HCS Consultant Travis Smith Featured in Coverage of Athletics Challenges in the Elon–Queens University Merger
The planned merger between Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte is drawing national attention — not only for its scale, but for one of the most complex and emotionally charged issues in any consolidation: intercollegiate athletics.
In reporting by the Elon News Network, HCS Consultant Travis Smith was extensively quoted as the primary expert voice explaining how athletic programs are evaluated during mergers, how the NCAA approaches these decisions, and why identity matters deeply to presidents, boards, and student-athletes.
Why Athletics Is So Complicated in a Merger
Athletics is often one of the last components resolved in a merger. While academic, financial, and operational functions can be integrated through policy and process alignment, athletics requires careful consideration of:
NCAA compliance
Institutional identity and tradition
Recruitment pipelines and competitive equity
Division-level differences (DI vs. DIII)
Campus-level structures such as registrars, financial aid, and governance
As Travis explains in the article, the NCAA evaluates whether merging institutions remain meaningfully distinct:
“There has to be a pretty blatant separation to justify having more than one athletic department.”
This separation is not just geographic. It includes administrative, academic, and operational distinctions.
Travis Smith on What Elon and Queens Should Expect
In the piece, Travis outlines the formal NCAA process for merger reviews, noting that institutions must meet with governance staff, present to NCAA committees, and document the operational structure of the merger.
Despite the complexity, Travis believes the NCAA is likely to support Elon’s and Queens’ plan:
“I’d be shocked if the NCAA doesn’t allow both schools to have their own athletic programs.”
He emphasizes that athletic identity is central to both institutions, and that presidents and boards rarely move forward with mergers that would require sacrificing long-standing traditions:
“I don’t see either campus president or board agreeing to give up their athletic identity.”
A Unique Case: Two Division I Programs
The Elon–Queens merger is notable because both are Division I programs — an uncommon scenario in U.S. higher education mergers. Travis highlights that:
DI and DI mergers typically have smoother alignment
Mergers across divisions (e.g., DI and DIII) face recruiting challenges, culture differences, and competitive mismatches
A shared division increases the likelihood of NCAA approval and identity preservation
Identity, Community, and the Student-Athlete Experience
Athletics often carries disproportionate emotional weight during consolidations — affecting alumni loyalty, campus culture, and student recruitment. Travis underscores that losing an athletic brand can create:
Alumni disengagement
Student-athlete uncertainty
Community confusion
Loss of institutional cohesion
These factors shape how merger structures are negotiated.
Why This Matters for Higher Education Leaders
The Elon–Queens case offers broader lessons for institutions across the country:
Athletics decisions must be grounded in structure, not sentiment
NCAA approval hinges on operational separation, not geography
Identity preservation remains one of the most powerful variables in merger feasibility
Mergers involving athletics require early, informed planning — not last-minute decisions
Read the Full Article
You can read the Elon News Network coverage featuring Travis Smith here.
If you’d like to explore how athletics factors into your institution’s merger strategy — or learn how HCS supports presidents, boards, and athletic departments during institutional transitions — contact us to schedule a confidential consultation.