News

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NEWS 3/2/26 10:05pm

Candidates for dean of Student Health and Well-Being present in front of Elon community

By Miles Hayford

Candidates for the next dean of Student Health and Well-Being at Elon University presented in front of the Elon community in recent weeks as part of the selection process. The position is currently held by Jana Lynn Patterson, who is retiring in fall 2026 after 40 years at Elon University. The dean will lead the HealthEU Initiative and the Boldly Elon strategic plan, while supervising departments like Counseling Services and Student Health Services. They will also manage the new 135,000 square foot HealthEU building, set to open in fall 2026. 

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NEWS 3/2/26 1:51pm

Elon, Queens University merger solidifies universities’ future amid nationwide closures

By Miles Hayford

Amid a turbulent era full of increasing college closures and pressure from the Trump Administration, the Elon University-Queens University of Charlotte merger may be a survival tactic in an unforgiving higher education climate. Matt Hartman, a higher education reporter for The Assembly, described the merger as a "survival move” for Queens.

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NEWS 2/27/26 11:44am

Author lectures on misogyny and extremism

By Elissa Leka

The Elon community gathered in Numen Lumen’s McBride Gathering Space room to hear Cynthia Miller-Idris speak about the influence of misogyny on domestic violence and violent extremism. The lecture honored the memory of Lauren Dunne Astley, who was murdered by her boyfriend in July 2011, before she was able to begin her college journey at Elon University. 

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NEWS 2/26/26 11:02pm

Criminal justice reform attorney visits Elon, tells story of hope, dignity

By Abby Gravely

When attorney Brittany Barnett met Sharanda Jones, she saw positivity and light, far from what she expected from meeting a woman 10 years into her life sentence. Barnett was a young lawyer who felt a pull towards Jones, who was sentenced to life in prison on her first federal drug offense. Barnett, a criminal justice reform attorney, visited Elon University on Feb. 26 as part of the Liberal Arts Forum, a student-run organization that invites speakers on various topics to engage with the Elon community. 

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NEWS 2/25/26 5:09pm

Elon to adopt new learning management system following fall review of Moodle platform

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Students logging into their courses next academic year may notice a shift in how assignments, grades and course materials are organized as Elon transitions from Moodle, its old learning management system, to Canvas by Instructure, its new one. The decision followed a campuswide evaluation of Moodle that included surveys and open forums, according to Teaching and Learning Technologies Senior Director Kelly Reimer.

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NEWS 2/24/26 1:05pm

Community funds anti-child exploitation project

By Anjolina Fantaroni

As a mother and Vice President of Development for the Invictus Project, Whitney Miller said there was no way she could ignore child exploitation. The Invictus Project is a nonprofit organization that supports the Invictus Task Force — a multiagency uniting Randolph, Alamance, Davidson and Forsyth County Sheriff's Offices with Homeland Security Investigations and the State Bureau of Investigation.

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NEWS 2/23/26 5:28pm

Elon University enrollment drops below 6,000 for first time since 2018

By Miles Hayford and Abby Gravely

Elon University’s undergraduate enrollment has dipped below 6,000 students for the first time since spring 2018, according to the Spring Registrar’s Report released Feb. 23. This decrease comes after an 11.6% drop in enrollment for the class of 2029. Part of this pattern can be attributed to the “demographic cliff,” the decreasing supply of college students from a falling national birth rate that began in 2007. The total undergraduate enrollment of 5,974 is a decrease from the 6,226 students the university reported in the spring of 2025. It’s also roughly 200 fewer students than the 6,191 reported in fall 2025. Though overall student numbers dropped, there was also an increase of 523 seniors, compared to the fall report.

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NEWS 2/23/26 9:58am

School of Education classrooms, offices move as Mooney renovations progress

By Lyda Cosgrove

Renovations to Elon University’s Mooney Building are in progress after it closed at the beginning of Winter Term. The building’s closure was announced Jan. 8 and renovations officially began Jan. 14. All upgrades are expected to be finished by the end of summer in time for the fall semester.

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NEWS 2/22/26 9:16pm

Community gathers at vigil commemorating lynching victim Wyatt Outlaw

By Trista Panagakos

Members of the community and Alamance County Remembrance Coalition gathered outside of the Alamance County Courthouse on Feb. 22 to hold a vigil honoring the life of Wyatt Outlaw. Outlaw was lynched by a mob of White Brotherhood members outside the courthouse on Feb. 26, 1870.

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NEWS 2/19/26 9:43pm

JetZero CEO discusses future plans of flight with Elon community

By Emma Luckman

The LaRose Digital Theatre was filled with members of the Elon community Feb. 19 as Tom O’Leary shared his journey of becoming the CEO of JetZero. JetZero is an aerospace company focused on developing a blended wing body jet designed to reduce fuel burn, emissions and noise dramatically. 

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NEWS 2/19/26 1:31pm

Elon University mobile printing system scheduled for emergency upgrade Feb. 20

By Kathan Gandhi and Alice Morrissey

In an email sent to students Feb. 19, Elon Information Technology announced an issue affecting Elon’s mobile printing system. IT wrote that they are looking to resolve these issues by undergoing an emergency upgrade that will occur Feb. 20. According to the email, while repairs are underway, students will not be able to print. 

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NEWS 2/19/26 8:15am

Elon, Queens University merger team makes plans for the joint institution

By Liya Rike and Pearson Dyslin

Elon University and Queens University's merger integration team said the upcoming merger is moving forward with strong collaboration and a shared focus on students. Queens President Emerita Pamela Davies explained that this semester is focused on building a shared culture before the institutions officially join.

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NEWS 2/18/26 5:55pm

Despite price reduction, Elon external abroad fee sparks concern among students

By Alannah Klingsporn

Starting in fall 2026, Elon University will implement a new price for its external study abroad fee. The fee, which was previously $4,700 for several years, but was reduced to a $3,500 fee, will apply to all students participating in approved affiliate semester programs, such as Semester at Sea and the Theater Academy of London. The fee is part of the billing structure for study abroad, which also includes health, safety and a sustainability fee. 

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NEWS 2/18/26 2:07pm

Danieley apartment renovations next academic year will require student relocation

By Abigail Hines

Danieley apartments A through F will see phased renovations during the 2026-2027 academic year. Director of Residence Life Kirsten Carrier said the specifics of what the upgrades will entail have not been finalized yet, but the flooring, lighting and kitchen appliances will likely be replaced. 

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NEWS 2/18/26 8:05am

Forever chemical found in well at Eli Whitney Fire Department

By Alice Morrissey

The Eli Whitney Fire Department released a press release saying that PFAS scientifically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, were found in the water supply from its well. The discovery came after tests were conducted as part of the statewide firefighting research program passed by the legislature in 2023. As part of this program, the North Carolina Collaboratory tested water wells at 411 rural fire stations across North Carolina.

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NEWS 2/17/26 8:54am

Elon University ranks 9th for on-campus technological integration

By Evan Cooper

Elon University is ranked the ninth best high-tech college campus by University Magazine, a publication that reports news about colleges and universities to inform students and prospective students. It is the highest ranking high-tech campus in the state of North Carolina, above Duke University at twelfth.

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NEWS 2/16/26 10:44pm

Ground breaks on biggest investment project in Burlington history

By Alice Morrissey

The ground officially broke Feb. 16 at the new distribution center location for Ahold Delhaize USA, the parent company of the grocery store chain, Food Lion. Located near the border of Alamance and Guilford counties, construction has begun on the $860 million project.

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NEWS 2/16/26 3:00pm

Online apparel store files to dissolve after Elon trademark infringement lawsuit

By Miles Hayford

Elon University has filed a federal lawsuit against a Washington-based online apparel seller, alleging that it is infringing on its trademarks. After the suit was filed by Elon on Feb. 11, the company began the process of winding down operations on Feb. 13, according to articles of dissolution filed with the Washington Secretary of State.

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NEWS 2/16/26 1:12pm

Alamance County Commissioner dies

By Megan Walsh

Alamance County Commissioner and Elon University alum John Paisley Jr. ’70, R, has died. Paisley served on the commission consecutively since 2020 and previously served in 2014.

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NEWS 2/15/26 3:22pm

Former Elon professor files wrongful termination lawsuit against university

By Fiona McAllister

Former Elon professor of accounting Ray Knight has filed a federal lawsuit against Elon University, alleging the university retaliated against him for whistleblowing, wrongfully denied him tenure, wrongfully terminated his employment and violated both federal whistleblower protections and North Carolina public policy. The lawsuit was filed Feb. 6 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

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