This website is for Elon’s previous strategic plan, the Elon Commitment. For Elon’s most recent strategic plan, Boldly Elon, please visit the new strategic plan website.

Significantly enhancing Elon’s campus with premier new academic and residential facilities and a commitment to protecting our environment

Key objectives

Elon’s beautiful campus is among its greatest assets and deserves our continued investment and imagination. This plan outlines an exciting master plan that will provide world-class new facilities and an improved environment surrounding the campus, and also demonstrate our commitment to being a faithful steward of our environment.

Major new academic building projects during the next decade will include much-needed expansion spaces for science programs, which have outgrown McMichael Science Center, and the School of Communications, which has surpassed the capacity of McEwen building and is now locating classrooms, labs and faculty offices in other buildings across campus. We will also assess the need for an expansion of Belk Library and respond to other academic space demands in support of The Elon Commitment initiatives.

Through The Elon Commitment, the university will develop a bold plan to create a campus with seamless connections among the academic, co-curricular and residential experiences on campus. A campus-wide Residential Campus Committee is exploring innovative models for this transformation of the residential experience, including residential colleges, a wide variety of living-learning and academic theme communities, faculty apartments and classrooms integrated in residence halls, expanded commons and recreational areas, graduate student housing and a new approach to the dining experience on campus. Making major investments in new facilities, Elon intends to provide housing for all juniors and seniors who wish to live on campus and bring all housing in line with modern student standards. The plan includes demolition of Harper Center and Story Center and construction of new residence complexes in the area east of Lake Mary Nell, at the Colonnades residence area, at the area east of the Academic Village and other possible sites. The new housing will respond to the growing student demand for on-campus residences, providing close proximity to cultural events, the library, technology and lab resources, athletic contests and much more.

Through The Elon Commitment, the university’s long-standing need for a large gathering space will be met through construction of a 5,000-seat multipurpose convocation center. This showcase facility will provide a new home for Phoenix athletics as well as be a draw for regional and national attractions, supporting such major events as presidential campaign appearances or debates, appearances by international figures or performing groups, conventions and forums, and annual campus events such as Commencement and convocations.

Another major new community gathering space will be an auditorium as part of an expansion of Moseley Center. This facility will provide a new venue for larger lectures and group functions, returning McCrary Theatre to its primary role as the stage for Elon’s renowned performing arts productions.

A new athletics field house at Rhodes Stadium will support activities at the North Athletics Complex and allow for the repurposing of the Koury Center for academic, recreational and wellness use. A multi-faith center will support the importance of a student’s spiritual journey and well-being. A new admissions center will allow Elon to remain competitive in its campus visit and recruiting operations. A new career services facility will provide a state-of-the-art center for students and alumni to prepare their applications for graduate school or employment, and to conduct interviews with recruiters.

The Elon Commitment plan envisions a zone in the Town of Elon that would allow locally owned or student-owned businesses to flourish, such as more professional services, restaurants, small grocery store and other establishments and services common in college towns. A more residential, pedestrian and bike-friendly campus will create a healthier environment in accordance with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on Alcohol.

As an important part of The Elon Commitment, the university will evaluate its governmental partnerships to ensure a high level of public safety, infrastructure and municipal services to support the growing campus.

During the next decade, Elon will implement the challenging and environmentally responsible recommendations of the Sustainability Master Plan, including a study of geothermal technology and the creation of a land preserve, the Elon Forest, to protect a large expanse of green space north of University Drive.