More than 900 new on-campus students will begin their university studies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst next week when Orientation Week starts on Monday 23 February. Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said, "The University staff in Bathurst are looking  forward to welcoming the new on-campus students at the Academic Welcome on Monday morning, and also meeting the family and friends who accompany them on the day. Orientation Week is so important in settling the students into their new University environment because they need to get their basic organisation in place, learn their way around, understand the assistance and support available, and of course, the expectations of them in higher education. Charles Sturt University invests heavily in settling the students in during Orientation Week - feeling 'like they belong here' is important to their academic success." The approximately 900 new full-time students on campus in 2015 will be joined by approximately 1800 to 1900 returning students.The schedule of events includes:Monday 23 – 10.30am official Commencement Ceremony at the CD Blake Auditorium (building 1220) followed at 11.30am by the parents and supporters morning tea on the adjacent lawn; there will also be a market day, library tours, welcome barbeque, and evening social activity at Rafters Bar (building 1413) 'White Party'.Tuesday 24 – 10am Schools welcome and information sessions (building 1292, room 223); 12pm students and staff welcome lunch at the Ponton Theatre courtyard (building 1434); 3pm downtown students 'meet and greet' at Rafters Bar; 8pm social activity at Rafters Bar 'Comedy Night'.Wednesday 25 - Course information sessions continued, library lawn; 8pm social activity at Rafters Bar 'Mexican Fiesta'.Thursday 26 – Course information sessions continued; 8pm social activity at Rafters Bar 'Fret Fetish'.Friday 27 – 10am International students welcome Session 2; 8pm social activity at Rafters Bar 'Dag Night'.More details can be found here.The most popular discipline areas are allied health, communications, and teacher education. Most popular courses are clinical science (paramedic), communications (which includes double degrees), nursing, criminal justice, and exercise science.

More than 450 students will start their university studies in Albury-Wodonga with Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) next week. 'O-Week' will run from Monday 23 February until Friday 27 February and involve a series of academic and social activities to help familiarise students with university study, their course, peers and campus. "O-Week blends serious and social activities to introduce students from around Australia and overseas to their new lives of study and education," Head of Campus Professor Julia Coyle said. "The undergraduate courses in greatest demand in 2015 were teaching, and our allied health courses including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology." More than 2,600 new on-campus students will be welcomed across all CSU campuses for semester one. There will also be O-Week activities for more than 2,700 new distance education students.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Outreach team advisers will be at the University's main campuses next week to help distance education students get the most from their CSU experience. The advisers will be available on specific dates from Monday 23 to Friday 27 February at CSU campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga. Manager of the CSU Outreach team, Mr James Brann, said, "The University's outreach visits are free for current Charles Sturt University distance education students, and  are designed to assist them to be  successful in their studies. We hold both group and one-to-one sessions with students to provide advice and guidance about online learning, orientation to CSU, effective reading skills, note taking, time management, and assignment writing." The schedule for CSU Outreach adviser availability is:Albury-Wodonga: Student liasion officer Ms Lois Watt from the Team will be available at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Monday 23, Tuesday 24, and Wednesday 25 February. To book a place in Albury, students are asked to please register here (scroll down to Albury).Bathurst: Mr James Brann will host sessions at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 24 February. To book a place in Bathurst students are asked to please register here.Dubbo: Student liasion officer Ms Emma Gersbach will be available at CSU in Dubbo on Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 February. To book a place in Dubbo students are asked to register here (scroll down to Dubbo).Orange: Mr James Brann will host sessions on Friday 27 February. To book a place in Orange students, please register here.Wagga Wagga: Student liasion officer Ms Diane Middleton will be available on Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 February. To book a place in Wagga Wagga, students are asked to please register here (scroll down to Wagga Wagga).

More than 150 students will start their university studies with Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange next week. 'O-Week' will run from Monday 23 February until Friday 27 February and involve a series of academic and social activities to help familiarise students with university study, their course, peers and campus. "O-Week helps to introduce students from around Australia and overseas to their new lives of study and education in Orange," Head of Campus Dr Heather Robinson said. "The week will feature a combination of serious and social activities for our dentistry, clinical science, physiotherapy, pharmacy, general studies and postgraduate sustainable agriculture students, with local distance education students also invited to join in the fun." More than 2,600 new on-campus students will be welcomed across all CSU campuses for semester one. There will also be O-Week activities for distance education students.

Last minute preparations are being made at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga ahead of the arrival of about 1 000 new students for Orientation Week (O Week) from Monday 23 February. Five O Week student coordinators, supported by the University's Office for Students, have been working behind the scenes to prepare the academic, social and sporting program. Highlights include the official Commencement Ceremony hosted by the head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Ms Miriram Dayhew in Joyes Hall (building 209) from 10am on Monday 23 February. The ceremony will be followed Market Day from 11am (outside Dining Hall building 230). There are also information sessions on enrolment, specific courses, student accommodation as well as session for international and mature age students, parents and supporters of new students. Social events during the week include O Fest! at the CSU pool, Tropical Night and O Party! at the Crow Bar. Money raised by the O Week coordinators across the University will be donated to Headspace. You can access the full O Week program here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange will host a unique graduation ceremony on Thursday 18 February when approximately 80 primary school students attend Check It Out day. Year 6 students from Bowen and Glenroi Heights Public Schools will spend the day on campus participating in a selection of workshops to give them first-hand experience of university life. "This fun and interactive day, aims to provide students with a university experience," School Outreach Officer Ms Ruth Stone said. "Students participate in two hands-on Faculty-based activities, before exploring the library and ending the day in a mock graduation including a special presentation by a Future Moves leader or CSU Academic." Students will also enjoy a tour of the campus and its facilities and a lunch in the student dining room. "By introducing young people to the world of university study early on, we hope they are encouraged through a positive experience to become more engaged in school studies and more confident in considering tertiary study as a realistic option," Ms Stone said.

Fifty high school students from the Border region will attend Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 19 February for a day of 'Skills Fix' workshops. Year 11 students from Finley High School, Billabong High School, James Fallon High School, Oaklands Central School, and Wodonga Senior Secondary College will participate in a selection of on-campus workshops led by undergraduate student leaders and other University staff to improve their study skills while experiencing university life. Ms Ilena Young, coordinator of the Future Moves Program, said, "The Future Moves program works with students who have the potential to succeed in tertiary education, but who may come from families with little or no experience of higher education. "By introducing young people to university students and the world of study we're hoping to encourage them to become more confident and interested in considering tertiary study as a realistic option. Students often say, I never considered university but now I really want to go. Events like the Skill Fix day are a great way to start a conversation with students and their families about what options and pathways are available to them when they finish high school."

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a public seminar on Wednesday 18 February which will focus on new generation biofuel crops.Unlike earlier generation biofuel crops such as corn or oilseeds that are better used for human consumption, new generation biofuel crops can be grown in harsher environments and provide higher yields of biofuels.Professor Stephen Wratten from Lincoln University, New Zealand will present the seminar at 1pm on the Orange campus. He will profile one crop (giant miscanthus grass) that can produce 30 tonnes of dry matter per hectare; enough to make about 9000 litres of renewable diesel for approximately $1.10 per litre. The grass also provides other benefits such as fodder and windbreak.Professor Wratten is a world-renowned researcher in the biological control of pests based on citation rates, holds three doctorates and professorships, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.The Seminar will be held in the conference room of the Orange campus, Leeds Parade, Orange at 1pm on Wednesday 18 February. No RSVP is necessary.

A new initiative in Port Macquarie will help find accommodation for more than 200 new Charles Sturt University (CSU) students, many from outside the area, who will start at the University in 2015. The University has joined with Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast and Port Macquarie Hastings Council to promote the need for flexible accommodation options that will suit students and benefit property owners in the city. The organisations will launch the 'Affordable Housing' campaign at 10.30am Thursday 19 February at CSU in Port Macquarie. Professor Ross Chambers, the Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie, said, "Charles Sturt University strongly supports this initiative, and thanks and congratulates Regional Development Australia on the Mid North Coast and the Hastings community on it. Accommodation options like these are greatly needed and very valuable for students. Support like this from the community will make Port Macquarie a wonderful destination for students and have a big impact on the quality of the student experience." Property owners in Port Macquarie who are interested to 'turn their spare room into spare cash' by renting accommodation to CSU students can contact Ms Helen Atkins on 6582 9350 or email hatkins@csu.edu.au. Alternatively, they can log on to csu.studystays.com – it's easy, free, and photos can be added.