Within a few weeks since the couple of North Carolina universities announced plans to merge, the graduate scores were annoyed, including some proposals.
Elon University and Queens Charlotte University, two private colleges with more than 100 miles away, September 16, it was announced that they agreed on the merger, with the details that would be completed in the next few months. However, some graduates say the merger can divide Elon’s attention into two parts and reduce the school brand. Some also doubt whether the merger causes financial obstacles.
Brand development solutions will be dealt with during the merger process, which is scheduled to be completed in 2026. In the summer, both schools will continue to run two independent Division 1 athletics programs in the near future, universities said.
Here’s what to know about the merger and why some graduates push back.
Logos for newly united Elon University and Queens University Charlotte.
Why do schools come together?
Elon pointed out the Queens’ deep Charlotte presence as a major step factor that would give Elon the 25th of the most popular in the area.
“Charlotte has a high demand for graduates and professional programs, and we will be able to expand the victims at the same time,” said Elon University.
Jesse Cureton, who took up a Queens president in July, said the merger offers “the opportunity to cooperate with a very solid, financially stable university,” said North Carolina’s News Publishing Assembly.
In addition, with the decrease in reception, the Queens had $ 108.4 million at the end of the 2024 fiscal year. USD outstanding debts, S&P Global said.
“This is not an opportunity for Queens’ growth,” College’s financial consultant Gary Stocker told The Assemblly. “It’s a step of survival.”
The merger follows the reduction of registration
Queens accepts a total of about 1,800 and Elon’s admission is about 7,300 students, and in September universities said USA Today.
However, Elon’s admission to arriving students from 2023 to 2024. Decreased by more than 7%, then more than 11% from 2024 to 2025, Elon News Network, led by Student. Greg Zaiser, vice president of Elon’s reception, said the school hopes that registration would be reduced due to a general demographic change.
According to the University’s website, the total number of Queens students between bachelor’s and master’s degree decreased slightly more than 13% from 2023. By 2024 Autumn. Since the Covid-19 pandemic and 29% and 49% from 2019. In the autumn, both the Covid-19 pandemic, both undergraduate and graduate students have decreased dramatically.
Elon Alumni Group pushes back
Jack Duvalas, a graduate of the University of Elon, who is the merger of the NO Elon graduate group, says the merger will appear unsuccessful for three reasons:
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The merger will encourage Elon to run two separate institutions that dilute the Elon brand.
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The merger will divide Elon by confusing future and current students.
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Financially merging is a “turning/merger” that will require millions of investment.
Asked about the group’s concern, Elon September 26th. According to him, this appreciates that graduates “protect the Elon brand”. However, the merger is associated with strengthening both universities in combining what each school does well, the university said.
Duval predicts Queens to close the door to which universities said it was not intended to do so. The schools added that the merger was intended to ensure that both schools continued to serve graduates and undergraduate students.
The planned merger is “an enterprising step, not a response to the crisis,” the universities said.
“Sounds more like acquisition than a merger”
Although Elon’s Elon merger was not launched, some graduates of Queens University and other community members also expressed concern about the merger.
“As a proud Alumn of Queens, it makes me so sad,” wrote Elizabeth Batchelor Stagliano, a Facebook user. “Queens has a 168 -year -old legacy and will now be ruled by Elon and rename this time next year … Sounds more like acquisition than merger.”
User Ginny Scheer, as well as the Queens alumn, shared Facebook that there were several people disappointed with a report.
“I believe that most of us feel a deep sense of responsibility to our beloved university in the face of (solutions), which can eventually delete our history, name and uniqueness,” September 16th. Wrote Scheer.
Later Scheer September 17th. It turned out to feel better when talking to Alexa Royden, an associate professor at Queens. Royden has publicly answered and said the merger will allow Queens to continue his work, ”but potentially better,” indicating Elon’s law school as a possible benefit to Queens students.
“We will do everything we can to make sure that this adventure remains your guys, you, you, you know and love, remains,” Royden wrote. “And we are extremely proud of the support of our alumni, which always has our backs.”
The consultant says that mergers often give institutions to fill in gaps
Mark Heckler, a consultant of the Association of the University and College Management Councils, explained that schools sometimes appreciate merger as a way to increase the supply of students without going into the full account.
“Branting to start a new academic program,” he told USA Today on September 25th. – If you can establish a partnership with another authority that has already made this investment and has done it, you can quickly add to your portfolio and fill that gap. ‘
Heckler said he had seen a script with two schools fighting financially united forces. As an example, he said the school in 2020 was used by the University of Chicago. Announced his intention to unite with a smaller institution in Robert Morris University in Chicago.
A new college called Robert Morris’ experience was created with the presentation of Robert Morris Nursing and Associated Degree, as well as the Master’s degree in the Information Systems Program, which was integrated into Roosevelt computer science programs.
Heckler added that the athletics departments of both schools were also beneficial for the merger. Both were smaller, the National Association of Athletics Schools of Intercollege. When the schools combined together, they reached the status of Chapter II of the NCAA, which provides a partial Scholar model.
Elon and Queens’ universities will host a listening tour this fall to hear from students, lecturers and staff, graduates and more. The City Hall of the University of Queens was set on October 1. No Elon merger is shared by updates on the website www.noelonmerger.com.
Saleen Martin is a USA Today Now team reporter. It is from Norfolko, Virginia – 757
This article initially appeared in USA Today: Why do some graduates push back to Elon-Queens merger