Queens and Elon will merge
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Queens University of Charlotte. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
Queens University of Charlotte and Elon University announced on Tuesday their intent to merge. Elon will operate Queens when the deal closes, which is expected to happen next summer.
Why it matters: The merger will increase opportunities for students and strengthen the two private universities amid growing challenges in higher education, Queens acting president Jesse Cureton told Axios.
- Local leaders and university officials are lauding the move as "a bold investment in Charlotte's future," one that cements Elon's expanding commitment to the city.
Details: Both schools will maintain their campuses — Queens is in Charlotte's Myers Park neighborhood, and Elon is outside Burlington, east of Greensboro. It's not yet clear what the combined school will be called.
- In its letter of intent, Queens leadership underscored the importance of the school's name, Cureton said.
- The deal will bring together faculty expertise, research capacity and programs for students at both schools, Queens and Elon leadership said.
- Cureton says there won't be any changes to either school's athletics as a result of the deal. This year, Queens attained full NCAA Division I status.
Zoom in: Queens could gain more financial security by joining a larger university like Elon, the Charlotte Ledger reported Tuesday.
- Queens, with about 2,000 undergrad and graduate students, had about $189 million in assets as of June 2023, per the Ledger, while Elon, with approximately 7,000 students, had assets of $1.2 billion as of May 2024.
- Other small private universities in North Carolina have struggled in recent years. St. Andrews University in Laurinburg closed earlier this year, and Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh is facing severe financial struggles.
Zoom out: Elon has been investing in Charlotte beyond the Queens deal. Last year, Elon opened a part-time law school in South End for working professionals to earn their degrees at night, for instance.
- The deal with Queens quickly expands Elon's geographic footprint in Charlotte, Cureton said.
- "It would take them $50 million per year for a decade to get the value of what they're getting by partnering with Queens today."
Between the lines: After Daniel Lugo announced in 2024 that he would step down as Queens president, the school's board started looking "at growth opportunities," Cureton says. They examined a range of departments, including athletics, advancement and enrollment.
- "The more we talked and understood each other's culture, we realized that not only are we interested in each other's grad programs, we realized they would be a great partner," he said. "It occurred to us we are really stronger together."
What's next: Representatives from both schools will launch a citywide listening tour this fall to hear from the community about the schools' future, including a name.