Two North Carolina universities announced a merger. Why some alumni are pushing back. Saleen Martin, USA TODAYOctober 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM 18 In the weeks since a pair of North Carolina universities announced plans to merge, scores of alumni have chimed in, including some offering pushback.
- - Two North Carolina universities announced a merger. Why some alumni are pushing back.
Saleen Martin, USA TODAYOctober 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
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In the weeks since a pair of North Carolina universities announced plans to merge, scores of alumni have chimed in, including some offering pushback.
Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte, two private colleges with campuses over 100 miles apart, announced on Sept. 16 they had agreed on a merger, with details to be finalized over the next few months. But some alumni say the merger could split Elon's focus into two and diminish the school's brand. Some also question whether the merger brings financial hurdles.
Branding decisions will be addressed during the merger process, which is set to conclude in summer 2026, and both schools will continue to run two independent Division 1 athletic programs for the foreseeable future, the universities said.
Here's what to know about the merger, and why some alumni are pushing back.
Logos for the newly-merged Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte.Why are the schools merging?
Elon pointed to Queens' "deep Charlotte presence" as a key factor for the move, which would give Elon a foothold in a top 25 metro area by population.
"Charlotte has significant demand for graduate and professional programs, and together we'll be able to expand offerings," Elon University said.
Jesse Cureton, who stepped in as acting president of Queens in July, said the merger provides "an opportunity to partner with a very solid, financially stable university," reported The Assembly, a North Carolina-based news outlet.
On top of declining enrollment, Queens had $108.4 million in outstanding debt at the end of fiscal year 2024, reported S&P Global.
"This is not a growth opportunity for Queens," college finance consultant Gary Stocker told The Assembly. "It's a survival move."
Merger follows decreases in enrollment
Queens has a total enrollment of about 1,800, while Elon's enrollment is about 7,300 students, the universities told USA TODAY in September.
But Elon's enrollment of incoming students decreased by over 7% from 2023 to 2024, then by more than 11% from 2024 to 2025, reported the student-led Elon News Network. Greg Zaiser, vice president for enrollment at Elon, told the outlet the school was expecting the enrollment decrease due to an overall demographic shift.
Queens' total enrollment among undergraduate and graduate students decreased just over 13% between fall 2023 and fall 2024, according to the university's website. Both undergraduate and graduate enrollment has fallen sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic as well, down 29% and 49% since fall 2019, respectively.
Elon alumni group pushes back
Jack Duval, an Elon University graduate who's part of the alumni group No Elon Merger, argues the merger will prove unsuccessful for three reasons:
The merger will lead to Elon running two separate institutions, which will dilute the Elon brand.
The merger will divide Elon, confusing prospective and current students.
Financially, the merger is a "turnaround/merger" that will require millions in investments.
When asked about the group's concerns, Elon said on Sept. 26 it appreciates that alumni are "protective of Elon's brand." However, the merger is about strengthening both universities by combining what each school does well, the university said.
Duval predicts Queens will shut its doors, to which the universities said there are no plans to do so. The schools added that the merger was designed to ensure both schools continue to serve graduate and undergraduate students.
The planned merger is "a proactive move, not a crisis response," the universities said.
'Sounds more like an acquisition than a merger'
While No Elon Merger was started by Elon alumni, some Queens University graduates and other community members have also expressed concern over the merger.
"As a proud Queens alum, this makes me so sad," wrote Facebook user Elizabeth Batchelor Stagliano. "Queens has a 168 year legacy and now will be operated by Elon and renamed by this time next year ... Sounds more like an acquisition than a merger."
User Ginny Scheer, also a Queens alum, shared on Facebook that there were multiple people frustrated by the announcement.
"I believe many of us feel a deep sense of responsibility to our beloved university to speak up in the face of (decisions) that may ultimately erase our history, our name and our uniqueness," Scheer wrote on Sept. 16.
Scheer later said on Sept. 17 that she felt better after speaking to Alexa Royden, an associate professor at Queens. Royden replied publicly and said the merger will allow Queens to continue its work, "but potentially better," pointing to Elon's law school as a potential benefit for Queens students.
"We are going to do everything we can to make sure the Queens you guys know and love persists in this next phase of this adventure," Royden wrote. "And we are tremendously proud of the outpouring of support from our alums, who always have our backs."
Consultant says mergers often give institutions the chance to fill in the gaps
Mark Heckler, a consultant with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, explained that schools sometimes look to mergers as a way to increase student offerings without footing the entire bill.
"It's expensive to start up a new academic program," he told USA TODAY on Sept. 25. "If you can forge a partnership with another institution that has already made that investment and has that up and running, you can bring that degree into your portfolio quickly and fill that gap."
Heckler said he has seen scenarios where two schools struggling financially joined forces. Using Chicago's Roosevelt University as an example, he said the school announced in 2020 its intent to merge with a smaller institution, Robert Morris University Chicago.
A new college called the Robert Morris Experiential College was created, bringing with it Robert Morris' nursing and associate degree programs, as well as a master of information systems program that was integrated into Roosevelt's computer science programs.
Heckler added that both schools' athletics departments benefitted from the merger as well. Both were smaller, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools. When the schools combined, they reached NCAA Division II status, which brings a partial-scholarship model.
Elon and Queens universities will conduct a listening tour this fall to hear from students, faculty and staff, alumni and more. A Queens University Alumni Town Hall was set for Oct. 1. No Elon Merger is sharing updates at www.noelonmerger.com.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why some alumni are pushing back on Elon-Queens merger
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