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[knitprof]

Hello all. A position has opened up that I might be interested in at Queens University of Charlotte. The job description makes it clear that there's a 4/4 load and some evening teaching, but I've never really heard of this school otherwise, and the forums appear devoid of relevant info. Does anyone have any info or thoughts on it? I'd appreciate any feedback.

[spork]

The school: formerly a Presbyterian women's college, went co-ed in the late 1980s.  Campus is located in a nice neighborhood inside Charlotte.  It's positioned itself well in the market with its nursing and business schools, its professional graduate programs, and its adult degree completion program (these last two explain the evening classes).  Financially it looks to be on solid ground.

The location: Charlotte is a saner, smaller version of Atlanta -- it's the country's second biggest financial services hub.  There are some posh neighborhoods with high-end real estate, and some yucky neighborhoods, but enough in-between that are affordable.  A good time to buy given the real estate crash.  A lot of people commute in from suburbs because they say the schools are better outside the city.  Personally I think it's got a lot more charm than Raleigh, but it's a real city rather than a university town like Chapel Hill.

[knitprof]

Thanks for the great information. Charlotte is supposed to have a lot of outdoor recreation activities, too, which appeals to me.

Anyone have any experience teaching there, or heard anything from colleagues?

[apollo]

Charlotte is and awesome city.  Big enough with enough of the good things of a city, but not so big to have all those drawbacks.  Of course, I have never driven on I-77 during daylight hours without coming almost to a stop because of traffic.  But really, that's the worst complaint I have.  I went to college just across the border in Rock Hill, SC, so used to go up to Charlotte all the time.  Great place.

[dolljepopp]

Charlotte is geographically quite spread out -- the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is twenty miles or so from downtown. You'll be very car-dependent.

But much of it is beautiful and if you like a southern climate (hot summers, mild winters), it is a very nice place to live.

[clerestory]

Hey, my grandmother finished her degree at Queens in the early 30's (had to transfer from Agnes Scott when her father lost all his money in the Depression).

Unfortunately, I don't have any more recent experience, but Charlotte is a nice place, though sprawly (inescapable in the South, I think). The city as a whole is hurting along with the banks, but you might be able to pick up a nicer house/apt that way. If you have (or are planning kids), then you should pay attention to schools - Charlotte quit busing and there are definitely "good" and "bad" schools, although they try to offset that with supplements to higher poverty schools.

[eddean]

They have one of the highest study abroad rates of any institution. FWIW

[jonesey]

I went to grad school there; you can PM me if you want details, but it's a great school.

Charlotte is very Bible Belt, so if that's an issue, be warned.  It's not as bad as, say, anywhere in Alabama, but church is a big part of most social activities.  Many folks complain about how "liberal" Charlotte is (compared to the rest of the state) because of all the "Yankees" who have moved there to work at BofA. 

Queens is a conservative school, in the sense that their MBA is full of BofA folks, lots of oxford button-down shirts w/khakis worn by profs, etc.  It's a lovely campus, however, and rather small (it's basically a SLAC).  It's in the middle of Myers Park, the toniest neighborhood in Charlotte.