Elon University President Connie Book, along with Queens University Acting President Jesse Cureton, announced the new official name for the merged universities: “Elon University | Queens College.”
The announcement came Sept. 23 during a one-year update presentation hosted at Queens and livestreamed to Elon staff on campus. It also included a merger progress update and next steps, such as recent achievements and the accreditation process.
Book said there are four long-term goals she called pledges that provide a framework for what's to come. The pledges came from the work completed through their SOAR Strategic Planning Committee, a joint coalition that has been working throughout the year to guide the merger.
After the presentation, Book sent an email to students, faculty and staff, detailing those pledges. It included goals to expand engaged learning, become a partner with communities in Charlotte, expand on Queens’ presence in Charlotte, and provide faculty and staff with competitive benefits, compensation and culture
Beginning July 1, multiple departments at Elon and Queens officially merged, including admissions, human resources and benefit plans.
“During the first year, the merger moved from intention to implementation,” Book wrote.
According to Book, students based on the Elon campus will have the chance to go to Charlotte for academic and career experiences. Currently, Elon University already has a campus based in Charlotte, which houses undergraduate and graduate programs.
This summer, the first cohort of Elon Summer Business Institute students were hosted at the Queens University campus for a 10-week intensive program.
Book said they are working to explore areas of learning that connect Elon’s academic network with Charlotte’s professional opportunities.
“For Elon students, faculty and staff, Charlotte will create new opportunities for learning, teaching, research, service and professional connection,” Book wrote.
Book wrote that after this announcement, there is still important work to be done as the U.S. Department of Education review continues, and they will continue to communicate as decisions are finalized.