CONCERNS have been raised about Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) commitment to its Wagga campus following the decision to scrap the pharmacy course and move it to Orange.
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It’s the second major blow the university’s Wagga campus has sustained this year and follows on from it being overlooked for CSU’s new engineering course at the start of the year.
In light of the double blow endured this year, mayor Rod Kendall has requested a meeting with campus management to discuss the university’s future in Wagga.
“It never pleases me when I see something moving, but I must remain mindful businesses must remain viable,” Cr Kendall said.
“I trust that CSU is going through that analysis and this is a well-planned and thought out process. I’m always concerned when I see those sort of changes and courses closing.”
CSU has cited a desire to refocus its pharmacy course at one campus as the reasoning behind the decision.
Pharmacy at CSU has a long and rich connection to the Wagga campus.
The pharmacy course at CSU initially started at Wagga in 1997 and at the time it was created it was the only pharmacy course offered outside a metropolitan area.
The head of the national peak body for pharmacy students, Eleanna Ballis, is currently studying at CSU’s Wagga campus.
Students currently enrolled in pharmacy at Wagga will be able to complete their degrees in the city, though no new enrolments will be taken on. The last cohort will graduate in 2019.
Despite two major losses to the Wagga campus this year, member for Riverina Michael McCormack still believes it is the “jewel in the crown” for CSU.
“Wagga is still the largest campus as I understand in the CSU network,” he said.
Mr McCormack, who has written a “strongly-worded” letter to CSU vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann over the decision, however insists the city’s elected representatives are doing all they can to advocate for the Wagga campus.
“I think council does an enormous amount of co-operative work as far as CSU is concerned,” he said.
“(Member for Wagga) Daryl (Maguire) is always looking at ways, means and avenues to expand not just the uni, but other things in the city as well.”
Mr McCormack said the cost of running the pharmacy course and declining enrolments may be to blame for the decision.
