Some Queens University of Charlotte employees were laid off this week as the school merges with Elon University, officials told The Charlotte Observer.
Others were informed they would be transitioned to Elon University employment at the end of June.
Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte last year announced plans to merge, with Elon operating Queens beginning this August. Elon is located in a town by the same name adjacent to Burlington. Queens is located in south Charlotte.
The Queens board of trustees will continue to operate for around four years and then will be absorbed into a combined Elon-Queens board with 37 members from Elon and 10 from Queens.
“At present, the two universities are moving toward a shared services agreement to develop a strong and sustainable future for the combined institution,” a spokesperson for Queens told The Observer Friday.
Shared services areas being consolidated include:
Admissions and Financial AidAdvancementEvents/Cultural ProgramsAuxiliary ServicesCareer ServicesCommunications and MarketingInclusive Excellence/ProgrammingFacilitiesFinance, Student Financial ServicesHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologyEvent SupportTeaching and Learning Technology/Hayworth CenterLibraryInstitutional Research and Effectiveness, RegistrarStudy Abroad
While most employees in these divisions will continue similar roles under Elon University employment, “a very small number” of employees were told this week that their positions were being eliminated, a spokesperson told the Observer. Queens did not specify how many employees were affected.
“Impacted employees are being provided with transition support and resources, including information about open positions and the opportunity to apply for roles aligned with the future needs of the institution,” the spokesperson told The Observer.
Queens and Elon are currently awaiting approval of the merger from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. After that, they will need approval from the U.S. Department of Education.
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Rebecca Noel reports on education for The Charlotte Observer. She’s a native of Houston, Texas, and graduated from Rice University. She later received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. When she’s not reporting, she enjoys reading, running and frequenting coffee shops around Charlotte.