroad Centre’s ‘Film & Media Program’ for four weeks during August-September 2008. Ms Kelly said she was very interested in a career in filmmaking. “When I found out about the film and media program it sounded like such a great opportunity to travel and experience a culture that would challenge and inspire me in many different ways to broaden my perceptions of filmmaking. The idea of experiencing such a foreign culture as well as simultaneously being able to experience the biggest film industry in the world seemed like an incredible way to study abroad. I love the exuberant colours, high-spirited characters and mixture of different genres that ‘Bollywood’ films have to offer, and this is something that I would love to learn more about and experience in the flesh,” she said.

Jane Mills, a media practitioner with extensive industry experience, has joined the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Communication as Associate Professor in Communications, Research and Teaching. The Head of School, Associate Professor Rod McCulloch, welcomed the appointment of Professor Mills, saying it is a major step in the development of the School’s higher degree programs and adds considerable depth to the professional and practical experience the School brings to its research and teaching. “Jane’s teaching experience includes film, television, digital media, documentary, radio and journalism, an interdisciplinary approach that will be fundamental to her teaching role within the School,” said Professor McCulloch. Dr Mills’ career roles include Head of Screen Studies at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, arts program presenter for Granada Television in the United Kingdom, and a producer for BBC and Channel 4. She has also been a freelance journalist for The Guardian, The Daily Mirror and The Sunday Times.