Charles Sturt University

Charles Sturt University offers various Distance Education programs at Bachelor and Post-Graduate level as well as the Single Subject Study program. CSU also has various course delivery partnerships with several TAFE institutions across the country. The history of Charles Sturt University dates back to 1895, with the establishment of the Bathurst Experiment Farm. Formed progressively through the merge of regional institutions in south-western and western NSW, Charles Sturt University was established on 1 July 1989 from the merger of several existing separately-administered Colleges of Advanced Education including 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, through the enactment of The Charles Sturt University Act, 1989 (Act No. 76, 1989). It is named in honour of explorer Charles Sturt. The Mitchell College of Advanced Education had been formed on 1 January 1970, and 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. In 1998, CSU established the first Study Centre in Sydney and then in Melbourne in 2007. These study centres are operated by a private education group called Study Group Australia. On 1 January 2005, CSU 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, CSU had expand an offshore campus in Burlington, Ontario in Canada. On July 2015, CSU "regretfully" ceased to operate its Ontario campus due to the legislative and regulatory environment in Ontario. On 14 February 2011 CSU changed its logo. The sturt desert pea flower (Swainsona formosa) is now 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 CSU opened a new campus in Port Macquarie, CSU's first coastal, regional campus. This made Higher Education accessible to the Port Macquarie and the Hastings region. It provides opportunities for students with the desire to study close to the beach, as well as options for local students to access the resources of a world-class university close to home. In 2013, the University implemented a gas engine cogeneration power plant to help minimise fuel costs and carbon emissions. On 18 April 2016 at the Port Macquarie Campus, staff and students moved into Stage One of their purpose built campus. Two more stages are expected to be complete over the coming years with an expected student intake of 5000 by the year 2030. On 28 July 2016, CSU has been declared Australia's First Official Carbon Neutral University. On 9 May 2018, CSU and Western Sydney University announce as partners with the Australian Government’s network, to establish The Murray-Darling Medical School providing Joint Medical Programs (JMP) across the Murray-Darling Basin Region. Teaching base to be established at CSU Orange campus to extend existing Western Sydney University program. In 2019, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency imposed five conditions on CSU's renewal of registration as an Australian university, including concerns about the academic standards of CSU. One of the conditions, on academic integrity at CSU study centres, was lifted, and CSU was re-registered for a period of four years rather than seven. On 29 May 2019, CSU has announced it will join the Regional Universities Network (RUN), becoming the seventh member of the group.