For regional unis the challenge is to keep your friends close and local MPs closer

The member for the seat of Wagga Wagga in the NSW Parliament wonders what CSU is up to; “here is a question in our community: has the university wandered from its purpose for regional New South Wales? Once a source of regional pride, there is now concern the university has become just another second-tier corporate education provider,” Joe McGirr told the Legislative Assembly last week.

Dr McGirr is concerned by CSU’s proposed savings but also its suggestion to a Legislative Council inquiry that perhaps its act could be amended to end an obligation to have campuses in specified places, which, “can limit universities’ capacity to respond to financial changes, demographic changes, shifts in demand or other circumstances. Without a more flexible approach there is a risk for some universities that they could be left with a choice between breaching their legislated obligations or taking on an unacceptable financial risk.”

This is an Appleby of an idea, courageous but not particularly politic. As Dr McGirr, who has a CSU campus in his community, told the Legislative Assembly, “no wonder there are concerns about the future of regional campuses.”

He joins the federal minister for regional education, Andrew Gee (Nats-NSW) in expressing concerns. Mr Gee also has a CSU campus in his seat and has questioned CSU’s savings strategy (CMM August 7).