New students will kick start their university degrees by attending Orientation Day at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wangaratta this week.Students studying Agricultural Business Management, Agriculture, Horticulture, Wine Business, Education (Birth to five years), and Veterinary Technology will gather at the CSU Wangaratta Regional Study Centre on Tuesday 17th February 2015 from 10.30am to familiarise themselves with the facility and meet academic staff."Orientation Day is an opportunity for new students to meet up with fellow students at the start of their course to make important connections," Wangaratta Centre Manager Ms Robyn Farley said."They can acquaint themselves with Charles Sturt University's services which can assist them in their study including the library and academic study support. They'll also be experiencing all of the Wangaratta facilities first hand."2015 will be the first year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Technology with over 70 students commencing in the inaugural cohort. The Veterinary Technology course is an integrated degree and a joint project between CSU and GOTAFE.Construction of the new CSU-GOTAFE facility on Tone Rd, Wangaratta was completed late last year.Over 2,600 new on-campus students will be welcomed to all CSU campuses for semester one.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Western New South Wales rugby team will hit their home ground running in the first game of the NSW Junior Gold Cup for 2015.The team will face off against Illawarra at CSU's Orange campus this Saturday, 15 February. The Under 15's will play at 10am, followed by the under 17's.CSU's partnership with the CSU Western NSW team and the CSU NSW Country Eagles is part of the Community-University Partnership (CUP) program – an initiative of CSU's Office of Corporate Affairs. More information is available from the CSU website

A chemistry magic show with 'screaming jelly babies' and 'elephant's toothpaste' will be a highlight of the HSC Chemistry Days at CSU in Wagga Wagga next week. CSU academics will share their passion for science with more than 250 year 12 students at the annual event, which is held in conjunction with the Eastern Riverina Science Teachers Association (ERSTA). CSU lecturer in chemistry and program leader for the Bachelor of Science at CSU, Dr Celia Barril said there are plenty of hands on activities. "Students will be performing titrations, pH measurements and learning about Atomic Absorption, which are part of the HSC Chemistry Curriculum," she said. "It's also an opportunity for students to learn about applications of science to everyday life by interviewing scientists and get a taste of university life."

One of Charles Sturt University's leading creative educators was fondly farewelled at a special morning tea hosted by the School of Teacher Education in Bathurst on Wednesday 11 February. Teacher education lecturer Dr Peter Wilson has retired after 26 years at the University, and colleagues, friends and alumni gathered to praise his contribution to the School, its students and the creative arts in the wider Bathurst community and region. Dr Wilson is also an outstanding potter, and his elegant ceramics are sought-after and treasured. Speaking at the morning tea, Professor Tara Brabazon, Head of the CSU School of Teacher Education, said, "Pete Wilson's service to the School has been outstanding. He is committed to creativity and he is committed to its democratic dissemination. Pete has transformed the lives of thousands of teacher education students with his commitment to music, ceramics, voice and movement. There would be few schools in the central west that have been untouched by his excellence and his belief in the collaborative potential of the arts." Dr Wilson was also praised by Mr Col Sharp, the Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, and by a dozen colleagues who spontaneously rose in turn to reflect on and congratulate Dr Wilson and his career, and wish him well for a continuingly creative future.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will host the first-ever three-day high performance camp for 18 athletes from The Canobolas Rural Technology High School from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 February. Dr Melissa Skein, lecturer in exercise science in the CSU School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst, said the Canobolas High Performance Athlete (CHPA) program offered by the Canobolas Rural Technology High School is the first of its kind outside NSW Sports High Schools. "A program like this for student athletes in partnership with Charles Sturt University and industry professionals is a rare opportunity for regional students," Dr Skein said. "The 18 athletes from Years 8 to11 all play at a regional representative level or above, in sports including track and field, soccer, rugby league, lawn bowls, basketball, softball, touch football, and dance. The testing and induction camp for the CHPA program will provide students with a variety of experiences and important elements that will form the foundation of the program for the 2015 year. This ongoing program aims to support students in both their sporting and academic goals, and optimise their potential in their chosen sports. A key feature of the program is to teach participants how to balance their commitments, develop skills and strategies to manage time, prioritise, schedule and deal with school, sport, extracurricular activities, and other lifestyle components."

Sixteen research participants who suffer with painful diabetic neuropathy are needed for pain relief research by a physiotherapy honours student at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange. Ms Gabrielle Upton said her research in the CSU School of Community Health will be conducted over 27 days in January and February 2015 with the aim to compare the pain relief effects of two different types of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for people with painful diabetic neuropathy. "The participants will have the opportunity to use a pain relief machine (TENS) for a total of 20 days with no cost to them," Ms Upton said. "Subject will be required to attend four appointments at Charles Sturt University in Orange for about 30 minutes each time. During this time it is expected that the subjects' level of pain will reduce. TENS is a safe treatment with minimal risk of adverse effects and can be used for many different types of pain. This is important research and I appreciate any assistance volunteers can provide." Ms Upton's research has CSU Ethics Committee approval and is being closely supervised by three highly qualified and experienced CSU academics. Please contact Ms Gabrielle Upton on 0427 106 498 to discuss eligibility and inclusion criteria.

More than 1 300 Charles Sturt University (CSU) students are expected to graduate in ceremonies at CSU in Bathurst next week. Six graduation ceremonies will be held at the University for the four CSU Faculties and their Schools for approximately 1 348 graduates and their nearly 4 000 guests on Wednesday 17, Thursday 18, and Friday 19 December.The Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said, "Although many of our graduates will already be working, they still make arrangements to attend their formal graduation ceremony because it means so much to them and their families. The graduation season brings thousands of people into the city, many staying overnight and providing new business for our hotels, motels, restaurants and cafes. It's great for the University to be the centre of a day that these graduates will remember for the rest of their lives – that's the significance of graduation to many students and their families." The new Chancellor of CSU, Dr Michele Allan, will preside at all six graduation ceremonies in Bathurst. Professional doctorates and PhDs will be conferred on eleven candidates. The Head of Campus will also host celebratory luncheons each day for special guests and dignitaries. Wednesday 17 December starting at 9.30am – Faculty of Education; Dr Emma Leslie will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate at this ceremony. Wednesday 17 December starting at 3pm – Faculty of Science; Associate Professor John Overton, OAM, RFD, and Ms Kathryn Pitkin, retired CSU Deputy Chancellor, will be awarded Honorary Doctorates at this ceremony. Thursday 18 December starting at 9.30am – Faculty of Arts Thursday 18 December starting at 3pm – Faculty of Arts, and Faculty of Business; Mr Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO of Sky News, will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate at this ceremony. Friday 19 December starting at 9.30am – Faculty of Business Friday 19 December starting at 3pm – Faculty of Business

Overweight and obese people in the Albury area are sought for CSU physiotherapy research examining the impact of low to moderate intensity exercise on their quality of life. Physiotherapy research student Mr Wade McGrath, from CSU's School of Community Health in Albury-Wodonga, seeks males aged 20 to 44 years and females aged 20 to 54 years who must be overweight or obese (that is, a Body Mass Index between 25 to 39.99) to take part in the project. Mr McGrath said, "We will confirm whether the participant is within this range after they have expressed interest in the study. The exercise will be supervised by a personal trainer and consist of some aerobic exercise using treadmills and exercise bikes, and resistance training using some dumbbells and the person's own bodyweight. It will be performed twice weekly in approximately one-hour sessions for approximately six weeks. Participation is free, and the exercise sessions will be run in the Community Engagement and Wellness Centre gym located at CSU in Albury-Wodonga at Thurgoona. This is the perfect opportunity for would-be participants to get fit after Christmas or make good on a New Year's resolution to start exercising." Mr McGrath wants to hear now from potential volunteers because he'd like to start the project after Tuesday 13 January. To find out more and to express interest in participating, contact Mr McGrath on 0438 639 393 or wademcgrath7@hotmail.com

Representatives of schools, sports, and arts and cultural organisations will receive Charles Sturt University (CSU) Community-University Partnership (CUP) grants at a ceremony in Bathurst on Monday 1 December. The Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, will welcome recipients to the presentation. Recipients have been asked to briefly share details about their successful project application and will then receive a grant presentation certificate from Mr Sharp, followed by morning tea. "Charles Sturt University has restructured its campus-based community support arrangements this year to achieve greater equity and transparency in its contributions to external groups," Mr Sharp said. "The resulting Community-University Partnership (CUP) program has allowed us to make a financial contribution to many locally-based individuals and groups. This contribution is typically to assist a one-off event or project, or to help kick start an activity that will continue and provide value into the future. I am happy to say that the University in Bathurst was able to contribute to most of the applications it received in at least some way, and as a result many community-building activities will be assisted. This ceremony is about putting faces to names and projects, and building relationships rather than just giving money."