One of the main economic drivers in the regional city of Wagga Wagga is the university.

Though it started under another name as a separate, independent institution, for the past 30 years the Estalla-based campus has been a part of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) footprint.

In 2020, the university revealed it was facing dire financial circumstances with a projected $80 million deficit brought on, they say, by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

So began my coverage of a university in trouble for The Daily Advertiser.

• Minister calls for financial transparency at CSU
• Questions raised over timing of CSU vice-chancellor’s sabbatical
• Culture of Wagga at risk as creative industries cut from CSU campus
• Uni commits to ‘explore future’ of Riverina Playhouse theatre
• Uni staff face anxious wait as class cuts begin to roll out
• More online, less in Wagga: CSU announces first round of subject cuts
• Deepest cuts to psychology, business, creative industries at Wagga CSU
• Psychology to be given the chop as CSU reviews courses in Wagga
• CSU re-negotiates campus closure in wake of Albury-Wodonga border closure
• Lecturers fight for future of subjects at CSU in Wagga
• Curtain call: Fate of CSU Playhouse hangs in balance
• CSU seeks new vice-chancellor as Andrew Vann takes sabbatical
• Wagga campus to see ‘proportionately high’ job cuts as CSU rolls out redundancies
• Staff question job cuts based on ‘popularity’ criteria
• Union pushes to keep voluntary redundancies ‘on the table’ at CSU
• McGirr questions in parliament CSU’s ‘loss of regional purpose’ 

More from my time at The Daily Advertiser over here.