Elon University Expanding in Charlotte With More Programs and Events at National Campus

A fresh chapter unfolds as Elon University is expanding offerings in Charlotte's South End district. Since Fall 2023, their National Campus site has turned into a buzzing center where students connect with local businesses and take part in hands-on learning.

Through the Queen City Internship Grant, students found their way into top Charlotte organizations. Twenty-six young minds got their start at places like NASCAR and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Some worked with Make-A-Wish while others joined Goodwill's team.

"I want to do accounting, but not for a 'big four' company," said Garek Johnson, according to Elon News. "I want to do something more meaningful, and this experience helped me do that."

The South End site will host a mix of events through the year's end. Starting Sept. 18 with an alumni gathering for business starters, the calendar fills up with job prep workshops and meetings for future students.

Charlotte stood out as the perfect spot for growth. Until 2023, it was the biggest U.S. city missing a law school: a gap Elon filled with its Flex Program last August.

The city keeps getting bigger, now with 2.5 million people calling the metro area home. With the ACC's main office and pro teams nearby, students in The Sport Experience program find plenty of chances to learn.

More than a third of Elon's graduates stay in North Carolina. Many end up in Charlotte, working in banks, sports teams, city offices, and community groups, making it one of the school's strongest alumni bases.

Looking ahead to 2027, a new program for training physician assistants will start. This adds another option to help fill the growing need for medical workers in the area.

Summer saw three students pitch in at local nonprofits. Katie Strohl helped plan events at Special Olympics North Carolina. At Make-A-Wish, two others worked on getting donors and spreading the word about their work.

This week starts a busy season of events. After the law school opens its doors to visitors on Sept. 23, meetings and job prep sessions run until mid-December.