Students get their first real taste of their new life at university during Orientation Week next week. With the theme ‘Supeher-O’, commencement activities for new students start on Monday 21 February at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on all its campuses, including Albury-Wodonga. Nearly 650 students have enrolled in undergraduate courses as varied as physiotherapy, teaching, nursing, speech pathology, adventure ecotourism, accountancy, and information technology. Head of Campus at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Professor Allan Curtis, said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce the students to study and life at CSU. “Orientation Week allows students to become familiar with their surroundings, staff and other students. CSU staff are ready to respond to queries about courses and subjects, help students find accommodation, and help them make the most of the cultural and sporting activities available in Albury-Wodonga,” Professor Curtis said.

Orientation Week for new students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo start on Tuesday 22 February with the theme ‘Superher-O’. More than 100 students have enrolled in undergraduate courses as varied as teaching, nursing, accountancy, business studies and social work. Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty, said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce the students to study and life at CSU. “Orientation Week gives students the opportunity to become familiar with their campus, the staff and to meet other students. CSU staff will be on hand to assist new students with their inquiries about courses, subjects, accommodation and finding their way around campus,” Dr Moriarty said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will next week host a delegation from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) as part of a large research project aimed at finding ways to alleviate poverty of farming families in rain-fed areas in the South East Asian nation. The $5.1 million project, ‘Developing improved farming and marketing systems in rain fed regions of southern Lao PDR’, involves researchers from institutions in Laos and Australia and is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and led by Strategic Research Professor at CSU, Professor Len Wade. He will accompany the delegation, headed by the Director General of the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) in Lao, Dr Bounthong Bouahom. On Monday 21 February, the delegation will visit research facilities at CSU in Wagga Wagga, including the new $2.4 million underground field research laboratory known as a Rhizolysimeter. The delegation, which will also be accompanied by Research Program Manager at ACIAR, Dr John Dixon, will visit rice farms and fisheries while in the Riverina. Field research is underway in several locations in provinces of southern Laos, and Professor Wade will travel to Lao PDR on Friday 25 February for the annual review of the project as well as visit field sites in the country.

Students get their first real taste of their new life at university during Orientation 2011 at Charles Sturt University (CSU) next week. With the theme ‘Superher-O Week’, Live Work Play, a range of academic and social activities for new students start on Monday 21 February at CSU campuses, including Wagga Wagga. Around 1 100 new students have accepted a place in an undergraduate on campus course at CSU in Wagga Wagga. A large range of courses are offered at CSU in Wagga Wagga including accounting, veterinary science, oral health, pharmacy, teaching, television production, social work and nursing. Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner, will conduct an Official Welcome Ceremony for the new students and their families and friends from 10am to 11.30am on Monday 21 February. Assisting the new students throughout the week will be around 50 Orientation student leaders dressed in blue shirts.

He began his working life as a junior clerk with the Wagga Agricultural College and ends it as finance chief of Charles Sturt University (CSU), overseeing a budget of $380 million. Mr Jim Hackett will retire as Executive Director of the University’s Division of Finance on Friday 18 February after 44 years with CSU and its predecessor institutions. Reflecting on his lengthy career with the organisation, Mr Hackett said, “The capital development of Charles Sturt University during the last five years has been staggering. Between 2007 and 2010, capital expenditure was $250 million; up 50 per cent from an asset base of $500 million.” Looking to the future, Mr Hackett said, “The capital plan for the next five years of $200 million is fully funded. We are now a major player, a genuine university with national and international recognition.” Mr Hackett says he is looking forward to having more ‘time’ during his retirement in Wagga Wagga. This includes time for travel and his three grandchildren. Mr Paul Dowler has been appointed the new Executive Director of the Division of Finance.

Year 10 and 11 students from Orange and the central west region in NSW will explore course options and university life when they attend the Allied Health and Dentistry MyDay at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange on Friday 25 February. CSU Prospective Student Advisor, Ms Katy Fardell, said, “MyDay provides high school students with a taste of the courses offered at Charles Sturt University in Orange. They will also learn about the pathways to the career of their choice and opportunities such as gaining an international experience through CSU Global  or financial assistance through a Charles Sturt University Foundation scholarship. The courses on show include the Bachelor of Clinical Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, and Bachelor of Dental Science. MyDay Orange also provides an opportunity for students to get an understanding of the career paths available to them after they complete a university degree.”

Students will get their first taste of their new life at university during Orientation Week next week. With the theme ‘Superher-O’, commencement activities for new students start on Monday 21 February at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on all its campuses, including Orange. More than 190 students have enrolled in undergraduate courses as varied as agricultural business management, clinical science, pharmacy, physiotherapy and dental science. Head of Campus at CSU in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton, said Orientation Week activities were vital to introduce the students to study and life at CSU. Orientation Week allows students to become familiar with their surroundings, staff and other students. CSU staff are ready to respond to queries about courses and subjects, help students find accommodation, and help them make the most of the cultural and sporting activities available in Orange,” Professor Parton said.

New students will ease into life at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst with an Orientation Week program starting on Monday 21 February. The theme ‘Superher-O’ links the activities on all CSU campuses. In Bathurst approximately 982 students are expected to enrol in 2011 in undergraduate courses such as psychology, paramedics, teaching, nursing, management and marketing, and a range of communication disciplines. Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said, “We expect nearly a thousand new students to commence study on Bathurst campus next week. The students, their parents and supporters will be formally welcomed to both the campus and the wider Bathurst communities on Monday. This will be part of a comprehensive orientation process that will see them introduced to the University and then closely supported throughout much of their first year.” As well as orientation activities during the day, a range of entertainment activities for new students are scheduled each evening, including discos with DJs, a live band and an outdoor cinema screening on the library lawn.

While Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) gives new students a chance to familiarise themselves with their campus and each other, it will also raise funds for a worthy cause. Youngcare is a fundraising program assisting young Australians with full-time care needs. One such person is Mr Jock Watson who studied at CSU before a car accident left him with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Mr Watson’s family was left with no option but to put him in a nursing home. Through Market Day raffles and gold coin donations at social events, the CSU students will raise money for Youngcare in the hope of helping people like Mr Watson gain more independence. CSU Orientation Week leader Ms Emily Heckendorf believes the cause is close to the students’ hearts. “This kind of injury could happen to any one of us and hopefully with Charles Sturt University’s support, we can be part of a solution.”