CHARLES Sturt University students will have to wait until at least February 18 to learn whether their school’s name is changing.
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Consultation about the plan to switch titles to Sturt University ended on Wednesday evening, following forums across campuses, including Thurgoona.
“We appreciate the feedback provided at these sessions and through our online survey, which received over 1500 responses, as well as through social media channels,” a university spokeswoman said.
“It is now time for us to consider the vast amount of feedback received and present a recommendation to University Council.”
An online petition opposing the name change has attracted more than 6000 backers, with the bulk arguing the move is a waste of money and unnecessary.
“As a CSU alumni, I feel that the $7.5 million would be better spent on improving education and facilities at some campuses,” Albury health course graduate Maddy Croton wrote on the change.org website.
The university has promoted the move as a “brand refresh” and argued CSU is confused with a US CSU – Colorado State University.
The spokeswoman on Thursday stressed that “no decision has yet been made in relation to the university name change”.
The university council is due to meet on February 14 in Canberra, from 8.30am to 4pm, however the spokeswoman could not confirm if the matter would be on the agenda.
The council has 15 members, CSU’s website states.
They include vice-chancellor Andrew Vann, who addressed the feedback session in Albury last week where there was 60:40 opposition to the name shift.
Also in the group is former Border head of campus Julie Cleary and Elise McMahon, a third-year physiotherapy student at the Thurgoona campus.
The spokeswoman said “a further update on progress will be made on Monday 18 February” four days after the meeting.
Wagga PhD graduate Saba Nabi, who has spoken out against the name flip, said she was unsure whether the council would proceed with the shift to Sturt University.
“If they take into account the alumni community, the local council – everybody is against the name change,” Dr Nabi said.
“It’s only the CSU staff that seem to be in favour.”
