Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus

public university A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national universi ...

located in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. Established in 1989, it was named in honour of Captain Charles Napier Sturt, a British explorer who made expeditions into regional New South Wales and South Australia. Charles Sturt offers undergraduate, postgraduate, higher degrees by research and single subject study. It also has course delivery partnerships with several TAFE institutions across Australia, including with the New South Wales Police Force.

History

The history of Charles Sturt University dates to 1895, with the establishment of the Bathurst Experiment Farm. The university was established on 1 July 1989 from the merger of several existing separately-administered

Colleges of Advanced Education The College of Advanced Education (CAE) was a class of Australian tertiary education institution that existed from 1967 until the early 1990s. They ranked below universities, but above Colleges of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) which offer ...

with the enactment of The ''Charles Sturt University Act 1989'' (Act No. 76, 1989). The constituent colleges included the Mitchell College of Advanced Education in Bathurst, the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education in Albury-Wodonga and the Riverina College of Advanced Education in Wagga Wagga. On 1 January 1970, the Mitchell College of Advanced Education was formed. The Riverina Murray Institute of Education campus in Wagga Wagga and Albury-Wodonga had operated since 1984. The latter institution had earlier succeeded the Riverina College of Advanced Education, which was itself the result of an even earlier merger between Wagga Agricultural College and the Wagga Wagga Teachers College. By 1999, every online subject had specialised online support. In 1998, Charles Sturt established the first Study Centre in Sydney and then in Melbourne in 2007. These study centres were operated by a private education group called Study Group Australia. The Goulburn campus was established to deliver policing education for New South Wales Police. In 1999, the Dubbo campus foundation stone was laid. The university also launched its China Joint Cooperation Program with four universities in China. On 1 January 2005, Charles Sturt formalised moves to assume control of the University of Sydney’s Orange campus, which came into force on 1 January 2005. Between 2005 and 2015, the university had expanded to include an offshore campus in Burlington,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, in Canada. On July 2015, Charles Sturt ceased to operate its Ontario campus due to the legislative and regulatory environment in Ontario. In 2005, Charles Sturt responded to the shortage of veterinarians in rural and regional Australia with the first vet science students starting their degrees at the Wagga Wagga campus. And in 2008, the university also offered dentistry courses for the first time. This led to the development of five community-based clinics across its regional campuses. On 14 February 2011 Charles Sturt University changed its logo. The Sturt's desert pea flower (''Swainsona formosa'') was stylised and made prominent, with the full name of the university as part of its logo. On 1 May 2012, a milestone was reached as the university opened a new campus in

Port Macquarie Port Macquarie is a coastal town in the local government area of Port Macquarie-Hastings. It is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, about north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane. The town is located on the Tasman Se ...

, its first coastal regional campus, making higher education accessible to the Port Macquarie and the Hastings region. In 2013, the university implemented a gas engine cogeneration power plant to help minimise fuel costs and carbon emissions. On 18 April 2016, staff and students at the Port Macquarie campus moved into stage one of their purpose-built campus. The second stage was completed in 2020 and included a NSW emergency services training room, innovation hub and student support facilities. The third stage is scheduled for completion over the coming years with an expected student intake of 5000 by 2030. On 28 July 2016, Charles Sturt was declared Australia's First Official Carbon Neutral University. The

Australian Government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Governmen ...

's Carbon Neutral Program certified the university as "

carbon neutral Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the " ...

" against the National Carbon Offset Standard. On 9 May 2018, Charles Sturt and Western Sydney University announced a partnership with the Australian Government's network, to establish the Murray-Darling Medical School, providing Joint Medical Programs across the Murray-Darling Basin Region. Charles Sturt's teaching base was established at the university's Orange campus to extend on the existing Western Sydney University program. In May 2019, for its 30th anniversary, the university announced its new brand and visual identity . This included a new crest that draws on the original coat of arms and the logos of its predecessor institutions. The crest's design includes patterns that draw on the culture and symbolism of First Nations Australians and echoes the landscapes of regional NSW. On 29 May 2019, Charles Sturt University announced it joined the Regional Universities Network (RUN), becoming the seventh member of the group. In March 2021, Charles Sturt University's first medical students commenced study at the university's Orange campus, as part of the Joint Program in Medicine with Western Sydney University. The Joint Program in Medicine is designed to train doctors in the regions to help address the shortfall in rural and regional medical professionals.

Campuses

Charles Sturt University has six main campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange,

, and Wagga Wagga.

Albury-Wodonga

The Albury-Wodonga campus is situated on the border of NSW and Victoria. There is a strong focus on environmental sciences, education, business and allied health at this campus. Campus features: * Anatomy and physiology labs * Community Engagement and Wellness Centre * Herbarium * Wetlands

Bathurst

The Bathurst campus is home to engineering, communication, education, laws and a broad range of health degrees, including paramedicine and exercise science. Campus features: * Biochemistry, exercise science, nursing and paramedicine labs * Dental and oral health clinic * Engineering lab and facilities * Media centre and 2MCE broadcasting radio station * Television studies and editing suites

Dubbo

The Dubbo campus offers social work, nursing, and preparation courses with a focus on delivering education to First Nations students. Campus features: * Nursing and clinical lab * Dental and oral health clinic * Interactive learning centre

Orange

The Orange campus offers courses with a strong focus in allied health, medical sciences, dentistry, medicine, and pharmacy. Campus features: * Medical learning facilities: anatomy teaching lab, simulation hospital wards and ultrasound room * Chemistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy and rehabilitation science labs * Dental and oral health clinic

Port Macquarie

The

campus is the university's newest and first coastal, regional campus. Course offerings at the campus continue to expand as the university's presence in the Mid-North Coast grows. Campus features: * Paramedicine simulation clinic * Medical imaging and nursing labs * Anatomy and physiology labs * Practical learning rooms: occupational therapy, physiotherapy and exercise science facilities

Wagga Wagga

Situated on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, the Wagga Wagga campus is the university's agricultural and sciences hub. Students can also study a range of animal and veterinary sciences, education, business, allied health, information technology, and humanities degrees. Campus features: * National Life Sciences Hub * Veterinary science clinical centre and labs * Farm and equine centre * Commercial winery * Dental and oral health clinic

Other study locations

* A centre in Goulburn for policing students * A Regional University Study Centre in Wangaratta for combined TAFE and university study * Study locations in Canberra and Parramatta for theology students * Partner locations for selected courses in Crows Nest, Canberra,

Chadstone Chadstone is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Monash local government area. Chadstone recorded a population of 9,552 at the 2021 census. Landmarks i ...

, and Muresk

Faculties and academic departments

Charles Sturt University has three main faculties, each offering a range of courses and discipline opportunities. Each faculty comprises a number of schools and centres for specific areas of study and research: * Faculty of Arts and Education * Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences * Faculty of Science and Health

Faculty of Arts and Education

The faculty's arts discipline covers performing and visual arts, art history, communications, history, human services, First Nations studies, literature, philosophy, sociology, and theology. The education side of the faculty offers a range of courses in teacher education, and information and library studies. Schools and centres include: * Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation * School of Education * School of Indigenous Australian Studies * School of Information and Communication Studies *School of Social Work and Arts *School of Theology

Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences

This faculty brings together a range of courses in areas of business, justice and behavioural sciences disciplines. The justice side of the faculty covers policing, security, law, customs, excise and border management. The behavioural science discipline offers psychology courses. Schools and centres include: * Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security * Centre for Customs and Excise Studies * Centre for Law and Justice * School of Business * School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering * School of Policing Studies *School of Psychology

Faculty of Science and Health

The science faculty is one of the most broadly based scientific academic concentrations in Australasia. Schools include: * School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences * School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences * School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences * School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences * School of Rural Medicine

Academia

Courses

Charles Sturt University offers courses across the following career areas: * Agricultural and wine sciences * Allied health and pharmacy * Animal and veterinary sciences * Business * Christian theology and ministry * Communication and creative industries * Dentistry and oral health * Engineering * Environmental sciences * Exercise and sports sciences * Humanities, social work and human services * Information and library studies * Information technology, computing and mathematics * Islamic and Arabic studies * Medical and health sciences * Medicine * Nursing, midwifery and Indigenous health * Policing, law, security, customs and emergency management * Psychology * Science * Teaching and education

Library

Charles Sturt University libraries operate at its main campuses. The libraries offer eBooks, eJournals, encyclopaedias, multimedia resources and courses readings through Primo Search. The libraries also provide online library workshops, library resource guides and video tutorials.

Awards, rankings and recognition

Graduate employment rate

Charles Sturt University has the highest graduate employment rate in Australia. More than 84.7 per cent of undergraduates find full-time employment within four months of graduating. The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) 2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) – Longitudinal found 93.9 per cent of Charles Sturt University undergraduates were in full-time employment three years after graduation. The survey also found that 95.2 per cent of the university's postgraduate coursework graduates were in full-time employment three years after graduation.

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

In 2021, Charles Sturt University was named in the top 10 per cent of universities worldwide for climate action by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Australia’s first carbon neutral university

Charles Sturt University was the first carbon neutral university in Australia and the institution continues to focus on creating a sustainable future. On 28 July 2016, the institution was certified as ‘carbon neutral’ by the National Carbon Offset Standard – Carbon Neutral Program, administered by the Federal Department of the Environment and Energy. The university has nearly 16,000 solar panels installed across its campuses – enough to power for than 2000 homes. More than 22,000 native trees have been planted across its campuses since 2010.

Professor Stan Grant Jnr

In 2020, Professor Stan Grant Jnr commenced a new role at Charles Sturt as the Vice-Chancellor's Chair of Australian-Indigenous Belonging. Professor Grant Jnr was appointed Chair of Indigenous Affairs in 2016. He has decades of experience as an educator, journalist and film producer to explore and answer questions of belonging, home, history and identity.

Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage

In 2014, Charles Sturt announced a new Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage to help Wiradjuri and non-Wiradjuri people preserve the community's language for future generations. The Wiradjuri people were the First Nations peoples of the Central West and western slopes and plains region of NSW.

Research

Charles Sturt University conducts research across many disciplines, including agricultural and veterinary science; education; biological, environmental and chemical sciences; ethics and philosophy.

Cooperative Research Centres

Charles Sturt works collaboratively on many research projects with all levels of government and industry, including its Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). The university is involved with four CRCs: Food and Agility, High Performance Soils, Cyber Security, and National Marine Bioproducts Research Centre. The centres are a Federal Government initiative to solve industry problems, while also improving competitiveness and sustainability. The university aims to achieve this through collaborations between industry, research and community sectors.

Student life

Student Senate

Students at Charles Sturt University are represented by Charles Sturt University Student Senate – formerly the CSU Students' Association (CSUSA). Charles Sturt's Student Senate is the overarching university student body and comprises the following affiliates: * Orange Student Representative Committee (OSRC) – formerly Orange Students Association (OSA) * Murray Campus Council (MCC) representing Albury-Wodonga Campus – formerly Murray Campus Students' Association * Bathurst Student Representative Committee (Bathurst SRC) – formerly Mitchell Student Guild, Charles Sturt University Students' Association Bathurst (CSUSAB) and Mitchell Association of Student Councils * Dubbo Student Representative Committee (DSRC) * Rivcoll Student Representative Committee (Rivcoll SRC) representing Wagga Wagga campus – formerly Rivcoll Union Inc * Port Student Representative Committee (Port SRC) representing Port Macquarie campus * Online Study Student Representative Committee (OS SRC) representing Charles Sturt's online students * Canberra Student Representative Committee, known as St Mark's Canberra was previously formed but disbanded in 2016.

Sport

The Charles Sturt University Football Club at Bathurst was formed under the name of Bathurst Teachers College in 1963, making it one of the oldest football clubs within Bathurst. The club changed its name multiple times to match the educational institute, gaining its current name when Mitchell College was rebranded to Charles Sturt University.

Governance

Charles Sturt University is governed by a 16-member Council, whose members include the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. Dr Michele Allan, a company director, food industry and agribusiness specialist, with an academic background in biomedical science, management and law, is the current and third Chancellor of the university since 3 December 2014; and Professor

Renée Leon Renée Elmina Leon is a senior Australian public servant. From 18 September 2017 until February 2020, she had been Secretary of the Department of Human Services, which is now known as Services Australia. In August 2021 she became Vice Chancell ...

became the fifth Vice-Chancellor on 1 September 2021.

Notable people

Members of Charles Sturt University alumni include notable TV presenters Andrew Denton, Amanda Keller,

Latika Bourke Latika Bourke (born 9 March 1984) is an Australian author and journalist. She writes for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' and ''The Age'', and in the past has worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and 2UE. Her book ''From India with L ...

and Hamish Macdonald.

Gallery

File:Charles Sturt University Albury-Wodonga campus.jpg, Charles Sturt University Albury-Wodonga campus File:Charles Sturt University Bathurst campus.jpg, Charles Sturt University Bathurst campus File:Charles Sturt University Dubbo campus.jpg, Charles Sturt University Dubbo campus File:Charles Sturt University Orange campus.jpg, Charles Sturt University Orange campus File:Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie campus.jpg, Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie campus File:Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga campus.jpg, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga campus

References

{{authority control Education in Bathurst, New South Wales Education in Albury, New South Wales Dubbo Education in Wagga Wagga Universities in New South Wales 1989 establishments in Australia Educational institutions established in 1989 Charles Sturt