Faculty of Rural Management

Orange Agricultural College was established in 1973 by the NSW government to offer courses principally related to the management of agricultural businesses. Following the reforms to higher education in the late 1980's the Orange Agricultural College became part of the University of New England from 1990 under the Higher Education (Amalgamation) Amendment Act 1989, No. 129. In 1994 it became an academic college of the University of Sydney under the Higher Education (Amalgamation) Amendment Act 1993 No. 70 - assented to 9 November 1993.

In November 1999 Senate approved the that the academic activities at the Orange campus be named the Faculty of Rural Management. In November 2004 Senate gave its approval for the proposed transfer of Orange Campus to Charles Sturt University (CSU). "This proposal followed the announcement in July 2004 by the Federal Minster for Education that an additional 100 new funded places would be allocated for CSU at Orange, and that 1422 new places would be allocated to the University of Sydney on the understanding that the Orange Campus would be transferred to CSU...The NSW Minister for Education indicated his support for such a transfer and with his colleagues is arranging for the necessary legislation to be prepared..." The University of Sydney and CSU agreed on necessary arrangements to enable CSU to operate the Orange Campus from 1 January 2005 pending enactment of the legislation in early 2005. [The University of Sydney Annual Report 2004, p.54]

On 6 December 2004 Senate approved the Vice-Chancellor's recommendation to to establish a Board of Studies in Rural Management to undertake from 1 January 2005 the functions previously undertaken by the Faculty of Rural Management.

Eventually the operation of the Orange Campus was transferred to Charles Sturt University (CSU) effective from 1 July 2006. Students who had been already enrolled in University of Sydney degrees were completing their studies at Orange. Their degree candidatures were overseen by a Board of Studies in Rural Management (which had representatives from CSU as well as the University of Sydney), which in turn reported to the University of Sydney's Academic Board. [The University of Sydney Senate Fellows Report 2006, p.6]