The regulator states it “is considering a range of recent concerns and media reporting in regard to Charles Sturt University” 

While the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency is silent on the causes and content of its considerations the confirmation follows vocal criticism of the university by Regional Education Minister Andrew Gee (Nats-NSW), whose electorate includes two CSU campus towns.

Last week TEQSA Chief Commissioner Nicholas Saunders told Senator Faruqi (Greens-NSW) in a committee hearing that, “the minister recently referred matters regarding the financial status of Charles Sturt University to TEQSA. We have had a preliminary consideration of that matter.” (Professor Saunders did not specify the minister he referred to).

For months Mr Gee has called on CSU management to release an independent report on its finances. “There is enormous concern about CSU and its future, the future of certain of its campuses and also the future of hundreds of jobs. … TEQSA’s work will provide the Australian Government and the community with confidence,” Minister Gee told Jac Underwood on local radio 2BS.

Mr Gee said he is now waiting on the outcome of TEQSA’s work, next year. The regulator tells CMM it “is at the preliminary stages of its assessment.”

It’s been a tough year for the CSU community, with the unexplained departure of former VC Andrew Vann (CMM June 19) and a job-shedding (CMM June19), course-cutting savings plan (CMM June 17).

TEQSA also had a critical look at CSU last year, when it renewed its registration for four years, rather than the usual seven – although this appears to do with governance issues, including oversight of a private provider (CMM May 6 2019).