Queens, Elon merger aims to expand graduate pathways for students in Charlotte

Elon University announced Sept. 16 during College Coffee in McKinnon Hall that they plan to merge with Queens University of Charlotte. If the universities’ boards of trustees approve a merger, Elon would take over operations at Queens. 

An email from the Elon University president’s office to current Elon students states that the planned merger is an exciting, future-focused step to expand graduate study opportunities for current and future students. 

“I want to be clear: Your Elon experience will only be enhanced by this merger as the university becomes more deeply invested in Charlotte, creating new graduate pathways and expanding opportunities for all students,” President Connie Book wrote in the email.

Queens senior Emily Wouterse is originally from the Netherlands. She said she chose Queens because of the feeling she had when first walking around the campus. 

“Everyone was waving at each other, smiling at each other, as well as just the opportunities that are available here,” Wouterse said. “I’ve already done my internship, and I’m doing another internship, so I feel like things have really helped position me correctly, both personally and professionally.”

When the news about the planned merger was announced to students at Queens, Wouterse said that it was a surprise to most, but she’s looking on the bright side. 

“They position it as a way of Queens becoming stronger,” Wouterse said. “That’s how I want to look at it. I feel like change is something you don’t have to resist. Accept, go with the flow.”

Queens junior Oli Kneer, who is originally from Alabama, was recruited to play soccer for the school. He said he and many other students don’t yet know what the merger means.

“It is exciting,” Kneer said. “We’ll see what happens. We’ll see what comes of it.”

A.T. Castillo lives a block and a half away from Queens University and begins every morning by taking his dog for a walk through the campus. He said he’s remaining hopeful and positive about the planned merger. 

“There’s a place to really make it a win, win, win, win,” Castillo said. “The four wins are for both universities and for both communities.” 

Queens is over 100 miles from Elon, and Castillo said Queens’ relationships in the city do not mean Elon lacks those connections.

“It’s just a little bit further away,” he said. “Elon has some more space and some more things that they can offer so that the students of both campuses can thrive.”

Saif Zatari is a freshman at Queens from Amman, Jordan. He chose Queens after he got an offer to come play basketball and heard about the engineering physics program that Queens had to offer. 

“It’s a very interactive school, and you can ask questions to professors,” Zatari said. “It’s not a big school, so you can do everything you want.”

Zatari said he’s excited about the potential merger with Elon and said he wants to expand his academic opportunities. 

“They don’t offer engineering here,” Zatari said. “I know over at Elon, they offer engineering, so I’m excited to see what it will come about.” 

The Elon merger team will host public discussion sessions at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 27 in Global Commons 103 during Family Weekend. 

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