Two of North Carolina’s prominent private universities are preparing to unite, with Queens University of Charlotte and Elon University announcing Tuesday that they will merge in what leaders are calling a transformative step for higher education in the state.
At a news conference, Queens Acting President Jesse Cureton described the agreement as a turning point. “This is a decision grounded in the vision that is bold and amplifies the strengths of both universities,” Cureton said. The merger, which received unanimous approval from both boards of trustees, is expected to be finalized next summer.
Queens, founded more than 170 years ago, enrolls roughly 2,000 students and reported $189 million in assets as of June 2023. Elon, by contrast, has about 7,000 students and $1.2 billion in assets, according to recent financial disclosures. Elon will operate Queens when the deal is complete, though leaders said both campuses will remain open.
Cureton emphasized that Queens’ identity will endure during the transition. “The values that have defined us — service and inclusive campus dialogue and innovation — will continue to thrive while new opportunities are created for our students, our faculty, our alumni and future Charlotteans,” he said. Current students, officials added, will see no disruption to their education, while gaining access to Elon’s engaged learning model and alumni network.
Elon President Connie Book pointed to the merger’s potential role in Charlotte’s rapid growth. “Elon University with Queens is excited and honored to provide leadership for the future of higher education in one of America’s greatest and dynamic, fastest growing cities,” she said. Book highlighted the example of alumna Tia Hudgins, a Queens student who later earned a degree from Elon Law and was recently appointed as a district judge, as a glimpse of the academic pathways the merger seeks to expand.
Prominent Charlotte business leader Hugh McColl, who chaired the Queens board for 20 years, praised the move as “exactly the kind of bold, forward-looking step Charlotte needs to strengthen its institutions.” He called the agreement “a tremendous gift” that would benefit future generations, bolster the workforce, and elevate the city’s standing in education and innovation.
To guide implementation, representatives from both universities will embark on a listening tour across Charlotte beginning in October. The initiative aims to gather community perspectives as the two institutions navigate what officials have described as a “historic day” for higher education in the region.
