Queens unveils new name amid Elon merger
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The Myers Park school will be called Elon University | Queens College as the two universities move toward a merger. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
Queens University of Charlotte has a new name: Elon University | Queens College.
Why it matters: The new name is part of the Queens-Elon merger, which they announced in September 2025.
Catch up quick: In January, Elon shared plans to make Queens the home of its new full-time law school, which will open in fall 2027. It marked the first significant step in the merger and Charlotte's first full-time law school since 2017.
The latest: Queens, under the new name, will operate as an undergraduate campus of Elon in Myers Park after the merger is complete.
What they're saying: "Queens College will carry forward the Queens name, residential experience, Royals tradition and deep relationship with Charlotte while drawing on the reach and resources of the broader Elon University community," Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book said in a statement.
Between the lines: Queens will continue to have its own athletics program. The Royals competed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament earlier this year for the first time as a Division I program. It was the first year the team was eligible to compete in the tournament after making the transition to DI.
- Structural and NCAA-related details are still being ironed out, according to a university spokesperson.
Go deeper: 5 things to know about Queens Royals basketball
The big picture: The Myers Park campus will house undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, from law to health sciences, as well as counseling and business.
By the numbers: Queens currently has about 1,600 students on campus, Queens University of Charlotte acting President Jesse Cureton told reporters Wednesday.
- The merger, including the new law school, will bring the campus to about 2,500 students.
- Queens has about 450 total faculty and staff, Cureton says.
Flashback: Queens' history dates back to 1857 when it opened as an all-female institution in Uptown. It has gone by many names over the years. In 1913, the school's trustees approved the name change to Queens College. The campus opened in Myers Park on Thursday, Sept. 24, 1914.
What's next: The merger needs approval from the Department of Education. The full remaining process is expected to take about 18 months, Cureton says.
Go deeper: Queens and Elon will merge
Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.